When I first came into contact with Shopify, I just wanted to try building my own independent site. I didn't expect to continue for several years, starting from testing different categories to eventually operating a brand. Shopify has become increasingly important in my entire cross-border business system.
During the process of building the store, I found that the actual website construction was not the most difficult part; what really caused me repeated troubles was the payment methods, especially Shopify's fees, plugin subscriptions, and advertising account payments.
Domestic bank cards are very unfriendly to cross-border payments, often failing to bind, unable to verify, or pausing ads due to payment failures. Later, I realized that whether it was Shopify's monthly fees, theme purchases, or Google/TikTok/Facebook advertising, a stable virtual credit card was an indispensable tool for cross-border sellers.
After multiple attempts, I finally chose to use EasyPay virtual card. It only costs 3U to open an account, does not require real-name verification, can be recharged using USDT (TRC20), and is very flexible for domestic cross-border sellers. If I encounter problems, I can directly contact Telegram customer service for assistance, and the overall experience is quite stable.
Why is Shopify the first choice for cross-border sellers?#
After trying several website building tools, I still feel that Shopify is more suitable for people who are serious about doing business. Its backend operation is very intuitive, with no complex technical barriers, and templates, plugins, logistics, SEO, and marketing tools are all packaged within the system.
A few points that I personally value include:
- The backend interface is clear and not overwhelmed by complex functions
- A large number of free and paid themes are available
- Supports various international payment methods
- The plugin ecosystem is mature, allowing for quick functionality expansion
- Comes with an SEO structure, which is beneficial for search rankings
- Suitable for long-term brand operations, rather than short-term traffic generation
If you haven't used Shopify, you can visit here:
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In my experience operating multiple stores, Shopify's biggest advantage is: it is very stable, even if you are operating alone, you can maintain a high-efficiency work pace.
Why must domestic sellers use virtual cards?#
For domestic sellers, payment is always the first hurdle. Because Shopify performs pre-authorization verification, monthly fees, and plugin subscription fees, while advertising platforms have higher requirements for payment methods.
The biggest problems with domestic bank cards are:
- International payments often fail
- Bank risk control leads to verification failures
- High rejection rates for Google Ads and Facebook Ads
- Shopify's test payments are often intercepted
- Using domestic cards is more likely to trigger advertising account risk control
I once had my store frozen due to consecutive payment failures, and I also encountered situations where ads were running well but suddenly failed to charge, causing the ads to stop, and the review process took several days, resulting in significant losses.
Virtual cards perfectly avoid these troubles.
Five major roles of virtual cards in Shopify projects#
Through time-tested experience, virtual credit cards are almost a universal tool within the Shopify system.
1. Pay Shopify monthly fees#
Shopify automatically charges every month, and without an effective payment method, the website will have restricted functionality.
2. Purchase Shopify themes#
Professional themes like Motion, Impulse, Empire, etc., require credit card payments.
3. Subscribe to plugin services#
Various plugins (Apps) are not expensive, but they must be paid for with international cards for automatic deductions.
4. Bind payment methods to advertising accounts#
Google / Facebook / TikTok ads must be linked to cards that can be charged internationally.
5. Purchase commonly used tools for cross-border sellers#
For example, overseas email, API tools, analytics platforms, etc., all rely on international payment methods.
For all cross-border e-commerce sellers, virtual cards are the key that runs through the entire business chain.
How to use virtual cards for Shopify in China? Here is my own process#
The following process is the complete operational steps I have been using. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced seller, you can follow these steps in order.
Step 1: Open a virtual card#
My requirements for virtual cards are very simple:
- Low cost (3U is the most suitable)
- No real-name verification required
- Supports USDT (TRC20) recharge
- Can bind to Shopify and advertising accounts
- Can be used normally when logging in from China
After using EasyPay, my operation time has been greatly reduced. Once the card is opened, the backend will display:
- Card number
- Expiration date
- CVV
- Balance
- Recent transaction history
These are all the information needed for Shopify, plugins, and advertising accounts.
Step 2: Recharge with USDT (TRC20)#
I prefer to recharge using the TRC20 network because the fees are extremely low and the transaction speed is almost real-time.
Generally, I prepare:
- Shopify monthly fee budget: $25–39
- Plugin budget: $5–50
- Advertising starting fund: $100–300
- If a theme purchase is needed: an additional $200–350
The recharge amount can be freely adjusted according to project stages, making it very flexible.
Step 3: Bind to Shopify backend#
The process is as follows:
- Open the Shopify backend
- Go to Settings → Billing
- Click "Add payment method"
- Enter virtual card information
- Save
Shopify will perform a verification charge of about $1, which will not actually be deducted.
As long as the card balance is sufficient, it usually goes through in one attempt.
Step 4: Bind the virtual card to the advertising account#
In the advertising system, I usually use the virtual card for:
- Google Ads
- Facebook Ads
- TikTok Ads
- Pinterest Ads
My experience summary is as follows:
- Google is the strictest, but as long as the first charge is successful, it is basically stable afterward
- Facebook has a higher tolerance for cards
- TikTok Ads are most likely to pause due to insufficient balance, so be sure to replenish
- Use a consistent foreign address to reduce the risk of control
With a virtual card, the stability of continuous advertising payments has greatly improved, and I will no longer stop advertising due to payment failures.
Step 5: Virtual card maintenance tips#
To avoid any payment interruptions, I have summarized several very effective tips:
- Keep at least $10–20 in the card as a buffer
- Try to use the same card for plugins, ads, and monthly fees for easier management
- Do not frequently change the payment method for advertising accounts
- Regularly check billing records to confirm normal deductions
- If a payment fails, first check the balance, then check the account
Stable operation is more important than anything else; a single payment failure can affect a day's data.
Summary of the experience using virtual cards for Shopify#
Previously, due to domestic bank card risk control, international payment failures, and advertising account suspensions, I wasted a lot of time and budget. After using virtual cards, these problems have basically disappeared.
Several obvious improvements include:
- Quick registration, fast card opening, and quick recharging
- More flexible without real-name requirements
- Convenient USDT recharges that are not affected by domestic bank policies
- Clearer management of multiple stores and multiple cards
- Stable advertising payments, reducing interruption risks
- No monthly fee expenses
For those who are currently using Shopify or preparing to enter cross-border e-commerce, virtual cards are almost one of the most basic tools.
Why are people doing Shopify starting to rely on virtual cards?#
The reasons are straightforward:
- Domestic cards do not adapt to the cross-border payment system
- Advertising payments require long-term stability
- The Shopify ecosystem requires frequent use of international payments
- Virtual cards have lighter risk control, fewer restrictions, and lower failure rates
As long as your independent site is aimed at global users, virtual cards are a necessity.
Conclusion#
In the entire operational chain of Shopify, virtual cards can handle almost all cross-border payment needs.
They can solve:
- Shopify monthly fee deductions
- Plugin subscription payments
- Theme purchases
- Advertising account payments
- Payments for overseas services
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