Gemini just released something that people who love crypto have been waiting for, and it’s bigger than you might think. The Winklevoss twins, who are well-known, run the exchange. They officially launched their Solana Edition Credit Card on October 20, 2025. It combines everyday spending with automated staking in one sleek package. This isn’t just another rewards card; it’s a whole new way for people to earn and grow their crypto holdings.
The timing of this announcement is what makes it so interesting. Gemini is now going deeper into blockchain-specific products that make sense for regular people, right after the success of their XRP Credit Card. And to be honest, the features they’re offering? Very interesting.
What the Solana Edition Card Really Has
This is where it gets good. Cardholders can get up to 4% back in SOL tokens on eligible purchases. There are no annual fees or fees for transactions made outside of the US. But what really changed the game? That feature that lets you stake automatically.
You can use the card almost anywhere because it works on Mastercard’s network. You’re getting SOL every time you swipe, and those rewards? They go right to your account. You don’t have to wait for monthly statements like you do with regular credit cards.
Some users can actually get 10% back on their purchases with certain merchants through Gemini’s Vault Rewards program. That higher rate, though, depends on how much you spend each month and what deals are going on at the time.
The card still has all of the main Gemini benefits, like:
- Being able to work with more than 50 different cryptocurrencies
- Getting crypto rewards right away
- Working with big companies like Booking.com and Lyft
Auto-Staking: The Feature Everyone Is Talking About
This is where Gemini really stands out from the rest. For the first time, users can set up automatic staking for their Solana rewards right from their Gemini accounts. No third-party wallets, no complicated transfers, and no stress.
What are the possible returns? You can earn up to 6.77% a year on those staked SOL rewards. When new users sign up, they can choose to use auto-staking. Existing Gemini cardholders can turn it on at any time they want Solana to be their main reward cryptocurrency.
Here’s how it works: users can immediately stake rewards earned in SOL, which lets them passively grow their holdings without doing anything. Gemini uses smart contracts on Solana’s decentralized network to handle everything on its platform. Node operators check blocks on the blockchain and get staking rewards for their work. Cardholders also get a piece of the action.
You can now unstake whenever you want. Just so you know, it could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to get your money back. It’s not instant, but it can be changed to fit most people’s needs.
Why Solana? Why now?
Gemini didn’t just choose Solana at random. The blockchain has been really busy lately. Developers are rushing to it, users are growing, and the ecosystem is growing quickly. Reports from companies like Electric Capital say that Solana is bringing in a huge number of new developers, making it one of the platforms that is growing the fastest in the whole crypto space.
The exchange said that launching a Solana edition was a “logical choice” because of the network’s growth and the strong, active community it has built. And they’re right, Solana has made itself a top place for new ideas.
This is another interesting piece of information: as of July 2025, Gemini Credit Card users who had Solana rewards for at least a year saw those rewards grow by 299.1%. People pay attention to that kind of performance.
Gemini is introducing a new use for SOL by combining earning and staking on a single card. This connects everyday spending with the ability to earn money. It is both a way to spend money and a way to stake.
Gemini’s plan to grow its credit card business
This Solana card isn’t showing up by itself. Gemini’s earlier Bitcoin and XRP editions, which also offered up to 4% in cryptocurrency rewards, preceded this one. The XRP version, in particular, helped the exchange grow its rewards system and attract regular customers who wanted to build up their crypto by making regular purchases.
And the figures? They tell a pretty clear story. Between August 2024 and August 2025, the number of people who signed up for Gemini’s credit card program went from 8,000 to almost 31,000. That’s almost four times as much growth in one year.
Mizuho analysts have said that the card platform is now a major source of income for Gemini. The exchange went public in September 2025, and these credit card products are a big part of its growth.
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the twin brothers who started Gemini in 2015, have been working hard to make blockchain-native utility a part of everyday financial products. Of course, they’re famous for suing Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook in 2006 and getting a $65 million settlement. But right now, their main goal is to build up Gemini’s crypto infrastructure.
The Bigger Picture of Crypto Credit Cards
Other companies do this, but Gemini’s way is different. Other companies, such as Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Upgrade, also offer crypto rewards cards:
- Coinbase’s card lets you get crypto back on purchases in USDC, BTC, ETH, and other currencies
- Crypto.com’s card gives you 0–5% cash back in CRO, depending on the tier
- Upgrade’s Bitcoin Rewards Card gives you unlimited 1.5% back in Bitcoin
But here’s the thing: Gemini is the only company that offers automatic staking for SOL rewards. Most other cards just give you the crypto and then leave you to figure out what to do with it. Gemini is automating the next step, which is great for both experienced crypto users and new users who want to grow their money without having to do anything.
The Gemini card is also unique because rewards are given right away when you make a purchase. That means users can benefit from price increases right away instead of waiting for monthly payments.
What You Should Know About Staking Rewards
Staking Solana has become one of the most popular ways for people who own SOL to make money without doing anything. More than 67% of SOL’s circulating supply is already staked as of July 2025. Depending on how well the validators do and the state of the network, rewards usually range from 5.5% to 7.5% APY.
