App Guide · 5 of 7Beginner3 min read
Pay Ahead: Credit at Your Favorite Shop
Adding crypto credit to a shop's tab, spending it at the counter, and why it never expires.
Updated Oct 22, 2026
What Pay Ahead is
is credit you put on your tab at one shop, paid in crypto, then spend at that shop's counter later. Think of it like a prepaid card for that business.
Adding credit
- In the shop's Front Room, tap the Pay Ahead piggy bank.
- Pick $10, $20, $50, or a custom amount, choose a coin, and pay the QR.
- You can also add credit during checkout with the Additional Credit field.
- Once the payment confirms, you're credited with what actually arrived.
Spending it
At the counter, the shop applies your balance to your bill. Some shops also allow a little cash back, up to a limit they set.
Your balance shows on the shop's piggy bank, and every balance you carry is listed under My Pay Ahead Balances in the Control Center.
Pay Ahead credit never expires, but it only works at the shop where you added it.
Key takeaways
- Pay Ahead is a prepaid tab at one shop.
- You're credited with what actually arrives on-chain.
- It never expires and is spent at that shop's counter.
Educational use only. Not financial advice. Always do your own research.