First, the headline is wrong; this isn’t a credit card. I hope this was a mistake by an ad agency that wrote the headline. This is most likely a prepaid debit card linked to the individual’s credit line. That credit line and its rate are determined by your credit rating. According to the website, the credit line and rate vary between $500 – $50,000 with APRs of 8.99% – 29.99%.
The bitcoin rewards are based on the on-time payment of the account and can’t be redeemed in the first 90 days. Oh, and there is a lot of fine print detailing the bitcoin purchase and redemption process so don’t think it is anything like buying a fractional bitcoin directly. Buyer beware:
“SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Upgrade, Inc., a fintech company that offers affordable and responsible credit to mainstream consumers, today launched the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card a new version of Upgrade Card featuring bitcoin rewards. Under the new program, users earn unlimited 1.5% bitcoin rewards on every purchase as they make payments.
Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card
“Upgrade Card is already delivering over $3 billion in annualized credit to consumers,” said Renaud Laplanche, co-founder and CEO at Upgrade. “Starting today, anyone can apply for an Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card and enjoy the same affordable and responsible credit as with any Upgrade Card, plus the potential upside and fun of owning bitcoin.”
As with every Upgrade Card, the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card promotes responsible credit by turning every balance into a fixed-rate installment plan, and by paying rewards to cardholders as they pay down their balance.
The custody and trading platform for holding and selling bitcoin is provided by NYDIG. The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card is a Visa Signature card, which includes benefits such as trip and baggage insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage.
“Crypto rewards introduce cardholders to a new asset class that is increasingly part of a consumer’s financial portfolio,” said Terry Angelos, SVP and Global Head of Fintech at Visa. “Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just getting started, programs like the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card offer an engaging and low-risk way to participate in the crypto economy.”
Upgrade Card is designed as a low cost and responsible credit card. It has no fees, low fixed rates, and equal monthly payments that promote greater discipline and help consumers avoid the never-ending revolving credit trap of traditional credit cards. Monthly charges are combined into installment plans payable over 24 to 60 months, committing users to the discipline of paying down their balance every month.”
Overview by Tim Sloane, VP, Payments Innovation at Mercator Advisory Group