The mechanics depend on a number of things, such as:
- How much SOL do you delegate
- The current inflation rate of the network
- Validator fees
- How long are validators online
Every time a validator votes for a block that is added to the Solana blockchain, they get Vote Credits. These credits decide how many of the rewards are given out.
Gemini’s auto-staking service offers yields of up to 6.77%, which is right in that range. And since it’s automated, users don’t have to worry about managing their stake accounts or picking validators.
When you delegate SOL, you can’t immediately get staking rewards. You have to wait until a new epoch starts, which happens about every two days on Solana. But the rewards keep coming once you’re in.
Gemini’s Bigger Picture: Growth and New Ideas
Gemini has been busy with more than just credit cards. In May, Malta gave the exchange a MiFID II license, which made it possible for cryptocurrency derivatives to be sold all over the EU. The Winklevoss brothers have also been involved in politics. They gave $21 million worth of Bitcoin to help pro-crypto policies in the US.
In another sign of faith in institutions, Nasdaq put $50 million into Gemini’s IPO before it happened. That kind of support from mainstream finance shows that there is serious long-term potential.
The Solana card is also part of Gemini’s plan to connect with Solana’s high-performance network in a bigger way. Last month, the exchange said that USDC and USDT transfers would now be possible on the SOL network. This means that users can send and receive stablecoins faster and for less money.
Gemini was founded in 2015 and got one of the first crypto licenses from the New York Department of Financial Services. However, it took them years to get a large share of the market because of regulatory issues. The brothers were the first to ask the SEC for a spot Bitcoin ETF in 2013, but that request was never approved.
They also had problems with their Gemini Earn product, which let people lend cryptocurrency and earn up to 13% interest. That program had problems when a number of counterparties went out of business in 2022, which froze assets and led to actions by the SEC and New York regulators. Gemini did give back $1.1 billion to customers in the end, but the event left scars.
The credit card strategy, on the other hand, seems to be working. Gemini is taking advantage of the trend of crypto becoming more useful in everyday life by combining spending, earning, and now staking into one easy-to-use package.
What this means for Solana and the use of crypto
The Solana Edition Credit Card could make SOL more useful in everyday financial situations in important ways. The card encourages users to hold on to their rewards and stake them for longer periods of time by making it easy to do so. That’s good for the Solana ecosystem and for cardholders who get more interest on their money.
Solana is still one of the blockchain platforms that is growing the fastest in terms of money, users, and development activity. The network is drawing in a lot of different developers who are making everything from NFT marketplaces to DeFi apps. SOL is trading at about $194 as of October 2025, after holding support levels between $175 and $186. The futures market has more than $8 billion in open interest, and the spot market has $31.7 million in net inflows.
Corporate treasuries now own more than 20 million SOL tokens, and the network made $223 million in the third quarter alone. Some analysts say that if the price breaks above $202-$211, it could start a rally toward price targets of $235-$250.
As cryptocurrency becomes more common in everyday life, products like this may become standard for Gemini. The card backs up the idea that digital assets aren’t just for trading; you can also use them, earn money with them, and grow them by spending money like you normally would.
How to Get the Card
It’s easy to apply. People who want to get a card can apply through Gemini’s website or mobile app. Users need to link a checking or savings account to their credit card because it’s a credit card and not a debit card. You can’t use cryptocurrency to pay directly.
Gemini does a standard credit check, and whether or not you get approved depends on how good your credit is. The standard variable APR for purchases is between 17.24% and 29.24% right now. For cash advances, it is 30.24%.
One important thing to know is that the 4% crypto back on gas and EV charging is limited to $300 per month. The rate goes down to 1% after that. The reward breakdown is:
- 4% back on gas and EV charging (up to $300 monthly spending)
- 3% back on food
- 2% back on groceries
- 1% back on everything else
The card doesn’t show the credit card number on its surface; you can only see it through Gemini’s mobile or web app for extra security. The card is only available to people in the U.S. right now.
New cardholders who were approved by June 30, 2025, could get a $200 welcome bonus in crypto if they spent $3,000 in their first 90 days. To see what’s available right now, check Gemini’s current deals.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for Crypto Cards
The Gemini Solana Edition Credit Card is more than just another way to earn rewards. This means that crypto products are getting better, easier to use, and more integrated into everyday financial life.
One of the biggest problems for regular users is that it’s hard to understand. The auto-staking feature solves this problem. You don’t need to know what validators, epochs, or smart contracts are to get staking yields. You just spend, earn, and watch your rewards grow on their own.
As Solana’s ecosystem grows and Gemini moves forward with its credit card plan, products like this could change the way people think about spending and saving in the digital asset age. If you support Solana and want to get the most out of your holdings, or if you’re just interested in crypto rewards, this card is a good way to get started.
And with Gemini’s IPO coming up and more institutions backing it, the Winklevoss brothers look like they will keep pushing the limits in the crypto space. The Solana card could be the start of a bigger trend toward financial products that use blockchain technology and work for regular people.
