What is Gnosis Pay?
Gnosis Pay is a self-custodial Visa debit card that connects directly to your crypto wallet, letting you spend digital assets anywhere Visa is accepted. When integrated with Zeal, it becomes your gateway to earning up to 4% cashback while your balance grows at 5% APY without the usual crypto headaches.
Think of it as your regular debit card, but supercharged. You maintain complete control of your funds (no bank can freeze your account), earn real yield while you sleep, and get rewarded for every purchase. All through Zeal's simple interface that hides the crypto complexity.
How Gnosis Pay Works: Earn While You Spend
The Gnosis Pay card functions like any Visa debit card with one key difference: it's powered by your self-custodial crypto wallet instead of a traditional bank account.
Here's the simple flow:
- Deposit funds into your Zeal Earn account (earning 5% APY)
- Auto-recharge keeps your card topped up to your preferred balance
- Spend anywhere Visa is accepted globally
- Earn cashback on every purchase (if you hold GNO tokens)
Your card automatically pulls from your high-yield Zeal account when needed, so your money works for you until the moment you spend it. No more letting cash sit idle in a 0% checking account.
The card works both virtually (for online purchases) and physically (arriving by mail). Virtual cards are available instantly once you complete setup.
Earn Up to 4% Cashback with Gnosis Pay
Here's where Gnosis Pay gets interesting. Unlike traditional cards that offer minimal rewards, you can earn up to 4% cashback on every purchase. But the system is more complex than typical cashback programs.
What are GNO tokens? GNO is the digital currency that powers the Gnosis network (the blockchain that runs your card). Think of it like airline miles, but instead of being locked to one company, you can buy, sell, or trade GNO tokens freely. Currently, one GNO token costs around €100-110.
How to activate cashback (the full setup process):
- Deposit euros from your bank into your Zeal account (appears as EURe tokens or "Cash")
- Buy GNO tokens using your EURe balance within Zeal
- Deposit GNO into the Cashback feature (this actually deposits the tokens into your card's underlying wallet)
Cashback tiers: The more GNO you deposit into the Cashback feature, the higher your rate:
- 0.1 to 1 GNO (~€10-110): 0.5-1% cashback
- 5.5 GNO (~€605): 2.5% cashback
- Higher amounts: Up to 4% cashback maximum
Real-world example: With €2,000 monthly spending and maximum 4% cashback, you'd earn €80 per month or €960 per year in GNO tokens. Compare that to traditional cards offering 0-1% cashback (€0-240 annually on the same spending). The difference pays for your GNO deposit requirement and delivers real returns.
How the weekly cashback cycle works: This is where it gets technical. Cashback operates on weekly cycles with specific rules:
- Snapshot period: Your cashback rate is determined by the lowest amount of GNO you held during the 7-day period before each purchase
- Weekly payments: Cashback is paid 5-12 days after you make purchases, distributed weekly in GNO tokens
- Reward accumulation: As you earn cashback in GNO tokens, those rewards increase your total GNO balance, potentially boosting your future cashback rate
- Spending limits: Maximum cashback applies to €5,000 in eligible spending per week
Important timing considerations:
- If you deposit GNO for the first time, you may wait several days for the cycle to complete before earning maximum rates
- If you withdraw GNO during a cycle, your cashback for that entire cycle drops to the lower rate
- Not all transactions qualify (cash advances, financial services, etc. are excluded)
Important note about GNO returns: The GNO tokens you deposit into the Cashback feature don't earn Zeal's 5% APY like your euros in the Earn accounts. Instead, your GNO earns returns in two ways: cashback rewards from spending and any market price appreciation of the GNO token itself. If you want to spend your accumulated GNO tokens directly, you'd need to withdraw them from the Cashback feature first.
Connecting Gnosis Pay with Zeal
Zeal makes the Gnosis Pay setup seamless. Instead of dealing with crypto complexities, you get a streamlined experience:
Simple setup process:
- Choose your earn account (EUR or USD)
- Set your card target balance (auto-recharge amount)
- Complete identity verification (handled in-app)
- Order your physical card (virtual available immediately)
Auto-recharge functionality: Set your preferred card balance (say, €200). When you spend €20 on coffee, Zeal automatically moves €20 from your Earn account to restore your card balance. Your money stays in the high-yield account until needed, earning interest right up to the moment you spend.
This automation means you don't have to think about transfers or managing balances. Your card is always ready, and your money is always earning.
Costs, FX, and How Zeal Compares to Neobank Cards
Zeal charges zero foreign exchange fees on international transactions. You get Visa's competitive exchange rate with no markup ideal for frequent travelers and digital nomads.
