Sometimes, when you pay with your card, you may notice a pending or pre-authorization charge and see part of your balance temporarily unavailable.
This is normal and does not mean your money has been taken.
What is a pre-authorization?
A pre-authorization (also called a pending charge or temporary hold) is a way for merchants to reserve funds on your card before the final amount is confirmed.
At this stage:
The merchant has not completed the charge
The funds are temporarily reserved, not spent
The transaction may still change or be cancelled
Why do merchants use pre-authorizations?
Pre-authorizations are commonly used when the final amount isn’t known right away.
Typical examples include:
Hotels (room deposits, minibar, damages)
Car rentals
Fuel stations
Airlines
Restaurants (open tabs)
Has my money been taken?
No. A pre-authorization is not a completed payment.
Even if your available balance looks lower:
The amount is only reserved
The merchant must still complete the charge
If they don’t, the hold is automatically released
What happens next?
The merchant will either:
Complete the charge: The final amount is charged and any unused portion is released, and credited back to your default fiat account (EUR, GBP, or CHF).
Cancel the transaction: The reserved funds are released and credited back to your default fiat account (EUR, GBP, or CHF).
Do nothing: The pre-authorization expires automatically and your funds will be available again.
How long does a pre-authorization last?
The release time depends on the type of merchant.
Regular retail / online stores: Up to 7 days
Fuel stations: 7–10 days
Airlines: Around 15 days
Hotels / car rentals / travel: Up to 30 days
Once the authorization expires, your balance updates automatically.
Can you release the pre-authorization for me?
Unfortunately, no.
Pre-authorizations are controlled by the merchant and the card network. We can’t manually remove or “unlock” them before they expire.
If the merchant has cancelled the transaction, the funds will be released automatically — usually within a few days.
What should I do if the hold is still there?
Check the transaction date: Most holds are released within the timeframes above.
Check the merchant type: Hotels and car rentals can take longer, even 30 days.
Wait for the hold to expire: In most cases, no action is needed.
If the pre-authorization is still visible after the expected release time, you can contact our Support team and we’ll take a closer look.
Important to know
Pre-authorizations cannot be disputed
They are temporary and usually resolve automatically
You won’t be charged twice for the same transaction
The final amount may differ from the original hold
In case of refund, your fiat balance will be credited, NOT your crypto balance