Payment choice · updated 12 September 2026
Bitcoin or USDT for Gift Cards: Choose the Payment You Can Send Correctly
Choose native BTC when your spendable balance is bitcoin on the Bitcoin network. Choose USDT only when your wallet holds USDT on the same network named by the request: Ethereum (ERC-20) or Tron (TRC-20). Giftoshi does not support Bitcoin Lightning, and an asset with the right ticker on the wrong network is not a match.
Base the choice on what your wallet can send
| Your wallet situation | Choose at checkout | Do not choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC held on the Bitcoin network | BTC · Bitcoin · Native | Bitcoin Lightning | Giftoshi accepts native Bitcoin and does not accept Lightning |
| USDT held on Ethereum | USDT · Ethereum · ERC-20 | USDT · Tron · TRC-20 | The token balance and receiving network must both match |
| USDT held on Tron | USDT · Tron · TRC-20 | USDT · Ethereum · ERC-20 | A Tron token cannot be sent to an Ethereum request |
| USDT held on another chain | None of the USDT choices unless you first hold a supported version | Sending directly from the unsupported chain | Only Ethereum and Tron USDT are supported here |
This table does not rank speed or cost. Network conditions and wallet fees change, so compare the routes your wallet actually supports at the time you pay.
The asset and network form one instruction
“USDT” alone is incomplete. Giftoshi presents USDT on Ethereum and USDT on Tron as separate payment methods. Check the wallet’s token network, the payment-request label and the receiving address before sending. Do not use a bridge, exchange withdrawal option or chain selected by habit unless it matches the active request.
BTC is equally specific: the supported route is native BTC on Bitcoin. A Lightning balance or invoice is a different payment rail and cannot be substituted.
Keep the reference currency, card value and token amount separate
Hypothetical example: a buyer selects a GBP 50 grocery card while viewing the storefront estimate in EUR. At payment, the active request might express the payable amount in BTC or USDT according to its current rate. GBP 50 remains the retailer face value; the EUR figure is only a comparison reference; the BTC or USDT number shown on the request is the amount to send.
The example contains no live exchange rate or quoted token amount. It explains the roles of the three figures. Even though USDT is designed to track the US dollar, its market value is not guaranteed to equal exactly one dollar, so the checkout request still controls the token amount.
The exact payment amount lasts 60 minutes
- Create one current requestSelect the asset/network pair and read the exact amount and receiving address shown.
- Leave the wallet fee separateYour wallet or network may charge a fee. Do not subtract it from, or add it to, the exact receiving amount.
- Send within the active windowThe displayed amount is locked for 60 minutes from request creation. If an unpaid request expires, obtain new payment details.
- Do not duplicate a broadcastIf you already sent the transfer, follow its status rather than requesting and paying a second invoice.
Bitcoin and USDT questions
Is USDT on Ethereum the same as USDT on Tron?
No. They use different networks. Choose ERC-20 for Ethereum-held USDT and TRC-20 for Tron-held USDT.
Is BTC Lightning supported?
No. Giftoshi’s BTC route is native Bitcoin only.
Which option is always cheaper or faster?
Neither gets a universal ranking here. Check your wallet support and its current fee, then use the matching Giftoshi request.
Does the wallet fee count toward the requested amount?
No. The wallet or network fee is separate. The receiver must get the exact amount shown.
Use the balance you can send without changing networks
Choose BTC when you hold spendable native bitcoin. Choose USDT only when you can identify the token’s chain and select the matching Ethereum or Tron route. If that match is uncertain, verify it in the wallet before creating a payment request.