ether.fi Cash vs KAST vs Tria
| Card | Entry tier cost | Entry cashback | Paid in | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ether.fi Cash | Core free | 3% on first $2,000/mo, then 1% and 0.5% | ETHFI token | Token price moves; Borrow Mode interest starts immediately |
| KAST | Standard free ($40 physical card delivery) | 1.5% on first $2,000/mo | USD | 0.5 to 1.75% FX fee on non-USD spend |
| Tria | Lite 20 USD a year | 1.5% on first 1,000 USD/mo, then 0.5% | USDT (on Arbitrum, per Tria help) | Higher rates need Pro (109 USD) or Max (250 USD) |
The KAST and Tria buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. The ether.fi link is not an affiliate link. KAST and Tria figures are from our KAST and Tria reviews, last updated October 6, 2026; ether.fi figures from ether.fi's help center on October 10, 2026.
ether.fi Cash is attractive for users who want non-custodial, app-controlled Visa spending and can understand the difference between Direct Pay and Borrow Mode. The key risk is treating a credit product like a simple debit card; Borrow Mode can start interest immediately, refunds do not automatically reduce the borrow balance, and FX or ATM fees still matter.
What ether.fi Cash is
ether.fi calls Cash a crypto-native credit card. The official FAQ says it is included with ether.fi Cash membership, starts with a virtual card after KYC, and is intended to work where Visa cards are accepted.
The product page promotes up to 3% cashback, Apple Pay and Google Pay readiness, virtual and physical cards, non-custodial account controls, and spend with value-accruing stables. The help center is where the real decision happens because it explains Direct Pay, Borrow Mode, FX, ATM fees and limits.
Official app screens to check before using Cash
ether.fi Cash has more moving parts than a simple top-up card. Check the Cash tab, Vault, spend limits, Direct Pay or Borrow Mode, and cashback screen before the first purchase.
Fees and limits that affect real value
The help center no longer lists fixed daily spending limits by tier; instead each card starts with a default limit of $5,000 a day and the vault with $10,000 a day and $10,000 a month, editable in the app (help article updated August 5, 2026). As of October 10, 2026 the official help page lists ATM withdrawals at 1,000 USD per transaction, up to five in a rolling 24-hour period (5,000 USD). FX uses the prevailing base rate (about 1%) plus an added margin of 0–0.5% on Core, 0–0.25% on Luxe and none on Pinnacle or VIP, and the card is currently USD-based with native euro support planned.
| Check | Official row to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| FX | ~1% base rate + 0–0.5% (Core), 0–0.25% (Luxe), none (Pinnacle/VIP) | Applies when settlement is outside supported currency assumptions. |
| ATM | 1,000 USD per withdrawal, up to 5 in a rolling 24 hours (5,000 USD) | ATM attempts count even if declined, and local operators can add fees. |
| Card currency | USD-based currently, native euro support planned | Important for non-USD users and refund comparisons. |
| Spend mode | Direct Pay or Borrow Mode | Borrow Mode can create interest immediately. |
Cashback: read the tier, the step-down, and the cap
The public Cash page presents 3% cashback across Cash card levels and tier caps such as up to $2,000/month for Core, $10,000/month for Luxe and $50,000/month for Pinnacle. What the headline "3%" hides is that this rate only applies up to that monthly threshold; per ether.fi's help center, Core, Luxe and Pinnacle each earn 3% up to their threshold and then step down to 1% and 0.5% on spend above it. The invite-only VIP tier earns 4% on the first $50,000 a month, and Business accounts earn a flat 1%. Since September 2026 cashback is paid in ETHFI rather than USDC: it is converted at the ETHFI price when the purchase clears, locked for 7 days, and then has to be claimed on the Cashback page once at least $5 is claimable. EUR purchases share the monthly counter but use lower thresholds (on Core, 3% up to $800 in USD terms, 1% up to $1,500, then 0.1% instead of 0.5%). Category cashback adds 10% (up to $10 a month) on Luxe, 20% (up to $20) on Pinnacle and 30% (up to $30) on VIP in categories such as AI, streaming and food.
