UPay has outlined several ways cryptocurrency can fund purchases in Romania, with gift cards providing an indirect route to retailers that do not accept a crypto payment at checkout.

The June 1, 2026 guide identifies Bitrefill as one such intermediary. A customer buys a retailer gift card using supported cryptocurrency, then uses the resulting code under that retailer’s gift card conditions. This differs from the retailer itself accepting cryptocurrency.

Altex is the example used in UPay’s guide. Bitrefill’s Romanian catalog also lists an Altex gift card, alongside other retail products and mobile refills. The relevant purchase is the gift card from Bitrefill, with redemption taking place separately. Bitrefill Romania catalog.

The source also describes merchant-specific payment integrations. PeFoc, a Romanian heating-products retailer, confirms on its own website that customers can select an xMoney crypto payment option, receive a payment link and complete the transaction from a compatible wallet. Its published instructions specify a minimum purchase of 500 RON. PeFoc xMoney payment instructions.

Crypto-funded payment cards represent a third model. UPay promotes its own card as converting supported assets into conventional currency for card transactions. That arrangement does not mean each merchant receiving a card payment has added crypto acceptance.

Across these routes, the payment currency, recipient and redemption rules differ. A gift card has its own retailer conditions; an integrated checkout uses the merchant’s payment provider; and a card transaction depends on the card’s eligibility, fees and acceptance.

UPay’s guide also points to travel services and cash conversion as spending options. Its practical theme is the range of intermediaries between a digital asset balance and a purchase, rather than universal direct crypto acceptance across Romanian businesses.