Abstract: Architectures and techniques are configured to distribute and activate payment cards. The techniques include providing payment cards to distributors, who then sell or distribute these cards to other users. Each of these payment cards may include activation information for activating the card as well as redemption information for redeeming a value associated with the card. The distributor may activate a card by, for instance, taking a picture of or scanning an identifier on the card and sending this image to a provider of the card. In response, the provider may activate the card.

Abstract: A host-managed gift card program may enable merchants to offer and redeem gift cards without integrating a gift card program with a point of sale (POS) system used by the merchant. The merchant may rely on a host, at least in part, to issue gift cards, manage a ledger, assist in redemption of gift cards when the cards are redeemed at the merchant's location, and perform other gift card-related tasks for the merchant.

Abstract: A host-managed gift card program may enable merchants to offer and redeem gift cards without integrating a gift card program with a point of sale (POS) system used by the merchant. The merchant may rely on a host, at least in part, to issue gift cards, manage a ledger, assist in redemption of gift cards when the cards are redeemed at the merchant's location, and perform other gift card-related tasks for the merchant.