The legal cashback terms (last updated September 18, 2026) are stricter: rewards are paid in tokens whose value can move, ether.fi may set a monthly maximum at its discretion, and excluded transactions include ATM withdrawals, peer-to-peer payments, tax payments, gift cards, money orders and cash equivalents.
Do not model cashback from headline rates alone. Use the Cash screen to verify your tier, the monthly threshold where the rate steps down, the legal cap, eligible purchases, payout asset, and whether a transaction is pending or fully processed.
Direct Pay vs Borrow Mode
Direct Pay uses eligible vault assets directly. The help center states USDC is used first and LiquidUSD second, while other assets are not eligible for Direct Pay at the checked date. Borrow Mode lets you spend using vault assets as collateral; borrowed amounts begin accruing interest immediately with no grace period, and the rate is a variable APY set by the underlying Aave v4 lending market for each asset, not a fixed 4%.
If you want to avoid borrowing fees, keep enough eligible USDC or LiquidUSD in the vault and confirm Direct Pay before tapping.
If a refund arrives, it is credited to the vault balance and does not automatically reduce the borrow balance. Repayment must be handled separately.
Which chain the card actually runs on now
ether.fi migrated the Cash product from Scroll to OP Mainnet (Optimism). The move was announced in ether.fi's official blog post "ether.fi is now on OP Mainnet," and an Optimism case study cites April 15, 2026 as the migration date, covering roughly 70,000 active cards and 300,000 accounts. Some older third-party write-ups, and possibly older bookmarks, still describe the card as "running on Scroll L2" — that description is outdated. If you are checking the vault, block explorer entries, or gas assumptions, confirm you are looking at OP Mainnet, not Scroll.
Complete the ether.fi Cash decision
Confirm the mode first, then model fees and rewards.
Add Card, KYC, virtual card status and Apple Pay or Google Pay readiness should be checked in the app.
For daily spending, verify eligible Direct Pay assets. For Borrow Mode, watch collateral, LTV, interest and repayment.
Confirm FX, reward tracking, settlement, refund behavior and transaction history before large spend.
Evidence to save
- Cash tab screenshot showing card status, tier and Card Settings.
- Vault screen showing Direct Pay assets or Borrow Mode collateral and borrow balance.
- Fee and limit rows for FX, ATM, spending limits and card currency.
- Cashback screen showing tier, the monthly threshold where the rate steps down, earned rewards, pending status and payout asset (ETHFI).
- Confirmation of which chain (OP Mainnet, not Scroll) your vault and transactions are on.
- Refund or repayment history if Borrow Mode is used.
Official sources, reader evidence, and small tests
Before acting on a card page, check the issuer app or official help page, then keep records that can be matched to dates, fees, card status, rewards, and region eligibility.
If this card is not available where you live, or you want a card funded directly with stablecoins, these are the cards this site reviews in detail. Availability depends on your country of residence, so check eligibility in each app before applying.
- KAST — the Standard tier is free and earns 1.5% USD cashback on up to $2,000 of eligible spend a month; non-USD spending has a 0.5–1.75% FX fee. Review
- RedotPay — virtual card 10 USD, physical card 100 USD; spending in the card currency is free, other currencies 1.2%; works with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Review
- Tria — under Tria's membership update of September 26, 2026, the former Virtual card is now Lite at 20 USD a year (the free offer has ended), with 1.5% cashback on the first 1,000 USD of eligible spend a month, then 0.5%. Review
The "Open" buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Figures checked on October 13, 2026 on each issuer's official pages.
FAQ
Is ether.fi Cash a debit card?
ether.fi describes Cash as a crypto-native credit card. Direct Pay can feel debit-like, but Borrow Mode introduces collateral and interest mechanics.
What is the FX fee?
