AMA Recap: Everything You Asked About COCA Cashback – Answered!

On July 24th, we hosted our first community AMA of 2025 — and the response was incredible.

More than 2,000 questions came in from across the COCA community. While we couldn’t cover them all live, we focused on the most common and important ones — the topics you care about most.

We covered how the cashback program works, clarified eligibility, and gave a look at what’s coming next. The questions were sharp and insightful, and the discussion gave us real clarity on what’s working, what needs improvement, and how to make COCA even better.

A massive thank you to everyone who participated, asked insightful questions, and made it such a dynamic exchange. We genuinely loved connecting with you and hearing your feedback — it helps us build a product that you actually love using. 

And congratulations to the five community members who each won $100 in USDT for submitting questions and attending the AMA.

If you missed the session or want to catch up, everything you need is right here 👇

Q: Do you have plans to pay cashback rewards in other stablecoins (USDC, EURC, etc.)?

Yes, we’re definitely open to it. If the community wants options like USDC, EURC, or others, we’re happy to explore that. In fact, we’ll launch a new community poll next week to see which stablecoins you would like to receive your rewards in.

Also worth noting: cashback and referral rewards are both paid in stablecoins — not just one or the other.

Q: You recently announced cashback paid in USDT on Polygon, do I need to switch networks in-app to claim it, or is it automatic?

No manual action is needed. The cashback is paid out automatically to your Polygon wallet within the app. You don’t need to switch networks yourself.

Q: Is there a minimum spend required per transaction to trigger cashback? If the merchant splits charges (into two small payments, first $1 and second $9.99), does each one earn cashback or only the larger one?

Cashback is earned on all transactions, regardless of the amount. Even if you spend just $1, you’ll earn cashback. 

If a merchant splits a charge into multiple smaller payments, each individual charge will earn cashback as long as it qualifies under the program rules.

Q: Can we get visibility/transparency into merchant qualification? Maybe an in-app list of eligible subscriptions and retail partners so users know what counts for the 50% vs 5% tiers?

We hear you — merchant transparency is a big focus for us. 

We already reference eligible subscriptions for 50% cashback (like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, ChatGPT, and Apple Music) in our Terms & Conditions, along with MCC codes (Merchant Category Codes) for regular transactions. But we agree — this information should be more visible and easier to understand.

We’re actively working on making merchant eligibility clearer inside the app. Soon, you’ll be able to see the MCC code associated with each transaction that doesn’t qualify for cashback — directly in-app.

For subscriptions specifically, it's a bit more complex. These payments often come through under dozens of different names (e.g., Amazon, AMZ, Amz Prime, etc.), depending on region and billing system. We're building a system to better match and recognize these variations, so we can give you more clarity in-app.

In case you think you’re eligible for 50% cashback on subscription and did not receive it, let us know please. We’ll check and manually send you your reward. Please, remember that you’re eligible for 50% cashback on subscriptions only on the first three subscriptions.

Q: The merchant list for cashback seems to include Spotify, Netflix, and ChatGPT, are you planning to publish a searchable list in-app so we can know which platforms qualify?

That’s a good question and input for us. Definitely we’ll explore this. A searchable or filterable list of supported merchants integrated directly into the app is something that would definitely improve user experience.

Q: I’ve noticed different cashback rates between Spotify and Netflix—how are merchant tiers decided, and will the app soon show exact percentages for each?

All supported subscriptions — including Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, ChatGPT, and Apple Music — qualify for 50% cashback. However, the actual cashback amount depends on the value of your subscription charge.

If you believe a reward amount doesn’t match what you expected, feel free to reach out to our Support team. We’ll be happy to look into it and make sure everything’s working as it should.

Q: If I top up using Revolut Pay or Stellar USDC, does spending that balance with the COCA card still qualify for cashback like regular top-ups?

Yes.  Regardless of how you top up — including Revolut Pay and Stellar USDC — your spending with the COCA card is eligible for cashback, as long as the transaction itself qualifies under the reward terms.

Q: Are gas, tolls, and transit charges also eligible for the 5% rate?

Yes, they are! Everyday spending categories like gas, tolls, and public transit generally fall under the 5% cashback tier, assuming they match the correct MCC codes.

Q: Will adding the COCA card to Apple Pay/Google Pay via Curve impact cashback eligibility for contactless payments?

No, it won’t affect eligibility. You’ll still earn cashback when using COCA via Curve on Apple Pay or Google Pay — just make sure the transaction is eligible based on merchant type.

Q: COCA is offering 50% cashback on subscriptions — are there any differences in reward eligibility when I pay through in-app purchases (like App Store/Google Play) versus direct payments on merchant websites?

Great question. Whenever possible, we recommend paying directly on the merchant’s website, as in-app payments (like through App Store or Google Play) may use different billing processors that can affect MCC categorization, which can impact cashback eligibility.

Q: Are there regions where cashback works better or has fewer rejections (like EEA vs APAC)?

There isn't a specific list of regions or countries where cashback performs better or worse. The rejection rate isn't determined by geography, but rather by two main technical factors:

1. Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) - Some transactions may fall under excluded MCC categories regardless of location

2. Merchant name variations - The same service can appear under different merchant names in different countries. For example, Amazon Prime might show up as "Amazon Prime" in some regions but as "AMZ" in others, which can cause our system to miss eligible transactions

How you can help: If you know you've subscribed to a service that should qualify for cashback (like Amazon Prime at 50%) but didn't receive it, please report it to us! This helps us in two ways:

• We can manually reward you for the missed cashback

• We can add the local merchant name variant to our database, ensuring future transactions from that merchant are properly recognized

This crowdsourced approach helps us continuously improve cashback accuracy across all regions by building a more comprehensive database of merchant name variations worldwide.

