MEXC has just launched a new co-branded card with ether.fi, which comes at a critical period when crypto investors are rethinking how they spend their cryptocurrencies. The launch, which has started before the scheduled January 15 launch, combines rewards with on-chain spending, providing a range of rewards, airdrops, and staking rewards, which are a reflection of the market’s developments amid a tighter regulatory landscape.
The campaign runs from January 15th to February 15th, 2026. It is for people who want utility, not just speculation. With the start of the MiCA rules influencing the European cryptocurrency environment, the pressure is on for platforms to provide a product that works in the real world. Has MEXC has risen to the challenge?
Crypto cards have been around for a while now, but the environment has definitely shifted. Tax regulations have become more stringent, there’s been greater emphasis on compliance, and people have become more discerning about how they spend crypto. It’s against this background that MEXC has teamed up with ether.fi to launch a crypto card that’s highly transparent, reward-driven, and accessible worldwide. With the MEXC ether.fi Card, users can make purchases while enjoying instant cashback of 4% on their spends. These expenses can range across different categories such as food, transport, etc. However, there has been an extension of incentives in January as well, which includes 10% to 15% cashback on food and dining spends. To begin with, MEXC has launched a $15 USDT airdrop reward for new users who make a first net deposit of at least 100 USDT and apply for the card. The process is simple. After meeting the deposit requirement and holding it for the required period, the reward is credited to the user’s spot wallet. It’s an important detail, though. It reduces friction for first-time participants and speaks to how exchanges have been rethinking their approach to user acquisition in a more conservative market. The reward distribution is currently planned to occur within 14 days of when the campaign ends. Apart from that, the card has also been marketed as a tool that can yield benefits. Users can earn up to 10% APY by staking their assets. This is a model that follows a trend seen across the industry: reducing the distance between saving, earning, and paying. Travel rewards offer another level. Cardholders may be able to save 65% on luxury hotel bookings, along with cash back on hotel stays. Such rewards have made crypto cards more than a mere novelty for travelers. They have managed to offer a viable alternative to conventional cards. MEXC has also focused on referrals. Users are rewarded with 10 USDT per qualified referrer who completes the deposit and card application process, with no upper limit on this reward. Referrers will also share in cashback from card spending done by their referrals. This absence of caps was done intentionally to make it not just a scalable opportunity for traders, content creators, and community leaders who are already active within crypto-native networks but to make it important again in an ecosystem where organic growth has become difficult to maintain. Although the card is designed for global use, it is restricted in certain jurisdictions. Users are expected to undergo identity verification to use the product. MEXC has noted that the use of the card is restricted to users in supported countries, subject to standard risk and KYC reviews. This balance of accessibility and control is a reflection of where we are in the market right now. Users want flexibility and options, but exchanges can’t afford ambiguity in their operations. By positioning their card within a framework of compliance, MEXC and ether.fi are seeking to provide utility without going too far outside of what is acceptable in a regulatory environment. The MEXC ether.fi Card has been designed with a particular audience in mind: It’s no longer about novelty; it’s about integration. And crypto, again, isn’t being pitched as an alternative to finance; it’s being pitched as part of finance. This move by MEXC is a further departure from its original purpose as a trading exchange. The card is a move towards a broader concept of financial utility, whereby a trading exchange is judged on its ability to integrate seamlessly into one’s life. With this campaign now open and registrations beginning to climb, this message has been clear: crypto exchanges that want to be relevant in 2026 can’t rely on volatility alone. They need a product that works on Monday morning, at the coffee shop, and on the road. The MEXC ether.fi Card is a step in the right direction. Register For MEXC × ether.fi Card Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days. Weekly Research Monthly readers Expert contributors Crypto Projects ReviewedThe Card Built for the Post-MiCA Reality
Front-Loaded Incentives Such As Airdrops and Deposits
Yield Meets Spending
Referral Economics With No Ceiling
What About Availability and Compliance?
Who the Card Is Best Suited For
A Signal of What Comes Next
Why you can trust 99Bitcoins
