> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ruapi.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Top-up Guide

> How to top up your balance: USDT or USDC via TRC20/BEP20/Polygon, or a Visa / Mastercard bank card. Minimum amount and crediting times.

There are two ways to top up your RuAPI balance:

* **USDT (Tether) or USDC** through one of the supported blockchains — the main method, no card needed at all.
* **A bank card** (Visa / Mastercard) — if you don't use crypto.

Minimum top-up is **\$5** either way.

## Topping up with USDT / USDC

### ⚠️ Most important: pick the right network

<Warning>
  USDT and USDC both exist on multiple blockchains. On the payment page you **pick the coin and one network**, and you must send through that exact network. Sending through a different network leads to **permanent loss of funds**: the transaction will never reach our address.

  Verify the network in **two places**:

  1. Which network you selected on the RuAPI payment page.
  2. Which network you select in your wallet / exchange when sending.

  They must match.
</Warning>

### Supported networks

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="TRC20 (TRON)" icon="circle-check">
    **Most popular USDT network.** Low fees (\~\$1), fast (1–3 min).
  </Card>

  <Card title="BEP20 (BSC)" icon="circle-check">
    Binance Smart Chain. Low fees, supported by all major wallets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Polygon" icon="circle-check">
    Polygon (MATIC) network. Low fees, great for DeFi-native users.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  **ERC20 (Ethereum)** is not supported — gas is too expensive for small top-ups. **Solana** and others are on the roadmap.
</Note>

### How to top up

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the top-up page">
    Console → **Wallet**. Enter the amount (minimum \$5).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the coin and network">
    Click **USDT / USDC** — on the payment page you then choose the coin (USDT or USDC) and the network (TRC20 / BEP20 / Polygon).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the amount">
    The payment page shows the final amount to send. If volume discounts apply they're already factored in.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send the coin">
    A QR code and wallet address appear. Send the coin you picked from your wallet / exchange **strictly through the selected network**.

    <Warning>
      Double-check the network in your wallet before confirming the transaction.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for confirmation">
    Once the on-chain transaction confirms (typically 1–5 min), your balance updates automatically. You'll get an email notification.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### If your top-up is delayed

Confirmation time depends on the network:

| Network | Typical time |
| ------- | ------------ |
| TRC20   | 1–3 min      |
| BEP20   | 1–5 min      |
| Polygon | 2–10 min     |

If more than **30 minutes** have passed and your balance hasn't updated:

1. Check the transaction in a blockchain explorer (TronScan / BscScan / PolygonScan) — it should be confirmed (status: success).
2. Confirm the **network matches** the one you selected on RuAPI.
3. Email [support@ruapi.ai](mailto:support@ruapi.ai) with the transaction TXID.

<Note>
  In 99% of cases, delays are because the wallet's network didn't match the one selected on RuAPI. Unfortunately, USDT sent through the wrong network **technically cannot be recovered** — those funds don't exist on the network we monitor for deposits.
</Note>

## Paying by bank card

If you don't use crypto, you can top up with a **Visa** or **Mastercard** bank card. Payments are processed by **Stripe** — your card details never pass through RuAPI and are not stored by us.

### How to pay by card

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pick the payment method">
    In the Console → **Wallet**, enter the amount (minimum \$5) and click **Card / Карта · Stripe**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pay on the Stripe page">
    A secure `checkout.stripe.com` page opens. Your bank may ask for 3-D Secure confirmation — an SMS or a push from your banking app. This is a standard check and your bank decides when to require it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Your balance updates automatically">
    Usually within a few seconds of a successful payment. A receipt is emailed to the address you used at checkout.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **On your card statement the charge appears as `RUAPI.AI`.**

  If you see that name on your statement, it is your RuAPI balance top-up. Before contacting your bank, please email us at [support@ruapi.ai](mailto:support@ruapi.ai) — contacting us directly is almost always faster.
</Note>

### If the payment fails

* **Your bank declined it** — usually this is your bank's own restriction on online payments or foreign merchants. Ask your bank whether international online payments are enabled for the card.
* **The card was issued in Russia** — international payments on those cards currently don't go through: use a card from a foreign bank, or top up in USDT / USDC instead.
* **You were charged but the balance didn't update** — email [support@ruapi.ai](mailto:support@ruapi.ai) with the Stripe receipt, or with the last 4 digits of the card and the time of payment.

Refund terms are in the [Refund Policy](/en/legal/refund).

## Minimum amount and discounts

* **Minimum**: \$5 per top-up (either payment method).
* **Maximum**: no hard limit (single transfers of up to \~1000 USDT work fine).
* **Volume discounts**: bigger top-up = bigger discount. Exact tiers on the top-up page.

See [Pricing & billing](/en/pricing) for how the balance is consumed by API calls.

## Security

* Card details are handled by **Stripe** — they never pass through RuAPI servers and are not stored by us. Card payments always happen on the `checkout.stripe.com` domain.
* The wallet address shown on the payment page is **generated for your order** — it's tied to your user. Don't reuse old addresses from previous payments.
* For phishing protection, always reach [www.ruapi.ai](https://www.ruapi.ai) **via your bookmark** (not from email links) and compare the wallet address against what our site displays.