Bitrefill is an online shop where you pay for vouchers, gift cards, eSIMs and mobile top-ups with cryptocurrencies. You pick, say, an Amazon.de or Rewe gift card, pay with Bitcoin, Ether or a stablecoin, and receive the code by email once the payment is confirmed. You do not need an account. A purchase rarely gets expensive because of Bitrefill itself. The cost comes from three things around the payment: the blockchain’s network fee, your exchange’s withdrawal fee and the exchange rate, which is fixed on the invoice for only 30 minutes.

For investors in Germany, buying gift cards with crypto has a second side that many overlook: anyone who swaps coins for a gift card disposes of them for tax purposes. This guide explains the process,…