How the $100 Threshold Works

ether.fi’s affiliate program has one hard rule: you only earn commission when your referred friend reaches $100+ in personal spending on their activated card.

Until that moment, no commission accrues.

Signal: The $100 is a spending gate, not a penalty. It’s genuine personal spending—groceries, travel, gas, online purchases, or any merchant that accepts Visa.

Why the threshold? The program filters for real, engaged card users. Someone who signs up but never activates is just an account holder; someone who activates but never spends is not yet a genuine user; someone who spends $100+ has validated the card for their daily financial life. This signals quality to the program—your referral is worth rewarding.

Most crypto-card affiliate programs use a spending gate between $50 and $300. The $100 threshold is middle ground and applies equally to all referrers.

What You Earn When They Hit $100

The moment your friend’s cumulative card spending crosses $100 (in one transaction or accumulated over weeks), three payout streams unlock:

New Member Bonus. You receive $10–$20 (depending on your referral tier), paid once. Tier 1 referrers earn $10; Tier 4 earn $20.

Recurring Cashback. You earn 0.1%–0.3% of every dollar they spend, paid monthly, for up to 12 months from activation. If they spend $2,000/month on the card, you earn $2–$6/month—real money for a genuine introduction.

Physical Card Commission. If they order a physical card (not just virtual), you earn 20–25 % (tiered) of the card issuance fee. For a Luxe card ($100 fee), that’s $20–$25 extra.

Why it matters: Once they hit $100, your commission unlocks and locks in. If they never spend another dollar after reaching the threshold, you’ve already earned your full commission on that referral.

What Happens if They Never Spend $100

For you. Zero commission, zero bonuses. You are not penalized—your tier status doesn’t drop, no negative marks appear, and you can refer others freely. You simply earned nothing on that specific referral.

For your friend. No downside. They have a fully functional card with access to all features: cashback on qualifying spend, no annual fee for Core tier, and the ability to convert crypto to fiat instantly. They face zero consequences for not hitting $100. The card doesn’t expire, they don’t get charged, and they might use it tomorrow or never—it’s their choice.

The detail that matters. Spending accumulates monthly. If your friend spends $50 in January and $60 in February, both count. The moment their cumulative total hits $100+, your bonus activates retroactively—you earn on all their subsequent spending for the next 12 months.

Risk: If they take 6 months to reach $100, your 12-month earning window is already half-consumed. You still earn on their future spend, but for a shorter period than someone who hit $100 immediately after activation.

How to Track Your Referral’s Status

Log into your ether.fi account and open Referral Dashboard (usually under Account > Referrals or Earn menu).

Find your friend in the list. The status shows:

  • Pending: Signed up via your link, activated card, spend under $100.
  • Qualified: They’ve crossed $100—your bonus will pay this month.
  • Bonus Paid: Commission sent to your account (or processing).

You can also see:

  • Their lifetime card spend
  • Your commission earned on them
  • Their card tier (Core, Luxe, Pinnacle, VIP)

Watch: The dashboard updates monthly (usually mid-month). If your friend hits $100 on the 28th and you check on the 2nd, wait until the next cycle for the update.

The 12-Month Commission Window

The commission window is tied to card activation, not to spending threshold.

Here’s how it works:

  • Your friend activates the card on Date A.
  • They reach $100 in spending by Date B (could be tomorrow or 6 months later).
  • You earn commission from Date B onward for 12 months (or until Date A + 12 months expires, whichever comes first).

Why it matters: If your friend waits 6 months to spend $100, your 12-month earning window is already half through. You still earn on their future spend, but for only 6 more months instead of 12.

Key metric: Track the activation date, not the spending date. That tells you when your earning window actually ends.

Your referral link stays active for 90 days. If your friend clicks your link and signs up within 90 days, they’re attributed to you.

But they must activate the card (complete KYC and issue a virtual or physical card) to become a recorded referral. Signing up for the app alone does not count.

Watch: Don’t assume your link works forever. If someone asks weeks later, grab a fresh link from your dashboard. Sharing an old screenshot may not attribute the signup to you.

Common Questions About the $100 Threshold

Q: How long after they hit $100 do I see my commission?

A: Payouts process monthly, usually mid-month. If they reach $100 mid-month, expect the commission in your account at the next payout cycle. Check your dashboard for your program’s exact dates.

Q: Can my friend refer someone else and create a referral chain?

A: Yes. If your referred friend becomes a referrer, you may earn 2nd-degree commissions (20% of what they earn from their own referrals) if you’re Tier 2 or higher. This stacks on top of their direct spending commission.

Q: What if they delete their account after hitting $100?

A: Your commission for the spend they accrued stays locked in and pays out. Future spend no longer counts since the card is gone, but past earnings remain valid.

Q: Do I earn a different commission rate for each friend I refer?

A: No. Your commission rate (0.1%-0.3%) is based on your own referral tier, not on the number of friends you refer. Each friend’s spending is subject to your current tier rate.

Q: Can I get paid in a different currency?

A: The payout asset is stated on the ether.fi affiliates page (verified 2026-09-14). Check your account settings or contact support to see if other currencies are available in your region.

Q: Is there a limit to how much I can earn from one friend?

A: No hard cap per referral. If they spend $100,000 over 12 months, you earn 0.1%-0.3% of all of it. The only limits are the 12-month earning window and any program-level monthly payout caps based on your tier.

Bottom Line

  • If they never hit $100, you earn $0. There’s no downside to you—your account and tier stay intact, and you can refer others.
  • Your friend faces no penalty either. They have a fully working card with zero obligation to spend any minimum amount.
  • The $100 is purely the trigger for your commission, not a goal or requirement for them. Once they cross it, you start earning.
  • Track their status in the dashboard so you know when (or if) they hit $100 and when your commission pays out.
  • If you fit the profile “I referred a friend but haven’t earned yet”—they most likely haven’t reached $100 in spending yet. Confirm their status in the dashboard; if they’re under the threshold, that’s your answer.