Abstract: A payment object service receives a request from a giver to associate a payment amount to an object. The request includes one or more images of the object and recipient information, which the payment object service uses to determine whether the association between these images and the information is unique. If the association is unique, the payment object service updates a database to associate the payment amount to the object and enable redemption of the payment amount. When the payment object service receives a request to redeem at least a portion of the payment amount, the payment object service may use one or more images and recipient information obtained from the request to verify that the images and information together correspond to the object. Once the redemption is complete, the payment object service may update the database to specify the current remaining payment amount.

Abstract: Closed-loop stored value payment instruments may be issued, sold and managed on behalf of a merchant through a third party electronic commerce system. Upon purchase of a closed-loop stored value payment instrument through the third party electronic commerce system, a payment aggregator may be notified of the purchase and the closed-loop stored-value payment instrument may be activated. A printer or other manufacturer may also notified of the purchase so that a closed-loop stored value payment instrument embodied in a physical card, may be created on demand in response to the purchase and then shipped to the purchasing customer on behalf of the merchant.