Runa targets creator, gaming and gig platforms for gift card distribution

Runa has identified creator platforms, gaming businesses and the gig economy as growth channels for merchants distributing digital gift cards. Its May 2025 update argues that a card can reach a potential customer at the point they receive earnings or a reward, before a conventional retail purchase begins.

In the creator market, Runa points to Throne and YouPay as examples of platforms using its infrastructure. Throne enables fans to send gifts to creators, while YouPay uses Runa for gift card payouts. The examples illustrate different routes through which a merchant’s card can enter a recipient’s spending choices.