Forget Airline Miles: A New Wave Of Shoppers Are Earning Bitcoin Rewards On Amazon, Target And Apple Purchases
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For decades, shoppers have been chasing airline miles and cashback points, but a new type of reward may be gaining traction. Instead of loyalty points that can expire or lose value, consumers can now earn Bitcoin rewards on purchases at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Apple.
The Decline of Traditional Loyalty Points
Frequent flyer miles and retail reward points have long been the go-to for shoppers looking to squeeze extra value out of their spending, but unexpected charges and catches have diminished their value.
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"Points buy you less over time," Will Reeves, CEO of Fold, a Bitcoin rewards platform, told Benzinga. "Airlines add surcharges and raise award prices, while retailers devalue catalogs or add blackout rules. Airline miles are devalued on average 10 to 20 percent per year depending on the program."
With this trend of loyalty inflation, the real-world value of points erodes over time. What once felt like 5% might now be closer to 2% or 3% in purchasing power.
Bitcoin Rewards Offer a Different Kind of Value
Fold's model gives the traditional system a twist. Instead of earning store-specific points, shoppers earn sats, which are the smallest monetary fractions of Bitcoin, for everyday purchases. "Bitcoin isn't an IOU to a catalog," Reeves said. "It's a scarce, borderless asset you actually own and can move, save, or sell anywhere."
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Because Bitcoin operates on an open market, its value isn't set by a retailer or credit card company. And while Bitcoin prices can fluctuate, they aren't subject to sudden devaluations like loyalty points.
"Some Fold customers now have more in Bitcoin rewards than they do in savings accounts they've built their whole lives," Reeves told Benzinga.
Major Financial Players Are Taking Notice
Fold recently announced a new Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, issued through Visa and powered by Stripe Issuing, marking a major step toward mainstream adoption. The card offers up to 3.5% back in Bitcoin on every purchase, with no rotating categories or deposit requirements.
Cardholders earn a base of 2% back instantly, plus an extra 1.5% when they pay off purchases using a linked Fold Checking Account, according to the press release. Shoppers can also earn up to 10% back at top brands like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Target (NYSE:TGT), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) through limited-time promotions.
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