Living on a Bitcoin Standard in 2025: Personal Finance Hacks
From Earning Bitcoin Rewards to Credit Cards, Here's How I Maximize My Monthly Spending
Why I Chose a Bitcoin-First Strategy
In late 2022, I went all-in on Bitcoin—not just as an investment, but as the base layer of my financial system.
By 2025, most of my money flows had shifted into a Bitcoin-native framework. I stopped chasing only cashback or airline miles. Instead, I focused on building a setup where every dollar I spend helps me accumulate Bitcoin—automatically and passively.
Cash App: Fee-Free Bitcoin DCA + 4% HYSA
Every paycheck, I direct deposit $150 into Cash App, and it's 100% auto-converted into Bitcoin.
There are no fees or spreads when buying Bitcoin this way, which is incredibly rare.
Cash App also offers a free high-yield savings account (HYSA) paying 4% APY, available to users who direct deposit at least $300/month.
I use this as my short-term liquidity bucket, while the rest of my direct deposit gets converted straight into BTC.
Cash App also supports the Lightning Network, which means you can use it as a custodial hot wallet for real-world BTC payments—like at Steak ‘n Shake.
Tips:
If you’re just getting started, Cash App is a seamless entry point into Bitcoin.
If you're on a W-2 salary, you can split your direct deposit—sending a portion to your traditional checking account, and a portion to Cash App for automatic BTC conversion and 4% yield, all within the same paycheck.
You don’t need to open a separate HYSA or pay extra fees—it’s all in one app.
Join me on Cash App—when you send anyone $5 or more, you’ll get $5. Enter my code when creating your account: P839HHK
Credit Cards: Maxing Out Fiat Rewards
While Bitcoin is my endgame, I’m not ignoring the rewards that traditional finance still offers.
In fact, I’ve built a system where I earn points and cashback from top credit cards—then pay them off through Fold and earn Bitcoin on the payoff (we’ll get to that later!).
Here are four cards that form the core of my reward-earning rotation, in order of complexity:
Discover IT – Rotating 5% Cashback
This was one of my first cards, and it still has value—especially in the first year, when Discover matches all your cashback.
5% cashback on quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter)
Categories often include groceries, gas, PayPal, restaurants, and Amazon
Cashback match your first year
No annual fee
Great starting credit card for beginners
Get your @Discover Card from my link and we'll each get a $100 statement credit when you make a purchase in the first 3 months. Terms apply.
Capital One Savor – Entertainment + Dining Cashback
A solid card with some competitive cashback categories:
3% cashback on entertainment (concerts, select streaming services, etc.)
3% on dining and groceries (if you don’t already have Amex Gold—see below)
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee
This is a great credit card for those starting out that don’t want to dish out an annual fee.
Hey! I love my Capital One Savor card and I think you will too! You could earn unlimited rewards on every purchase with a card that fits your lifestyle. I can get a bonus if you apply through my referral link.
Gemini Credit Card – Real-Time Bitcoin Rewards
This is my most recent card—and it’s one of the few that pays out Bitcoin directly1 instead of points. This card is perfect if you are already stacking BTC:
4% back in BTC on Gas, Transit, Rideshare, and EV Charging, up to $300 a month
3% back in BTC on dining
2% back in BTC on groceries
1% back in BTC on everything else
BTC deposited instantly into your Gemini account after each purchase
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee
I’m currently taking advantage of a limited time $200 sign-on bonus after spending $3,000 within three months of opening the account. This card plays a valuable role in my Bitcoin-native stack—especially when I want BTC back in real time.
Use my referral code to sign up for The Gemini Credit Card and get an extra $50 in crypto! Check out offer and benefits.
Chase Sapphire Preferred – Travel + Transfer Partners
My main travel card. It earns Ultimate Rewards (UR) points, which are super flexible within the Chase ecosystem:
2x points on travel and 3x points on dining
1.25x redemption boost via the Chase travel portal and 5% back on Chase Travel
Access to transfer partners like Hyatt, United, and Avios
$95 annual fee
Annual $50 hotel credit
No foreign transaction fees
Sign-Up Bonus (see link below)
This card is especially useful for turning sign-on bonuses into high-leverage travel, like free flights or hotel nights.
If you use the yearly hotel credit, this card only has an effective annual fee of $45.
Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire® card. I can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
American Express Gold – The Food Powerhouse
The Amex Gold is my go-to card for restaurants and groceries. It earns:
4x Membership Rewards (MR) at restaurants worldwide
4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25k/year)
Access to transfer partners
$325 annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Sign-Up Bonus (see link below)
Comes with a suite of credits:
Despite the $325 annual fee, I get $424 in usable credits, plus 4x points on most food I buy. With how often I cook and dine out, this card pays for itself. While a lot of people reject the “coupon-book” approach for modern credit cards, it’s clear that Amex and other companies are adopting this playbook more, so if it fits your typical spending, you can get a lot of value from the card. The Amex Gold acts like a more premium version of the Capital One Savor.
Here’s my Amex referral link. Use it and we could both earn rewards if you are approved and get a Card. Check out offers and Card benefits.
How This All Comes Together
Now that I’ve earned my cashback, points, and BTC card rewards... here’s where the magic happens:
I pay it all off through Fold—and earn even more Bitcoin on top of the rewards I already stacked.
Fold: The Engine That Ties It All Together
This is where everything comes together.
