Paid in a Gift Card? What to Ask For Next Time, and How to Set It Up

Gift cards became an informal way to pay people in Nigeria years ago. A cousin in Houston buys a $100 Steam card, sends you the code, and you sell it for naira. A client in London pays for a design with an Apple card because "it's easier".

It works, until it doesn't. The card turns out to be a type with a lower rate. The code was already used. The receipt is missing. Or the card is a brand nobody buys.

If someone pays you regularly, there's a better thing to ask for: USDT.

Why USDT beats gift cards as a payment

The value is the value. A $100 gift card's naira worth depends on the brand, the country it was issued in, whether it's a physical card or an e-code, and sometimes its amount band. 100 USDT is simply 100 dollar stablecoins, designed to stay at about one dollar each. Our page on why gift card rates differ explains all the things that move a card's rate.

Nothing can be redeemed before you sell. A gift card code can be used by anyone who sees it, including the person who sent it. USDT in your wallet is yours, and nobody else can spend it.

You can check it yourself. Every USDT transfer has a transaction ID you can look up on a public explorer. No guessing whether a code is valid: here's how to check on Tronscan and BscScan.

You choose when to sell. Hold it as dollar value, sell some now and some later, or sell it all. When you sell on KWIQ, you see the rate and the naira amount first, and swapping to naira is free.

A message you can send

Copy this and change the details:

Hi! Next time, could you pay me in USDT instead of a gift card? It's simpler for me to receive. Amount: $100 (100 USDT) Network: TRON (TRC20) Address: [paste your address here] Most exchanges let you buy USDT with a card or bank transfer, then "withdraw" it to an address. Please choose the TRON (TRC20) network and send a small test first. Thank you!

Use the network shown with your own deposit address, which might not be TRON. Both the address and the network are on the deposit screen of your USDT wallet in the KWIQ app.

What your sender needs to know

If they live in the UK, the US or Canada, they'll need an account with a regulated crypto exchange where they live. Point them to our guide for Nigerians abroad sending USDT home, which works just as well for clients and friends. If they're in the US and prefer the apps they already use, Bitcoin from Cash App or PayPal's crypto feature are other options, though Bitcoin's price moves on the way.

If they still prefer gift cards

That's fine. Some people find gift cards easier, and KWIQ buys many of them. To get the most from each card:

• Agree the brand, country and type before they buy, and check the card's page on our gift cards hub to see that KWIQ is buying it and today's rate.
• Ask for the receipt for physical cards.
• Don't let anyone "check" the card for you, and don't redeem it to test it.

For more, read gift cards vs crypto for receiving money from abroad.

Already holding USDT?

If you have USDT now, see today's USDT to naira rate, then download the KWIQ app to sell it with zero conversion fees and withdraw to any Nigerian bank account. You can also sign up on the web.