Q: Can you clarify the difference between ‘eligible’ and ‘pending’ cashback? A few of mine moved straight to completed — is that normal?

Yes, that can happen. “Eligible” means your transaction qualifies for cashback. “Pending” indicates the reward is in the waiting period before payout. In some cases, cashback can move straight to “completed” — typically if the merchant clears the transaction quickly.

Q: Could you add a visible countdown or estimate for when pending cashback will be unlocked? Right now we’re kind of guessing.

That's a great suggestion and something we're actively exploring! We understand that not knowing when your cashback will arrive can be frustrating.

Just as a reminder, we process payouts on the 10th of each month for the previous calendar month's cashback. In some cases where additional verification is needed, payouts may be delayed slightly beyond this date.

We're looking into adding visual indicators like countdown timers and clearer status updates to give you better visibility into when your cashback will be available. This would eliminate the guesswork and help you plan accordingly.

Thanks for the feedback - it's insights like these that help us improve the experience for everyone!

Q: With BASE chain recently supported, does using $COCA for gas or swaps on BASE qualify for any type of bonus rewards or cashback?

At the moment, standard cashback applies to eligible card transactions. Using $COCA for swaps or gas on BASE doesn’t earn additional cashback. 

Q: How are refunds or partial chargebacks handled in terms of cashback adjustment? I had a subscription refund, and it looks like the cashback got reversed too. 

Yes, that's exactly how our system works. When a transaction is refunded, the associated cashback is automatically reversed as well.

This is standard practice to maintain fairness and prevent abuse - since the original purchase that earned the cashback has been undone, the cashback reward is also reversed to reflect the actual net transaction amount.

The same principle applies to partial refunds: if you receive a partial refund on a purchase, the cashback will be adjusted proportionally to match the final transaction amount after the refund is processed.

Q: Will you expand cashback categories beyond digital subscriptions? Any plans to add travel, dining, or retail merchants to the program? Will cashback be in COCA tokens or USDT?

Yes! We’re excited to launch COCA Travel in the next few weeks, offering up to 50% discounts on hotels, with rewards paid in USDT (or another stablecoin that community votes for)

Dining and retail transactions already qualify for 5% cashback, also paid in USDT.

Q: Can we expect tiered cashback rates for high-volume spenders, more than 5% on daily purchases if we hit thresholds?

Yes — we’re planning to roll out a tiered loyalty cashback program starting in September. This program will include different tiers and the ability to boost rewards by staking $COCA. 

Full details, including how early adopters can lock in better rates, will be announced soon. It will also be fully integrated into the app for transparency and ease of use.

Q: Will IBAN euro payments (coming soon) ever be eligible for cashback or discounts similar to card payments?

We’re still evaluating this feature, and it hasn’t been finalized yet. 

Q: Will there eventually be a filter system so we can sort cashback history by type (subscriptions, travel, everyday spend) for cleaner reward tracking?

Absolutely! We're planning to roll out enhanced filtering options in the coming months that will let you sort your cashback history by category—including subscriptions, travel, and everyday spending.

We're also adding a feature that displays the MCC (Merchant Category Code) for each transaction. This will give you complete transparency into why a purchase qualified for cashback (or didn't), making reward tracking much clearer and more intuitive.

These improvements are designed to give you better control over how you view and understand your cashback earnings. Thanks for the suggestion!

Q: There were quite a few great questions from the community about having a $COCA balance to unlock discounts on transactions or savings, fees on swaps, etc. What’s the current status?

Great question — and thanks for spotting that in our docs! Right now, holding $COCA doesn’t unlock any active discounts, but that’s about to change. With the upcoming tiered loyalty program, $COCA holders will be able to access enhanced cashback rewards and other perks.

More details will be announced shortly, and the documentation will be updated accordingly.

Q: Could you please make a way (amount of referral etc.) that the physical card can be ordered for free (many other cards have it for free too)?

That’s a great suggestion, and we’ll definitely consider it. We’re always looking to improve our referral program.

Q: Does the COCA team plan to support more non-USD stablecoins for top-ups in the future, like EURS or others, to appeal to a wider user base in the EU or APAC regions?

Yes — and in fact, we already support a range of stablecoins beyond just USDT. You can currently top up your COCA wallet using USDT, USDC, EURC, and EURS.

Q: When will you add Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Our goal is to enable both Apple Pay and Google Pay by the end of the year. It’s a complex process involving multiple stakeholders and integrations, but we’re making steady progress and will keep the community updated along the way.

Q: How can I earn 200% APR from staking $COCA, and why does the app currently show "No activity yet"?

We understand that staking $COCA isn't as straightforward as it should be right now. The current process involves a separate app and doesn’t always offer clear feedback.

That’s changing soon. We’re working on integrating staking directly into the COCA app, with a much simpler and more transparent experience.

Staking will also be directly tied to the upcoming tiered cashback program, giving active users more benefits for holding and staking $COCA. Stay tuned!

Q: Can I choose which stablecoin to use when paying with my COCA card (e.g., spend USDC instead of USDT)?

Not yet — but we know this is a highly requested feature. We're exploring ways to let users prioritize wallet balances or select their preferred stablecoin before making a payment.

This kind of payment control is something we’re actively working on improving in future updates.

🙏 Looking Ahead

Thanks again to everyone who joined the AMA, submitted questions, and shared your perspective — your input made this a truly valuable session.

We’re already working on implementing much of the feedback you shared, including clearer merchant eligibility, flexible stablecoin options, and improved cashback tracking. One key step: we’re expanding our Support team to provide faster, more helpful responses when you need them most.

We’ll be holding more community AMAs soon, giving you more opportunities to ask, suggest, and shape what we build next. Your voice plays a central role in how COCA grows — and we’re here for it.

Until next time,

Team COCA 💙