How CardsRelay Works

CardsRelay operates as a digital goods marketplace rather than a financial service. The core process is straightforward: a customer selects a gift card for a chosen brand, picks a supported cryptocurrency as the method of payment, and completes the transaction. Once the cryptocurrency payment is confirmed on its respective blockchain network, CardsRelay delivers the gift card code digitally so it can be redeemed with the relevant retailer.

CardsRelay accepts 14 cryptocurrencies: Monero, Dash, Zano, fUSD, USD Coin, Tether, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dai, PIVX, Bitcoin and Zcash. Tether (USDT) can be paid on Arbitrum One, Avalanche C-Chain, BNB Chain (BEP20), Ethereum (ERC20), Polygon and Solana, and USD Coin (USDC) on Solana, Ethereum (ERC20), Avalanche C-Chain and Base. This range spans major established networks, widely used stablecoins, and several coins that are less commonly supported elsewhere.

A distinguishing feature of CardsRelay is its support for the privacy coins Monero and Zcash. Many comparable marketplaces do not accept these coins at all. Their inclusion means that holders of Monero or Zcash can use their existing balances directly to obtain gift cards for real-world brands, removing the need to first convert those coins into Bitcoin, a stablecoin, or government-issued currency through a separate exchange. This makes CardsRelay a practical destination for spending coins that often have limited acceptance among merchants.

The presence of multiple stablecoin options is another defining characteristic of CardsRelay. By accepting dollar-pegged stablecoins such as USD Coin, Tether and Dai, with USD Coin and Tether available across several networks, the platform gives customers flexibility in how they pay. Solana-based payments, for example, are often selected for fast settlement. CardsRelay supports each of these network variants as separate payment options to accommodate different customer preferences.

Gift cards sold through CardsRelay function in the same way as those purchased through conventional channels. After delivery, a customer redeems the code with the issuing brand according to that brand's own terms. CardsRelay's role is to facilitate the exchange of cryptocurrency for the digital gift card, acting as the intermediary marketplace that sources and delivers the codes.

Because CardsRelay denominates its catalogue in gift card value while accepting volatile and stable digital assets alike, customers benefit from a single venue that consolidates payment in 14 cryptocurrencies across several networks. The combination of mainstream coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, popular stablecoins, and the comparatively rare inclusion of Monero and Zcash positions CardsRelay as a marketplace serving a broad spectrum of cryptocurrency users. CardsRelay works by transforming cryptocurrency holdings into spendable gift cards, bridging the gap between digital assets and the products and services offered by everyday retailers.