Crypto
Read time 3 mins
Author Josh Wells
Digital Assets Forum London made one thing clear: the digital assets space is maturing fast. Conversations are moving beyond speculation and into the real work of building infrastructure, shaping policy, and unlocking everyday utility.
For platforms building in this space, that shift brings a big opportunity, but also a practical challenge: how do you make crypto easy to use in the real world, without adding friction to the user experience?
One of the most important pieces of that puzzle is the off-ramp. Because adoption doesn’t just depend on buying, holding, or earning crypto. It depends on whether users can turn digital assets into something they can actually spend.
A crypto off-ramp is any way for a user to convert digital assets into real-world value. Traditionally, that has meant selling crypto and withdrawing funds to a bank account. For a long time, it’s been the default cash-out route for exchanges, wallets, and crypto platforms.
But expectations have changed.
Today, many users want options that feel faster, simpler, and more aligned with how they already live and spend. They don’t just want to “cash out” eventually. They want to get value from their crypto immediately, especially when they’re using crypto as a reward, a savings pot, or a spending balance.
Bank withdrawals and cash-based off-ramps still play a big role in crypto. But they can add friction at the exact moment a user is ready to act. Waiting times, extra steps, and drop-off are common problems, and they can break the flow of the crypto experience.
For platforms, that can mean losing a user right when engagement is at its highest. If the journey ends with “leave the platform and figure it out somewhere else”, it’s harder to build loyalty, increase repeat usage, and keep users coming back.
That’s why more crypto platforms are exploring alternative off-ramps that keep the user experience simple and on-platform.
Gift cards might not be the first thing people think of when they hear “crypto off-ramp”, but they solve a real problem: they turn crypto into everyday spending power quickly and in a way users already understand.
Instead of forcing users to take extra steps to reach their money, crypto-to-gift-cards creates a redemption flow that feels immediate and familiar. Users can convert digital assets into gift cards for brands they already shop with, meaning crypto becomes usable in moments rather than days.
For exchanges and wallets, gift cards also offer something strategic. They’re not just another redemption option. They’re a way to keep users inside your platform while giving them real flexibility. Cash-out doesn’t have to mean an exit. It can be part of your product experience, designed to improve engagement and retention rather than push users away.
This isn’t a future concept. It’s already working.
Bitrefill uses Tillo’s platform to help crypto users access the brands and retailers they love by converting crypto into gift cards. This gives users a simple way to redeem digital assets like Bitcoin and ETH for real-world use, from topping up phones to shopping, streaming, and gifting.
If you want to see what that looks like in practice, you can read the full customer story with Bitrefill here.
At Tillo, we help crypto exchanges, wallets, and payment platforms deliver a seamless way for users to convert crypto into gift cards from 4,000+ global brands, across 40 markets and 25 currencies.
Our platform gives crypto businesses the ability to build redemption experiences that feel fast, embedded, and easy to use. Whether you want full control of the user journey or a quicker route to launch, we offer flexible ways to integrate depending on your product and roadmap.
If you’re exploring crypto off-ramps, in-app redemption, or new ways to make digital assets more practical for everyday users, you can learn more about our crypto solution here.
The industry conversations happening at Digital Assets Forum show how quickly the space is moving. But the biggest platforms will be the ones that translate that progress into everyday value for users.
And in many cases, that starts with a simple question: when users are ready to cash out, do they have a fast, flexible option that keeps them engaged?
Gift cards help answer that question. They give crypto holders a practical way to spend, while giving platforms a stronger user experience and a clear path to retention. As off-ramps continue to evolve, crypto-to-gift-cards is becoming one of the most effective ways to bridge digital assets and real-world utility.
If you’re building in crypto and want to explore gift card off-ramps, I’d love to talk.
