US-based crypto exchange Coinbase is preparing to launch a joint card with American Express in the fall of 2025, available exclusively to Coinbase One subscribers. According to CoinDesk, this will not just be a payment instrument, but a product designed to highlight the connection between traditional finance and the world of digital assets.
The card's main visual feature is the hexadecimal data from the Bitcoin genesis block printed on its surface. This symbolic element is intended to evoke the dawn of the cryptocurrency era and respect for the philosophy of decentralization that began it all.
Cardholders will be able to earn up to 4% cashback in the form of Bitcoin. The reward amount will depend on the composition and structure of the user's assets, making the rewards system more personalized. Thus, Coinbase aims to combine traditional financial instruments with the benefits of digital technology, creating a new standard for interacting with cryptocurrency in everyday life.
The project has several key goals. First, it symbolically connects the traditional banking sector, represented by American Express, with the crypto industry, highlighting the convergence of the two financial worlds. Second, accruing cashback in Bitcoin may attract users previously unconnected to crypto payments and encourage their active use. Finally, limiting access to the product only to Coinbase One subscribers increases the value of this premium subscription, turning it into a club of privileged customers.
However, Coinbase also faces certain challenges. In the US, cryptofinancial products are under close scrutiny from regulators, especially those that include digital asset rewards. Bitcoin price volatility remains a significant risk: cashback could sharply increase in value or, conversely, depreciate. Moreover, similar offerings from other companies already exist on the market, so Coinbase will have to offer something truly unique to attract audience attention.
The launch of Coinbase's new American Express card can be seen as a step toward integrating cryptocurrency into the everyday economy. The symbolism of the genesis block lends cultural depth to the initiative—it's not just a financial innovation, but a tribute to the ideas that launched the history of digital money.