How to pay with USDS
USDS is the stablecoin of Sky Protocol, the protocol rebranded from MakerDAO in 2024. If you've been holding DAI for years, your tokens likely upgraded to USDS already. If you're newer to the Sky ecosystem, USDS is where you probably landed.
Either way, you're holding a dollar-pegged asset on Ethereum, and you can spend it directly on Cryptorefills, no conversion to fiat, no KYC, no waiting.
What is USDS
USDS is a decentralized, overcollateralized stablecoin issued by Sky Protocol. It maintains a soft peg to the US dollar through a system of crypto-backed vaults, users lock up assets like ETH or USDC as collateral to mint USDS, and the protocol requires more collateral value than the amount of USDS issued. That overcollateralization is what keeps the peg stable even when markets move.
USDS was introduced as part of the MakerDAO-to-Sky rebrand in 2024, serving as an upgraded alternative to DAI. CoinDesk Existing DAI holders can upgrade to USDS at a 1:1 ratio through Sky.money, and USDS can also be converted back to DAI.
Which networks does USDS run on
USDS is an ERC-20 token natively on Ethereum. Through SkyLink, it's accessible across Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Avalanche and other supported networks.
On Cryptorefills, USDS is accepted on Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism. Choose the network that makes sense for your wallet and the gas fees you're comfortable with.
How to pay with USDS on Cryptorefills
You'll need USDS in a wallet on one of the supported networks (Ethereum, BNB Chain or Polygon) before you start.
How to buy USDS on Cryptorefills:
- Open Cryptorefills and browse the catalog (gift cards, mobile top ups, eSIMs, flights or stays)
- Select the product and denomination you want
- At checkout, select USDS as your payment method
- Choose your network: Arbitrum, Base, or Optimism
- Send the exact amount to the payment address shown, or scan the QR code from your wallet
- Once the transaction confirms on-chain, your product is delivered instantly to your email
No account required for most purchases. No ID. No conversion step.
What you can buy with USDS
USDS works across the full Cryptorefills catalog.
Gift cards - spend USDS at 5,000+ brands including Amazon, Netflix, Steam, Google Play, Spotify, Nike, Airbnb and more.
Mobile top ups - add credit to a mobile number in 180+ countries. Useful if you're traveling or topping up a number abroad without touching a bank card.
eSIMs - buy a data plan for your phone before or during travel. Pay once with USDS and the eSIM activates on your device.
Flights - book real airline tickets using USDS. Stablecoins are the recommended payment method for flights, because the price you see is the price you pay, no volatility between search and checkout.
Stays - book accommodation worldwide with USDS. Stablecoins only for stays, which is consistent with how flights work: predictable value, no price drift during the booking flow.
Coming from DAI
If you've been paying with DAI on Cryptorefills, USDS is its direct replacement. The upgrade is 1:1, one DAI becomes one USDS. Nothing about the spending experience changes: same networks, same checkout flow, same instant delivery. The coin label at checkout now reads USDS.
Frequently asked questions
- USDS is the upgraded successor to DAI, issued by the same protocol (now called Sky, formerly MakerDAO). The two are interchangeable at a 1:1 rate through Sky.money, and DAI can be converted back from USDS at any time.
- No. Most purchases don't require an account or KYC. You pick your product, pay with USDS and receive delivery instantly.
- Any ERC-20 compatible wallet works like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Ledger and others. For BNB Chain or Polygon, make sure your wallet supports those networks and that you've added USDS as a token if it doesn't appear automatically.
- USDS maintains a soft peg to the US dollar backed by overcollateralized crypto assets. It's not redeemable 1:1 through a regulated reserve in the way USDC is, but the peg has been stable throughout the protocol's history. For small-to-medium purchases, the price risk is minimal.
- Yes. USDS is accepted on Cryptorefills on Ethereum, BNB Chain and Polygon networks.