Crypto.com Ruby Steel Review
Overview
The Crypto.com Ruby Steel earns 3.5% back in crypto, but only if you buy into the Plus Level Up tier, which costs about $49.90 a year or a $500 CRO lock-up for 12 months. So the higher rate comes with a real, recurring cost.
Once you factor in the subscription and crypto's volatility, the effective return is a lot less exciting than 3.5% sounds.
Think twice if: you do not already live in the Crypto.com ecosystem, because the subscription and volatile rewards eat much of the headline rate.
Our 2.0 out of 5 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Rewards: how it earns
You earn 3.5% back in crypto on everything, paid in CRO by default or Bitcoin (the Bitcoin option caps the rate at $500 of purchases a month). It is a strong-looking rate, but it is gated behind the Plus tier and paid in a token whose value swings.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 3.5x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 3.5x | Base rate |
| Gas | 3.5x | Base rate |
| Travel | 3.5x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 3.5x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 3.5x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: The Plus tier costs about $49.90 per year, or you can lock up $500 of CRO for 12 months instead. Rewards are paid in crypto; the Bitcoin option caps the 3.5% rate at $500 in purchases per month. Issued by Comenity Capital Bank; not available to New York residents.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Pros and cons
- 3.5% back in crypto on everything
- Subscription can be waived with a $500 CRO lock-up
- Good fit for active Crypto.com users
- Requires a paid Plus subscription or CRO lock-up
- Rewards are a volatile token
- Not available to New York residents
The welcome bonus
There is no welcome bonus to offset the subscription cost, so the value rests entirely on ongoing spend.
Is the annual fee worth it?
The roughly $50 a year we show reflects the required Plus subscription, not a card fee; you can instead lock up $500 of CRO for a year. Either way you are paying to access the rate, so you need meaningful spend before 3.5% in crypto beats a free 2% card in dollars.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Requires the Plus Level Up tier: about $4.99 per month ($49.90 per year), or lock up $500 of CRO for 12 months
- The $50 annual fee shown reflects the required Plus subscription, not a separate card fee
- Rewards are paid in CRO by default, or you can switch to Bitcoin (the Bitcoin option is capped at $500 in purchases per month)
- Rewards are paid in cryptocurrency, so their dollar value moves with the market
- No foreign transaction fees
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you are already paying for Crypto.com Plus and are bullish on crypto, the 3.5% can make sense on real spending volume.
For everyone else, a free 2% cash-back card is simpler, cheaper, and pays in dollars. This tier only pays off inside the Crypto.com ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Offer details verified against issuer sources as of July 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
