We ran a full simulation of cashback earnings across all major crypto cards based on a realistic everyday spending profile. The results reveal clear winners — and a few surprising underperformers. Here is exactly what you can expect to earn with each card in 2025.
The Method
For a fair comparison, we use a representative monthly spending profile:
- ▸Groceries: €400
- ▸Restaurants and food delivery: €200
- ▸Transport (fuel, public transport): €150
- ▸Streaming subscriptions: €50
- ▸Miscellaneous online shopping: €300
- ▸Monthly total: €1,100
Estimated Annual Results
Card with 5% premium cashback
- ▸Annual gross cashback: €660
- ▸Annual fees: -€120
- ▸Net gain: €540
- ▸Staking required: ~€35,000 in tokens
Card with 3% premium cashback
- ▸Annual gross cashback: €396
- ▸Annual fees: €0
- ▸Net gain: €396
- ▸Staking required: ~€3,500 in tokens
Card with 2% premium cashback
- ▸Annual gross cashback: €264
- ▸Annual fees: €0
- ▸Net gain: €264
- ▸Staking required: ~€350 in tokens
Free card with 1% (no staking)
- ▸Annual gross cashback: €132
- ▸Annual fees: €0
- ▸Net gain: €132
- ▸Staking required: €0
Analysis: The High Cashback Trap
A 5% cashback rate looks five times better than 1%. But it requires locking up around €35,000 in native tokens. If those tokens lose 30% of their value — a perfectly common scenario in crypto — you lose €10,500, which is the equivalent of roughly 80 years of extra cashback to break even.
Golden rule: Only stake what you are prepared to see lose value.
Our Recommendation by Profile
| Profile | Recommended Card |
|---|---|
| Beginner, no staking | 1% free card |
| Moderate investor (< €1,000 in staking) | 2% with moderate staking |
| Long-term crypto holder | 3–5% with high staking |
Conclusion
The best cashback rate is not always the one advertised on the website. Use our simulator by entering your real spending figures to get a personalised projection.
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