Crypto cashback? How to earn while you spend using digital coins

Not all crypto has to be bought. Some of it can be earned just by spending money you were going to spend anyway. Crypto cashback is exactly what it sounds like: rewards in Bitcoin (or other coins) when you swipe, shop, or pay bills. Yes, it exists in South Africa. No, you don’t need to be a crypto expert to make it work.

Luno Rewards: earn Bitcoin through referrals and repeat trades
Luno doesn’t offer direct cashback in South Africa, but it rewards you for consistency. When you buy or sell crypto through Luno’s Instant Buy/Sell option each month, you level up, and the higher your level, the more Bitcoin you can earn for referring others.
- Level 1: Sign up and verify
- Level 2: Buy/sell once a month for 6 months
- Level 3: Buy/sell once a month for 12 months

▶ Referral bonus: You get R50 - R200 in BTC, depending on your level, for each friend who signs up using your code to buy crypto. They get a reward too
▶ Where to find it: Go to the Rewards tab in your Luno app or dashboard

CryptoConvert + Pick n Pay = Bitcoin rewards (sort of)
CryptoConvert lets you pay for groceries with Bitcoin at over 2,000 Pick n Pay stores. While this isn’t cashback in the traditional sense, some wallets offer sats-back, e.g.; satoshis = Bitcoin cents, every time you transact.

▶ How to get it: Use a Lightning Network-enabled wallet like Bitrefill or BlueWallet with CryptoConvert
▶ Pro move: Pair it with a sats-back wallet like Fold, although limited in SA, still usable with workarounds

Why not earn Bitcoin for buying groceries instead of just watching it dip?

UpnUp is a passive micro-investing app built in South Africa. It links to your bank account and rounds up your card transactions. Then, once a week, it totals your spare change and automatically invests it into Bitcoin or USDC, a stablecoin.

You set your weekly limits. Minimum starts at around R10, with options to save via round-ups or fixed add-ons. It’s not direct cashback, but it builds up your crypto in the background, without you doing a single thing.

▶ How to get it: Download the UpnUp app, connect your bank account, and set your savings preferences
▶ Crypto options: Bitcoin and USDC (more coins may be added later)
▶ Bonus: You can now withdraw your savings in Bitcoin or convert it back to rands, all within the app

Bitrefill rewards: shop with crypto, and earn rewards
Bitrefill lets you buy local vouchers - Takealot, Uber, Checkers - using Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other coins. You get reward points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for discounts or converted back into sats.

▶ How to use it: Sign up at bitrefill.com, shop with crypto, and watch your sats-back rewards add up automatically in your wallet. You can spend them on future Bitrefill purchases.

Binance cashback on selected card transactions
Binance doesn’t yet offer direct crypto cashback on swipes or purchases in South Africa, but it offers a set of monthly missions you can complete to earn points, vouchers, or crypto rewards.

These tasks vary. Sometimes it’s a simple buy or sell. Other times, it’s a referral or P2P trade. You collect Binance Points, which can be swapped for discount vouchers or small token bonuses.

▶ Where to find it: Tap the Rewards Hub or Missions section in the Binance app
▶ Worth knowing: These aren’t passive rewards - you’ll need to complete tasks to earn anything

Crypto cashback isn’t going to make you rich, but it can give you exposure to Bitcoin without buying it outright. For most South Africans, it’s the lowest-risk entry point into crypto. You're already spending. You might as well earn back something useful.