Timeline: from paused top-ups to shut-down servers
DuPay's exit didn't happen on a single day; it was a visible, staged process:
| Stage | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early contraction | The platform paused top-ups and new-user registration; existing cards still worked |
| Announcement | In October 2025, the official announcement said the compliance and fund-flow obstacles could not be resolved, and declared the shutdown |
| Full shutdown | November 30, 2025: all services stopped and the servers were shut down |
| Manual fallback | Users who still haven't withdrawn can apply for manual handling via the official email channel |
The timeline is compiled from public information; specific arrangements are subject to the original official announcement.
One detail in the announcement is worth remembering on its own: the platform says it covered the large frozen balance itself so that every user could withdraw in full. Among similar shutdown events, this is a relatively uncommon approach — it reduces the difficulty of recovering existing funds, but it doesn't change the fact that the cards no longer work.
Balance and withdrawal: what to do after the window closes
Depending on where you are, there are two ways to handle it:
- Still inside the shutdown window: follow the official guidance and complete the withdrawal as soon as possible — don't put it off to the last minute, because processing slows down when requests pile up;
- The window has closed: submit your identity documents and withdrawal application through the email channel given in the official announcement, and keep your submission records and the official replies.
Either way, do one thing first: export or screenshot your full transaction history. It serves as proof for the withdrawal, and may also be needed for reimbursement and reconciliation. The receiving method, processing period and fees for withdrawals are subject to the official announcement; outcomes depend on official processing.
Self-service checklist for existing users: four steps
- Audit your accounts: log in (if you still can), verify the balance, export the statements, and note every merchant your DuPay card was linked to;
- Withdraw the balance: submit the withdrawal or manual-handling application through the official channel and keep the records;
- Swap the subscriptions: replace the payment method on every auto-renewing service, one by one, ordered by the next billing date — this step is more urgent than waiting for a refund, because a failed charge affects the service immediately;
- Open a new card and test with a small amount: after opening a new card, first verify on a small merchant that charges go through, then migrate at scale.
Step three is the easiest to overlook. After DuPay shuts down, the subscriptions tied to it will fail on the next billing date, while the refund may still be on its way — so "swap subscriptions" and "withdraw the balance" should run in parallel, not sequentially.
Migrating to a new platform: what's different from last time
If you already migrated once during the last round of shutdowns, you can put that experience to use here:
| What to watch | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Test with a small amount before using | A new BIN range may not fit your target merchant | Run one small charge first, then re-link after it succeeds |
| Don't spread one card across too many accounts | A problem with one card affects every account on it | Assign cards by use case |
| Spread different use cases across BIN ranges | Minimizes losses if a single BIN range gets flagged as a whole | Use different BIN ranges for primary and backup cards |
| Ask about "can the money get out" upfront | In a shutdown this decides the safety of your funds | Read the withdrawal rules before depositing |
These points apply not just to this migration; they are general criteria for choosing the next platform.
DuPay was never known for ad-account usage, so if you are migrating into ad scenarios, see Facebook ad accounts: from top-up to launch for BIN configuration and fund flow.
Why this round of shutdowns is happening in a cluster
Put the platforms that shut down in this period side by side and one common pattern emerges: most of them relied on a "domestic top-up channel + offshore card issuing" model, and as compliance and upstream risk controls tightened on both ends at once, operating costs rose quickly until the model became unsustainable.
So when choosing the next platform, the focus isn't "whose fees are lower", but "who is more stable on this curve". Verifiable criteria include: whether the upstream issuer and card-network channels can be traced, whether the terms and anti-money-laundering policies are public, and whether the balance-exit rules are spelled out. For lateral migration tips among similar platforms, see WildCard shutdown: balances, subscriptions and migration.
Three points in time: money coming in, money sitting, money going out
To judge whether a virtual card platform is reliable, you don't need to listen to how it markets itself. Just line up the three points in time your money passes through — when it comes in, when it sits, and when it goes out. DuPay's experience leaves a comparable record at all three points:
When the money comes in
- DuPay: the official announcement says it switched upstream card suppliers multiple times but still could not fundamentally resolve the compliance and fund-flow obstacles;
- PIKABAO: top-ups accept USDT only, and only on the TRC20 and ERC20 networks; account top-ups cost $0, with a minimum of 20 USDT per transaction, credited by on-chain confirmation.
When the money sits
- DuPay: after the shutdown, remaining balances require manual handling applied for via the official email channel;
- PIKABAO: balance can be withdrawn back to the account at no charge once 48 hours have passed since the last card transaction; the rule is written on the pricing page, not something you only learn at the moment of cancellation.
When the money goes out
- DuPay: services have stopped and the cards are unusable; balance handling is subject to the official announcement;
- PIKABAO: withdrawal and cancellation rules are published item by item; after a card is canceled, the remaining balance on it is settled back to the account, and any upstream freeze period of 60–90 days is covered by the platform, so user funds are not tied up.
Frequently asked questions
Can DuPay still be used now?
No. DuPay stopped all services and shut down its servers on November 30, 2025; existing cards are unusable, and registration or top-ups are no longer possible.
Why did DuPay stop its services?
According to the official announcement, it could not fundamentally resolve compliance issues and fund-flow obstacles — the platform says it switched upstream card suppliers multiple times yet still faced severe operational restrictions, including a large sum of funds frozen to this day without release.
I still have a balance in DuPay. Can I get it back?
The official announcement says the platform covered the frozen funds to ensure that users could withdraw in full. If you did not complete the withdrawal before the shutdown, submit a manual-handling application through the email channel given in the official announcement and keep your submission records. The specific processing period and receiving method are subject to the official announcement.
I got a message from "DuPay refund customer service". Can I trust it?
No. Anything that asks you to transfer money first, pay a handling fee, or hand over your private key, seed phrase or verification code is a scam. Legitimate refunds never ask you to pay upfront, nor do they request this kind of information. Only verify through the channels published in the official announcement.
What about the auto-renewals linked to DuPay?
Don't wait until a charge fails to act. Open a new card on another platform now, switch the payment methods one by one in order of the billing dates, and run the withdrawal application and the card switch in parallel, rather than waiting for a refund to land first.
When migrating to a new platform, what should I do first?
First verify on a small merchant that the new card charges successfully and that the BIN range fits your target platform, then switch the remaining links one by one. Don't migrate everything at once, and don't start with a large amount.
What does this round of shutdowns mean for choosing a platform?
Three takeaways: prefer platforms whose compliance chain is verifiable; treat "can the balance be withdrawn, and under what conditions" as the first screening question when choosing a platform; and if you are a heavy user, keep a backup platform to avoid single-point dependency.
Don't wait for the refund to land — get the new card ready first
The issuing fee and every other rate are listed item by item on the pricing page; the card-opening page shows exactly what this charge will be in real time, so review it before submitting.