The official help center (checked October 10, 2026) says ether.fi applies the prevailing FX base rate (about 1%) on transactions that need a currency conversion, plus an added margin of 0–0.5% on Core, 0–0.25% on Luxe and none on Pinnacle or VIP.
Does every purchase earn cashback?
No. The cashback terms list excluded transactions, including ATM withdrawals, peer-to-peer payments, tax payments, gift cards, money orders and cash equivalents.
How exactly does the tiered cashback work?
Per ether.fi's help center (updated September 29, 2026), Core, Luxe and Pinnacle each earn 3% up to a monthly spend threshold, then step down to 1% and 0.5%: Core covers the first $2,000/month, Luxe the first $10,000/month, and Pinnacle the first $50,000/month. The invite-only VIP tier earns 4% on the first $50,000/month. Business accounts earn a flat 1%. Cashback pays out in ETHFI, is locked for 7 days after the transaction clears, and must then be claimed (minimum $5).
Does ether.fi Cash still run on Scroll?
No. ether.fi migrated the Cash product from Scroll to OP Mainnet (Optimism), with the move announced in ether.fi's official blog post "ether.fi is now on OP Mainnet" and an Optimism case study citing April 15 as the migration date. Some older articles still describe the card as running on Scroll; that description is outdated as of this 2026-10-01 check.
Is ether.fi Cash worth it? (ether.fi review in short)
For spenders who keep crypto in a non-custodial account and want Visa acceptance, yes, with conditions. The free Core tier pays 3% cashback on the first $2,000 of eligible spend a month, but cashback is paid in ETHFI, a token whose price moves, and Borrow Mode charges interest from the first day. If you want a simple stablecoin card, compare KAST and Tria first.
Is ether.fi cashback paid in ETHFI?
Yes. ether.fi's help center (checked October 10, 2026) says cashback is converted to ETHFI at the current price when the purchase clears, locked for 7 days, and then claimed once at least $5 is claimable. Tier thresholds reset at the start of each calendar month.
What are the ether.fi Cash card fees?
Core membership is free; Luxe can be bought for $199 a year and Pinnacle for $999 a year, or reached through staking, Liquid balances or membership points. FX costs the base rate (about 1%) plus 0 to 0.5% on Core, 0 to 0.25% on Luxe and nothing extra on Pinnacle or VIP. ether.fi's help center lists a $50 physical card fee on Core and $100 on Luxe and Pinnacle beyond the free cards included, while its membership benefits article describes the Core physical card as free with a shipping fee, so confirm the amount shown in the app before ordering. Core members in 14 listed countries pay $10 for their first virtual card.
What are the ether.fi card ATM limits?
ether.fi's fees and limits article (checked October 10, 2026) allows ATM withdrawals of up to $1,000 per transaction and up to five in a rolling 24 hours, so $5,000 in total. ATM withdrawals are not allowed in North Korea, Iran and Myanmar, and ATM withdrawals do not earn cashback.
Can I get the ether.fi Cash card in Japan?
Japan is on the list in ether.fi's help article "In which countries is the Cash card available?" as a country where the physical Cash card is available (checked October 10, 2026). You still need to pass KYC, and ether.fi notes that physical card delivery is not offered in every eligible region, so confirm the order screen in the app.
ether.fi Cash vs KAST vs Tria: which should I choose?
ether.fi Cash pays the highest headline rate on a free tier (3% up to $2,000 a month on Core) but pays it in ETHFI and adds Borrow Mode. KAST Standard is free and pays 1.5% on the first $2,000 a month. Tria Lite costs 20 USD a year and pays 1.5% on the first 1,000 USD a month, with Pro (4.5%) and Max (6%) as paid tiers. Pick ether.fi if you accept token-paid rewards, KAST or Tria if you want simpler stablecoin spending.
Official sources checked
Card terms, regions, rewards, and fees can change. Use the links below to verify the live issuer pages before applying, funding, or making a large purchase. Tier cashback, the ETHFI payout, ATM limits, FX margins and Borrow Mode terms were re-verified on 2026-10-10.