Comparison with Leading Neobanks
Both N26 and Revolut offer multiple subscription tiers that affect card features and fees. Here's how Zeal compares across their plans:
N26 Plans:
- Standard (Free): Zero FX fees, but 1.7% on foreign ATM withdrawals
- Smart (€4.90/month): Same fees as Standard, plus some perks
- Go (€9.90/month): Free foreign ATM withdrawals, travel insurance
- Metal (€16.90/month): Premium features, up to 2% savings interest
Revolut Plans:
- Standard (Free): Mid-market FX rates with limits, then 0.5% fee + 1% weekend markup
- Premium/Metal (€7.99-16.99/month): Higher limits, some free ATM withdrawals
- Note: Revolut replaced cash cashback with RevPoints loyalty program in 2024
Even compared to their premium tiers, Zeal offers superior returns and true financial ownership.
Ideal for Travel & Remote Work
The combination of yield + zero FX fees + real card utility makes Zeal perfect for:
- Digital nomads working across Europe
- Frequent travelers avoiding FX gouging
- Remote workers receiving payments in multiple currencies
- EU residents seeking better returns on cash savings
Unlike traditional cards that hide exchange rate markups in complex fee structures, Zeal's transparent pricing means you know exactly what you're paying.
Security Features Explained
The Gnosis Pay card itself includes standard Visa security protections: chip and PIN technology, contactless payment limits, and fraud monitoring. You can freeze or unfreeze your card instantly through the Zeal app if it's lost or stolen.
Beyond basic card security, Zeal addresses the biggest barrier to crypto adoption: complex security management. Traditional crypto wallets require users to manage seed phrases (long lists of words that control your funds). If you lose your seed phrase or someone steals it, your money is gone forever.
Zeal eliminates this risk with passkey technology. Instead of seed phrases, you use biometric authentication (fingerprint or face recognition) tied to your device's secure chip. Your wallet credentials are encrypted and backed up to your Apple iCloud or Google account automatically.
What this means practically:
- No seed phrases to write down and lose
- No private keys for scammers to phish from you
- If you lose your phone, download Zeal on a new device and authenticate with your biometrics
- Your funds remain accessible and secure
For European banking features (bank transfers, IBAN), Zeal partners with regulated entities like Monerium, ensuring traditional banking protections apply to those services.
High-Yield Returns with Gnosis Pay & Zeal
This is where Zeal shines: your spending account earns real interest. Unlike traditional banks that pay you 0.5% while lending your money at 5%+, Zeal connects you directly to decentralized lending markets.
How the yield works:
- Your euros/dollars convert to stable digital currencies (EURe/USDCe)
- These get lent to borrowers on audited DeFi platforms
- You earn the full lending rate (currently around 5% APY)
- Interest compounds every second
- Withdraw anytime, no penalties
Live yield tracking: Watch your balance grow in real-time within the Zeal app. No waiting for monthly statements you see your earnings accumulate by the second.
Auto-recharge magic: Your card pulls from this earning balance as needed. So if you spend €50 on dinner, €50 gets pulled from your 5% APY account to reload your card.
Pros & Cons
Advantages:
✅ Self-custody: You control your funds, no bank can freeze your account
✅ High yield: Earn ~5% APY on your spending balance
✅ Zero FX fees: Spend globally without exchange rate markup
✅ Real cashback: Up to 4% in GNO tokens you actually own
✅ Simple security: Biometric passkeys, no seed phrases to manage
✅ Instant access: Spend, withdraw, or transfer 24/7
Considerations:
⚠️ Cashback requires GNO: Need to hold GNO tokens for maximum rewards
⚠️ DeFi risks: Higher yields come with smart contract risks (though minimal with audited platforms)
⚠️ GNO volatility: Cashback tokens fluctuate in value
⚠️ Learning curve: New concepts if you're unfamiliar with crypto
⚠️ No government insurance: Self-custodied funds aren't FDIC-protected
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Gnosis Pay?
A: Gnosis Pay is a Visa debit card that connects to your crypto wallet, integrated seamlessly with Zeal to offer cashback, zero FX fees, and secure instant transactions while maintaining self-custody of your funds.
Q: How does Zeal's cashback work?
A: Users earn up to 4% cashback in GNO tokens by following a three-step process: deposit euros into Zeal, buy GNO tokens, then deposit those GNO tokens into the Cashback feature. Cashback is calculated weekly based on your minimum GNO balance during each 7-day cycle and paid automatically 5-12 days after purchases.
Q: Is Gnosis Pay secure?
A: Yes, Zeal uses advanced passkey security with biometric verification, eliminating the risk of seed phrase phishing common with traditional crypto wallets. Your private keys are encrypted in your device's secure enclave.
Q: Can I earn interest using Gnosis Pay?
A: Yes, Gnosis Pay links to Zeal's high-yield accounts (currently ~5% APY). Your card automatically recharges from these earning accounts, so your money grows until the moment you spend it.
Q: What fees does Zeal charge with Gnosis Pay?
A: Zeal charges no FX fees on international transactions and provides free euro on/off-ramping through regulated banking partners.
Ready to earn while you spend? Download Zeal and start earning 5% APY with 4% cashback today.
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Cryptocurrency values can fluctuate. DeFi yields are variable and not guaranteed. Consider your risk tolerance before using decentralized finance platforms.
