Dash InstantSend is live on CardsRelay: gift cards in seconds

A streak of blue light turning green as it meets a black gift card with an embossed bow

From Amazon and Steam to DoorDash and ChatGPT, every card on CardsRelay now arrives at Dash speed.

Why we added InstantSend

The Dash community asked for it. When we added Dash, we asked for feedback on the Dash Forum. Dash holders asked us to act on the InstantSend lock instead of waiting for block confirmations, so we rebuilt the Dash side of checkout around it.

Before this change, a DASH order waited for the payment to confirm in a block. Dash blocks come roughly every 2.5 minutes, so most orders finished within a few minutes. That was OK. But it was not how Dash is meant to feel.

How Dash InstantSend works on CardsRelay

Every valid Dash transaction is locked by a masternode quorum as soon as it reaches the network. Your wallet does not need a setting for it and there is no extra fee. Once the lock is in place, those coins cannot be spent again, so CardsRelay can treat the payment as final straight away.

Two timelines on one scale: before, a Dash order waited for a block, roughly every 2.5 minutes; now it is released on the InstantSend lock and the code usually arrives in 3 to 6 seconds

Here is what happens when you buy:

1. Choose a card. Pick a brand and an amount from the gift card catalogue.
2. Enter your email. That is the only detail we ask for. The code goes there.
3. Pay in DASH. Select Dash at checkout and send the exact amount shown. The rate is locked while the checkout timer runs.
4. We see the lock. CardsRelay checks the Dash network for your payment every second. As soon as the InstantSend lock appears, the order is released.
5. Your code arrives. The gift card code is emailed to you, usually 3 to 6 seconds after you sent the payment. Redeem it on the brand's site or app.

Buy gift cards with Dash: what you can get

Every card in the catalogue is available with Dash. A few that Dash holders buy often:

• Amazon, USD 5 to 1,000 and GBP 1 to 1,500. Spend it on the Amazon store for the card's country, in 19 countries.
• Steam, USD 5 to 200 and EUR 5 to 100. Loads into Steam wallets in the matching region, in 27 countries.
• DoorDash, USD 1 to 2,000 and AUD 25 to 500. For DoorDash accounts in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• Deliveroo, GBP 5 to 150 and EUR 15 to 150. For Deliveroo in the UK, France, Belgium, Italy and the UAE.
• ChatGPT, USD 15 to 250. For ChatGPT accounts in the US, redeemed at chatgpt.com/redeem.

Pick the card for the country your account is registered in. A US Steam card will not load into a UK Steam wallet. For more on the ChatGPT card, see how to buy a ChatGPT gift card with crypto.

Crypto payments as they should be

Paying with crypto should work like handing over cash. You pay, the shop knows it has been paid, and you walk away with what you bought.

For years, most crypto checkouts have not worked that way. You send the coins, then watch a progress bar while blocks are mined. Dash solved this at the network level with InstantSend and ChainLocks. What was missing was merchants who act on it.

Now you can spend DASH on a DoorDash dinner or a Steam top up and have the code before you put your phone down. That is what Dash was built for: digital cash you actually spend.

What's next: shielded Dash?

We are looking at accepting payments from Dash's shielded pool on Evolution. Shielded transactions, built on Zcash's Orchard technology, hide the sender, the receiver and the amount, and like InstantSend they settle in seconds.

There is no date yet. We want to see how wallets and the move between Evolution and Dash Core settle first. If you hold shielded Dash and want to spend it here, tell us in the Dash Forum thread. The InstantSend work started the same way.

Things to know before you buy

• Redemption region: each card works only in its own country or region. Check before you pay.
• Send the exact amount shown at checkout, before the timer runs out.
• Single use: each code is redeemed once. Match the card amount to what you plan to spend.
• Validity: some brands set an expiry date. The brand page shows the rules for each card.
• No refunds once a code is revealed.
• Just an email: CardsRelay asks only for an email address. Some issuers or stores may ask for ID when you redeem.
• Email speed: the 3 to 6 seconds is from your payment to our email. Your mail provider can add a little time, so check spam if it is not there.

FAQ

Is Dash InstantSend supported on CardsRelay?

Yes. Since 10 October 2026, CardsRelay releases Dash orders as soon as the InstantSend lock appears, and the code usually arrives by email in 3 to 6 seconds.

Do I need to turn InstantSend on in my wallet?

No. The Dash network tries to lock every valid transaction by default, with no extra fee. Just send the exact amount shown at checkout.

What can I buy with Dash?

Every gift card in the catalogue: over 9,000 cards from 1,600+ brands, including Amazon, DoorDash and Deliveroo.

Does CardsRelay accept shielded Dash?

Not yet. We are looking at payments from Dash's shielded pool on Evolution, but there is no date.

What do I need to buy a card?

An email address and a Dash wallet. CardsRelay asks only for an email address. Some brands may ask for ID when you redeem.

Spend your Dash

Pick a card, send DASH and check your inbox. Browse the gift card catalogue, or see how CardsRelay works.