When you buy a gift card with crypto there are two costs: the shop's fee, which here is 3% on every coin and every network, and the cost of sending the payment, which depends on the network you use and, if you send from an exchange, on that exchange's withdrawal fee. On a 50 € card, a careless choice of network can cost more than the fee itself. This guide compares the options you can pay with.
Where the sending cost comes from
- From your own wallet: you pay the network fee (gas). It depends on the network and on how busy it is.
- From an exchange: you pay the exchange's withdrawal fee, which is set by the exchange for each coin and network and is often higher than the raw network fee.
Either way, that cost is yours and is not included in our price. The amount that must arrive is the exact one shown on your order page.
Comparison of the networks you can pay on
| Coin / network | Typical sending cost | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDT on Tron (TRC20) | Low to medium | About a minute | Very widely supported by exchanges; from your own wallet it consumes TRX |
| USDT / USDC on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) | Low | Seconds | Check the exchange sends on BEP20 |
| USDT / USDC on Solana | Very low | Seconds | Your wallet needs a little SOL |
| USDT / USDC on Polygon, Arbitrum; USDC on Base | Low | Seconds to a minute | Not every exchange offers every one |
| USDT / USDC / ETH on Ethereum (ERC20) | Medium to high, variable | Minutes | Rarely worth it for small cards |
| Bitcoin | Variable with congestion | 10+ minutes possible | On-chain only |
| Litecoin, XRP, TON, TRX, SOL, BNB | Usually low | Fast | XRP and TON need the tag or memo |
These are qualitative ranges: real costs change with network load and with each exchange's price list.
USDT TRC20: why it is so popular
TRC20 is the network most exchanges offer for USDT, and many people already hold USDT there. Exchange withdrawal fees for USDT-TRC20 are usually around 1 USDT or a little more, depending on the exchange. From a personal Tron wallet, the transfer burns TRX for energy, so keep some TRX available. It is a sound default, especially for medium and large cards; see Amazon with USDT for an example.
When another network is cheaper
If your exchange or wallet supports it, USDT or USDC on Solana, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum or Base is often cheaper than TRC20, particularly for small amounts. The rule is simple: choose in the order form the same network your wallet or exchange will send on. Try Steam with USDC or Carrefour with SOL if those are what you hold.
How to read your exchange's withdrawal screen
On most exchanges the withdrawal form shows three things: the network selector, the withdrawal fee for that network and the amount that will be received. Choose the network first, because the fee often changes when you switch. Then check whether the amount you type is what leaves your account or what arrives at the destination. If the screen shows a "receive amount" lower than the figure on your order page, increase the amount until the received figure matches exactly.
Stablecoin or volatile coin?
With USDT or USDC the value does not move while the payment confirms. With BTC, ETH, SOL or others, the amount is locked for 30 minutes and must still arrive exactly. Volatile coins are fine if that is what you have; just send promptly.
The exact-amount trap
Many exchanges deduct the withdrawal fee from the amount you type. If the order asks for 51.73 USDT and you type 51.73, only 50.73 might arrive. Either use the exchange's option to receive the full amount, or add the fee on top. Each order has an amount with unique decimals so the payment is identified automatically, and that only works if the figure is exact.
Five ways to keep the cost low
- Pay on the network you already hold funds on, instead of moving them first.
- Compare withdrawal fees on your exchange for the same coin across networks.
- Buy one larger card instead of several small ones.
- Avoid Ethereum mainnet for small amounts.
- Keep a small balance of the network's own coin (TRX, SOL, ETH) when paying from your own wallet.
If what you hold is not on a cheap network, you can swap it on LarkSwap first. For the full payment walkthrough, read how to buy an Amazon gift card with crypto.