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How CardsRelay Works

CardsRelay is a digital goods marketplace that lets customers purchase gift cards for real-world brands using cryptocurrency.

15 June 2026

CardsRelay is an online marketplace where customers exchange cryptocurrency for digital gift cards redeemable at established retailers and service providers. The platform connects holders of fourteen distinct cryptocurrencies with a catalogue of brand gift cards, allowing coins to be spent on everyday goods without first converting them into traditional currency.

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 one of the supported cryptocurrencies 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 exactly fourteen cryptocurrencies. These are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), Dash (DASH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Monero (XMR), Zano (ZANO), Zcash (ZEC), USD Coin (USDC) on Ethereum, USD Coin on Solana, Tether (USDT) as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, Tether on Solana, and Tether as a TRC-20 token on Tron. 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 Monero, Zano, and Zcash. Many comparable marketplaces do not accept these three coins at all. Their inclusion means that holders of Monero, Zano, 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 USD Coin and Tether across several networks, including Ethereum, Solana, and Tron, the platform gives customers flexibility in how they pay. Tether on Tron, for example, is frequently chosen for its comparatively low network transaction fees, while Solana-based payments 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 fourteen payment routes. The combination of mainstream coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, popular stablecoins, and the comparatively rare inclusion of Monero, Zano, and Zcash positions CardsRelay as a marketplace serving a broad spectrum of cryptocurrency users. In summary, 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.

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