Bilt Obsidian vs Gemini Credit Card
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Obsidian | Gemini Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 Bilt Cash + 50,000 points | No current offer |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 4x |
| Travel | 2x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $490 | $476 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Bilt Obsidian | Gemini Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 Bilt Cash + 50,000 points | None |
| To earn it | $4,000 in 3 months | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,395 | $476 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $695 | $476 |
The Bilt Obsidian wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Bilt Obsidian | Gemini Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$300/yr (2 credits) | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Cash back only |
On perks and redemptions, the Bilt Obsidian carries the heavier credit stack (about $300 a year); the Bilt Obsidian earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the Bilt Obsidian earns transferable points. Its Bilt Rewards move to Alaska / Atmos, Air Canada, World of Hyatt, American Airlines, and Turkish, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The Gemini Credit Card pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
These share strong dining and grocery earning but pay in totally different currencies, transferable travel points versus cryptocurrency, and only one rewards rent.
The Obsidian’s signature is earning points on rent plus 3x on dining and groceries, transferable for premium travel. The Gemini pays similar category rates but as Bitcoin or other crypto deposited instantly, with no fee. Travel points and rent versus auto-stacked crypto.
Pros and cons
- Transferable points on rent, plus 3x dining and groceries
- Transfers to strong airline and hotel partners
- Fixed, reliable point value
- Great for a renter who travels
- $95 fee vs the Gemini’s $0
- Best value needs Bilt’s ecosystem and transfers
- No crypto option
- 4% gas, 3% dining, 2% groceries, paid instantly in crypto
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Great for stacking Bitcoin on everyday spend
- Instant rewards to a Gemini account
- Reward value swings with crypto prices
- No rent earning or transfer partners
- Requires a Gemini exchange account
- Crypto tax and volatility to manage
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Bilt Obsidian | Transferable points on rent the Gemini can’t touch. |
| Reward currency | Split | Travel points vs crypto. |
| Gas | Gemini | 4% vs the Obsidian’s 1x. |
| Dining | Tie | Both 3%. |
| Annual fee | Gemini | $0 vs $95. |
The verdict
If you rent and want travel value, the Obsidian is the stronger card, rewarding rent and 3x dining and groceries with points that transfer for premium redemptions, well worth $95 for an engaged renter. Crypto never enters the equation.
If you believe in crypto and want to accumulate it passively, the Gemini is a clean, free way to do it, with strong category rates paid instantly as Bitcoin. Just accept that your rewards’ dollar value will move with the market. It’s a values choice: fixed, transferable travel points and rent earning (Obsidian) versus auto-stacked crypto (Gemini).