Creating Cards

This guide walks you through the complete process of creating an ALIAS virtual card, from connecting your wallet to receiving your card details.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

Solana Wallet: Phantom, Solflare, Backpack, or any Solana-compatible wallet

Cryptocurrency: At least $25 worth of USDC, SOL, or supported SPL tokens

Small SOL Balance: ~0.01 SOL for transaction fees (usually under $0.01 in value)

Web Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (for x402 method)

Step 1: Connect Your Wallet

Navigate to ALIAS: Go to alias.cards in your web browser

Click "Connect Wallet": Find the button in the top-right corner of the navigation bar

Select Your Wallet: Choose from the list of supported wallets (Phantom, Solflare, Backpack, etc.)

Approve Connection: Your wallet will pop up asking for permission. Click "Approve" or "Connect"

Verify Connection: Your wallet address should now appear in the navigation bar, confirming successful connection

Step 2: Access the Dashboard

Click "Launch App": After connecting your wallet, click the "Launch App" button or navigate directly to /app

View Dashboard: You'll see your dashboard with:

• Balance display
• Card creation interface
• Transaction history (empty for new users)
• Active cards list (empty until you create one)

Step 3: Choose Your Card Amount

Select Standard Amount: Click one of the preset buttons: $25, $50, $100, $200, or $500

Or Enter Custom Amount: Use the input field to enter any amount between $25 and $500

Why it matters:

• Standard amounts may use pre-created cards (faster, sometimes cheaper)
• Custom amounts always use instant cards
• Higher amounts give you more flexibility but have monthly limits

Step 4: Select Payment Method

x402 Protocol (Recommended for Desktop):

• Direct browser payment
• One-click approval in your wallet
• Fastest option (under 2 seconds)
• Best for desktop computers

Solana Pay (Best for Mobile):

• QR code-based payment
• Scan with your mobile wallet
• Works across devices
• Great for mobile users

Choose Based on Device: If you're on desktop with a browser wallet installed, use x402. If you're on mobile or browsing on one device but want to pay from another, use Solana Pay.

Step 5: Review and Confirm

Check Details:

• Amount: Verify the card value is correct
• Token: Confirm you're paying with the right cryptocurrency (USDC recommended)
• Payment method: x402 or Solana Pay
• Estimated gas fee: Usually under $0.01

Enable Privacy (Optional): If you want anonymous card creation, toggle "Private Payment" ON before continuing

Step 6: Complete Payment

For x402 Users:

Click "Create Card": The button initiates the payment flow

Wallet Popup Appears: Your browser wallet opens automatically

Review Transaction: Check the amount and recipient address in your wallet

Approve Transaction: Click "Approve" or "Confirm" in your wallet

Wait for Confirmation: Solana confirms in under 1 second typically

Receive Card: Card details appear immediately after blockchain confirmation

For Solana Pay Users:

Click "Create Card": The button generates a QR code

QR Code Displays: A payment QR code appears on screen

Open Mobile Wallet: Launch your Solana wallet app on your phone

Scan QR Code: Use the wallet's QR scanner to read the code

Approve on Mobile: Your mobile wallet shows the transaction details—approve it

System Confirms: The desktop browser automatically detects payment and proceeds

Receive Card: Card details appear after confirmation

Step 7: Save Your Card Details

Card Information Appears: You'll see:

• 16-digit card number
• Expiration date (MM/YY)
• 3-digit CVV code
• Cardholder name
• Billing address

Save Immediately: Use one of these methods:

1. Password Manager (recommended): 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass, etc.
2. Secure Note: Write down on paper and store safely
3. Screenshot: Take a screenshot and encrypt it

DO NOT:

• Email card details to yourself
• Save in unencrypted cloud storage
• Share with anyone else
• Leave visible on screen if in public

Step 8: Use Your Card

Add to Merchant: Enter your card details on any website accepting Mastercard or Visa:

1. Card number (16 digits)
2. Expiration date
3. CVV code
4. Billing address (provided with card)

Complete Purchase: Proceed through checkout as you would with any other card

Monitor Usage: Check your dashboard to see updated balance after transactions

Troubleshooting

Wallet Won't Connect

Issue: Click "Connect Wallet" but nothing happens

Solutions:

• Install a Solana wallet extension if you haven't
• Unlock your wallet (it may be locked)
• Refresh the page and try again
• Try a different wallet (Phantom, Solflare, etc.)
• Check that wallet extension is enabled

Payment Transaction Fails

Issue: Transaction doesn't go through or gets declined

Solutions:

• Ensure you have enough tokens for the card amount
• Check you have ~0.01 SOL for gas fees
• Verify wallet isn't locked
• Try approving the transaction again
• Check Solana network status (rare congestion)

Card Details Don't Appear

Issue: Payment confirmed but no card details show

Solutions:

• Wait 5-10 seconds (occasionally there's a delay)
• Refresh the dashboard page
• Check transaction history for the card
• Verify payment actually went through on Solana Explorer
• Contact support if missing after 1 minute

QR Code Won't Scan (Solana Pay)

Issue: Mobile wallet can't read the QR code

Solutions:

• Maximize browser window for larger QR code
• Ensure good lighting or adjust screen brightness
• Check camera permissions in wallet app
• Try manually entering the payment URL if wallet supports it
• Switch to x402 if desktop wallet is available

Privacy Mode Flow

If you enabled "Private Payment", the flow is different:

1. Deposit to Privacy Pool: Your payment goes to the privacy pool instead of directly creating a card

2. Receive Secret Note: System displays your recovery note—SAVE IT IMMEDIATELY

3. Wait for Mixing: Your funds mix with other users' deposits in the pool

4. Withdraw Later: Return to the dashboard and use your secret note to withdraw

5. Receive Anonymous Card: Card is created with no link to your original deposit

See Privacy Features for detailed instructions on privacy mode.

What to Do After Creating Your Card

Verify It Works: Make a small test purchase at a trusted merchant to ensure the card functions

Monitor Balance: Check your dashboard regularly to track spending and remaining balance

Manage Subscriptions: If using for subscriptions, note the expiration date to plan renewals

Create Additional Cards: You can create multiple cards up to your monthly limit ($5,000 for instant cards, $10,000 for pre-created cards)

Next Steps

Learn more about using and managing your ALIAS cards:

• Privacy Features - Enable anonymous card creation
• Managing Cards - View and organize your cards
• Card Lifecycle - Understand card states
• Payment Methods - Deep dive into x402 and Solana Pay