Fold isn’t just another Bitcoin app—it’s the hub of my entire personal finance strategy. I use it to convert fiat spending into Bitcoin rewards from multiple angles: paying bills, buying gift cards, and even paying off my credit cards.
Here’s how I extract maximum value from Fold:
Fold+ ($99/year): Unlocking the Real Rewards
Fold+ is the premium service they offer, and it’s absolutely worth it if you’re serious about maximizing Bitcoin rewards.
Why? Because it unlocks ACH rewards—which means you get Bitcoin back just for paying bills and making bank transfers.
Here’s how it works:
If you spend $5,000–$9,999.99 on Fold in a given month (gift cards, debit card purchases, BTC buys), then the next month you’ll earn:
0.5% back in BTC on your first $2,500 of ACH payments
0.25% back after that up to your total spend amount
See this link for more details on ACH rewards
I make sure I hit these thresholds monthly—usually with a combination of bitcoin buys and gift card purchases.
Fold Debit Card: Bitcoin on Everyday Spending
If you prefer debit over credit, Fold has its own debit card that gives Bitcoin back on all purchases.
While I mostly use credit cards for their higher rewards, I’ve tested the debit card and it’s solid—especially when paired with wheel spins (more on that below).
No Fees for Buying or Selling Bitcoin
Fold+ members get fee-free BTC4 buys and sells—which is incredibly rare.
While I don’t trade often, it’s nice to know that if I need to convert, I’m not losing a chunk of money to fees that can add up compared to other exchanges.
Gift Cards: Instant Sats Back on Spending You Already Do
Fold lets you buy gift cards from major brands like Amazon, Uber, DoorDash, and Starbucks—and get instant sats back (up to 10% depending on the brand).
I regularly use these for recurring spending and even stack them on top of my credit card rewards. It’s basically a cheat code:
Buy a gift card
Get BTC back
Use the gift card instead of your credit card (or resell it)
Boost your monthly Fold spend total to unlock better ACH rewards next month
Spin the Wheel: Free Daily Bitcoin Rewards
Every day you use your Fold card, you unlock a free spin of the Fold Wheel—a gamified way to earn Bitcoin, bonuses, and even surprise rewards.
In May 2025, I even won a free Bitcoin Conference ticket just by spinning. Later, I was sent an exclusive offer to secure a 2026 ticket, which I took.
These spins may seem like a gimmick—but they pay off. I’ve won sats, gift cards, and referral boosts just by staying active.
Paying Rent with Amex Send + Venmo + Fold = Bitcoin Back
One of the most overlooked opportunities in personal finance is turning rent payments into rewards—and with Fold, I’ve figured out a reliable way to earn Bitcoin back on my rent.
Here’s the method:
Use Amex Send to pay rent through Venmo or Paypal.
Amex Send lets you send money to friends (or your landlord) fee-free via Venmo.
Since it’s processed as a purchase, it doesn’t count as a cash advance, and doesn’t incur fees or interest.
I use the Amex Gold card for this— you can use Send & Split on any Amex card after connecting your Venmo/PayPal account.
Pay the Amex Statement Balance in full by the due date.
I pay off my Amex via ACH on my Fold account.
Fold gives me Bitcoin back on that ACH payment—up to 1% depending on my Fold+ spend tier for the month.
It’s a circular but powerful flow, where I can get a small amount of BTC back for expenses that I normally do not use a credit card for.
You can also use this trick for splitting bills with friends, reimbursing someone, or sending money to a trusted partner—it’s not just for rent.
Note: Always double-check your Venmo settings and make sure Amex Send is available to you. It works best with trusted connections, not unknown business accounts.
Why Fold Works
Fold rewards you for spending and paying bills—things you’re already doing.
Combine that with:
Credit card payoffs
Rent payments via Amex Send → Venmo → ACH
Gift card purchases
Referrals
Wheel spins
…and you’ve got a system where your entire fiat lifestyle becomes a Bitcoin rewards engine.
Join Fold and start earning Bitcoin on everyday spending
Final Thoughts: Start Where You Are
You don’t need to go all-in on Bitcoin tomorrow to benefit from the ideas I’ve shared here. In fact, most of this system can be adopted gradually:
It’s okay to start small—a single credit card, a $50 direct deposit to Cash App, or just experimenting with Fold gift cards.
Not everyone is a credit card person. If you’re new to personal finance, I’d recommend building a strong foundation first. Credit cards can be powerful tools—but only when used responsibly.
Your finances don’t need to be Bitcoin-centric to gain value from this guide. Whether you’re stacking sats or just looking for smarter ways to manage money, these principles still apply.
I built this system over time—by testing, iterating, and refining what worked. Hopefully, you can take pieces of it and make it your own.
Thanks for reading. If you have questions or want to chat about any of this, feel free to leave a comment or reach out!
You can choose what kind of cryptocurrency to receive as a reward. But let’s be honest, bitcoin rewards are superior, especially when altcoins have been bleeding to bitcoin for over three years, and recently put in a lower low.
You can put $7 a month into a Dunkin gift card via the mobile app to use for later.
The Resy credit works at any restaurant that uses Resy, even if you didn’t book your reservation through Resy.
While Fold+ removes transaction fees, there’s still a small spread (less than 1%) on BTC buys and sells. That said, it’s highly competitive—especially when combined with the ACH rewards, which offset this for most users.