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Strike Card Review 2026: Earn Bitcoin on Every PurchaseThe Strike Card earns 1.5% back in Bitcoin on every purchase — no annual fee, no credit check, instant sats rewards via Lightning. Here's the full review.
Two cards have changed the Bitcoin rewards landscape: the Coinbase One Card offers 4% back in Bitcoin — but requires a $29.99/month subscription. The Robinhood Gold Card offers 3% back on everything — with a $50/year Gold membership. Which actually gives you more Bitcoin for your spending?
Let's run the math.
Quick Comparison
| Coinbase One Card | Robinhood Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | 4% on everything | 3% on everything |
| Reward currency | Bitcoin | Bitcoin (or stock) |
| Annual fee | $359.88 ($29.99/mo) | $50/year |
| Break-even spending | ~$35,988/year | Low |
| Credit check | Yes | Yes |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Other subscription benefits | Coinbase One (no trading fees, USDC yield) | Robinhood Gold (3% IRA match, borrow) |
The Math: Which Card Actually Wins?
The Coinbase One Card pays 4% but costs $359.88 per year. The Robinhood Gold Card pays 3% but only costs $50 per year. The question: at what spending level does the extra 1% justify the extra $309.88 in fees?
Break-even calculation:
Extra rewards per dollar: 1% = $0.01 Extra cost: $309.88 Break-even: $309.88 ÷ $0.01 = $30,988 in annual spending
If you spend $20,000/year:
- Coinbase One Card: $800 in Bitcoin rewards - $360 fees = $440 net
- Robinhood Gold Card: $600 in Bitcoin rewards - $50 fees = $550 net
- Winner: Robinhood Gold by $110
If you spend $40,000/year:
- Coinbase One Card: $1,600 in Bitcoin rewards - $360 fees = $1,240 net
- Robinhood Gold Card: $1,200 in Bitcoin rewards - $50 fees = $1,150 net
- Winner: Coinbase One by $90
If you spend $60,000/year:
- Coinbase One Card: $2,400 - $360 = $2,040 net
- Robinhood Gold Card: $1,800 - $50 = $1,750 net
- Winner: Coinbase One by $290
Bottom line: If you charge more than ~$31,000/year to your card, Coinbase One wins on pure Bitcoin rewards math. Below that, Robinhood Gold wins.
The Coinbase One Subscription Value
The key question for Coinbase One: are you paying $360/year just for the card rewards, or do the other Coinbase One benefits have value to you?
Coinbase One includes:
- No trading fees on Coinbase: 0% fees on all trades (vs 0.6% on simple trades, 0.4%/0.6% on advanced)
- USDC yield: Boosted yield on USDC holdings
- Priority customer support: 24/7 phone support
- $1M in account protection
The trading fee calculation: If you trade $5,000/month on Coinbase Simple:
- Without Coinbase One: ~$30/month in fees ($360/year)
- With Coinbase One: $0 in trading fees
If you already pay $360+/year in Coinbase trading fees, the subscription effectively costs you nothing — and the 4% card rewards are pure bonus.
But: Most active traders use Coinbase Advanced Trade, which already charges 0.4-0.6% (lower than simple trades). And sophisticated users use other exchanges. If you're not actively trading on Coinbase, the subscription benefits don't help you.
The Robinhood Gold Subscription Value
Robinhood Gold at $50/year includes:
- 3% IRA contribution match: Put $7,000 in a Roth IRA → get $210 extra from Robinhood
- 5% APY on uninvested cash: Above-market rate on cash balances
- Instant deposits: Up to $50,000 instant deposit
- Margin borrowing: Borrow at a lower rate than non-Gold
- Level II market data
The IRA match alone: If you max out an IRA ($7,000 in 2026), you get $210 back. That's more than 4x the subscription cost. For IRA savers, Robinhood Gold is essentially free.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Choose the Coinbase One Card if:
- You spend $31,000+ per year on a credit card
- You already use or will use Coinbase for trading (saving $360+ in trading fees)
- You want the highest possible flat-rate Bitcoin rewards
- You hold USDC and want boosted yield
Choose the Robinhood Gold Card if:
- You spend less than $31,000/year on a credit card
- You contribute to an IRA (the 3% match makes Gold nearly free)
- You want a simpler value proposition (low subscription, solid rewards)
- You don't use Coinbase for trading
Other Strong Bitcoin Rewards Cards to Consider
Gemini Credit Card
No annual fee, 3% back in Bitcoin on dining, 2% on groceries, 1% on everything else. If your top spending categories are food and restaurants, Gemini beats both Coinbase One and Robinhood Gold on those categories — for free.
| Gemini card on $10,000 dining spend/year | Result |
|---|---|
| 3% with no annual fee | $300 net |
| Coinbase One 4% - $360 fee | -$360 + $400 = $40 net |
| Robinhood Gold 3% - $50 fee | $300 - $50 = $250 net |
For dining-heavy spenders, Gemini dominates. No fee, strong category rate.
Fold Card
Fold offers variable Bitcoin rewards through "spins" — you earn a guaranteed minimum and spin for potentially more. It's less predictable than a flat-rate card but can generate higher rewards. Annual fee of ~$149.
Swan Card
Swan's card routes all rewards directly into Bitcoin DCA — designed for the long-term stacker who wants every dollar of spending to automatically become more Bitcoin. Simple, clean, Swan-aligned.
Tax Implications: Bitcoin Rewards Are Income
This applies to all Bitcoin rewards cards: Bitcoin received as credit card rewards is treated as ordinary income at the fair market value when received. This differs from cash-back rewards (which are considered a rebate and generally not taxable).
Example:
- Spend $3,000 → earn $90 in Bitcoin rewards
- Bitcoin price at time earned: $100,000/BTC
- You received 0.0009 BTC worth $90
- Tax: you owe income tax on $90 in the year earned
- Cost basis of your Bitcoin: $90
- Future sale: any appreciation above $90 is a capital gain
For most cardholders earning $500-2,000/year in Bitcoin rewards, this is a manageable tax consideration. Keep records of rewards received (most cards provide this in statements).
The Verdict
For most people earning under $31K/year on a card: Robinhood Gold Card. The 3% flat rate, $50/year fee, and IRA match make it the most practical Bitcoin rewards card available. Clean, simple, excellent value.
For heavy spenders and active Coinbase users: Coinbase One Card. The 4% rate and subscription benefits stack well if you're already paying Coinbase trading fees.
For dining-focused spenders: Gemini Card. 3% on dining with no annual fee beats everything else in that category.
The bottom line: you're stacking sats with every purchase either way. Pick the card that fits your spending patterns and subscription preferences — and let the rewards compound in Bitcoin.
Related Resources
- Bitcoin Rewards Cards Guide — Complete guide to all Bitcoin rewards cards
- Best Bitcoin Rewards Cards — Full rankings and comparison
- Fold Card vs Gemini Credit Card — Another head-to-head comparison
- Bitcoin DCA Guide — Turn your spending rewards into a DCA strategy
- Bitcoin Tax Guide — How Bitcoin rewards are taxed