The following is the latest 2026 version of the "Illustrated Tutorial on Linking an OpenAI API Payment Account (Billing) Using a Visa Virtual Credit Card," applicable to users in China who want to link their OpenAI API accounts and activate billing functionality. It is suitable for calling billing services such as GPT-4 API, Whisper, and DALL·E.
🧠 Tutorial Objectives:
✅ Successfully link your OpenAI account using a Visa virtual credit card
✅ Enable OpenAI API billing
✅ Avoid issues such as linking failure, risk control, and regional restrictions
🧾 I. Preparation
Project Content Description
✅ Visa Virtual Card
Recommended platforms: Coinepay, Windsurf, Privacy.com (US region), etc.
✅ OpenAI Account
Registered and verified via email and phone
✅ IP Proxy Recommendation
Recommended to use US/European proxy nodes to avoid "Region not supported" messages
✅ Card Balance
At least $5-$10 USD should be reserved for verification and payment
✅ Browser
Chrome or Edge; clearing the cache will ensure a more stable operation
## ✅ Virtual Card Application
1. Log in to the official website > https://bpay.net You can register for a virtual credit card account using your email or phone number.
2. Wallet > USDT (TRC20/BSC) Top-up, apply for card activation on the homepage > Card activation successful > Convert USDT balance to USD, then proceed to virtual card top-up. (It is recommended to top up 20 USDT for the first time.)
3. Obtain the CVV security code for the virtual card: Billing Information, Name, Address, State, Card Number, Date, CVV/CVC Security Code
4. Proceed to the payment page, fill in the corresponding information, and complete the payment.
Invitation Link: https://www.coinepay.net/#/pages/auth/register?code=7YDCLP
For those who don't understand, please refer to the official tutorial of the Coinepay virtual credit card platform: https://bpay.net/ask/
Detailed Tutorial: https://bpay.net/ask/d/14
🖥️ II. Operation Flowchart (2025 Latest)
Step 1: Log in to your OpenAI official website account
👉 Address: https://platform.openai.com/account Log in to the OpenAI console using your registered email/Google account.
Step 2: Access the Billing Page
Click on your avatar in the upper right corner → Select 【Billing】 to enter the billing management page.
Step 3: Add Payment Method
Click on 【Payment methods】 on the left.
Click on 【+ Add payment method】.
Step 4: Fill in Visa Virtual Card Information
Fill in your virtual card provider's credit card information, including:
Fields Instructions
Card number
Visa virtual card number (e.g., provided by Coinepay)
Expiration date
Card expiration date
CVV
Three-digit security code on the back of the card
Country
Recommended to select the United States (if the card is in the US region)
Billing address
Fill in the billing address provided by the platform (e.g., US region: New York, zip code 10001)
✅ Use English address format (e.g., 123 Main St, New York, NY 10001, United States)
Step 5: Submit and Wait for Binding Verification
The system will attempt to deduct $1.00 to $5.00. Verification (Sometimes immediate refund)
After successful binding, the page will display this card information and mark it as "Default Payment Method".
If it fails: Please change the card segment or region, and check if the address matches.
💡 Common Failure Reasons and Solutions
Error Message
Possible Reasons
Solution
Card Rejected
Card segment under risk control, does not support international payments
Change platform, such as using Coinepay US card BIN
Region not supported
IP or billing address mismatch
Switch to an agent in a usable region such as the US/Hong Kong
Verification deduction failed
Insufficient card balance
Ensure card balance ≥ $5 USD
Unable to submit form
Incorrect card information format
Use standard Visa card format, avoid copying spaces.
✅ Tested and Working Virtual Card Platforms (2025)
Platform
Card Type
Available
Features
✅ Coinepay
Visa
✅ High Success Rate
Chinese language support, supports Alipay/WeChat top-up, US billing address
✅ Windsurf
Visa
✅ Available
Link Apple ID, supports API and Plus
Privacy (US region only)
Visa
✅ Stable but registration is complex, requires US identity verification
Truecard / Ezzocard
Visa
⚠️ Lower success rate
Card range is unstable, may be rejected
🧪 How to confirm after binding?
In 【Billing】→【Payment methods】, you can see the added Visa card.
In 【Usage】, check if the API limit is activated (usually an initial limit of $5 by default).
You can go to https://platform.openai.com/account/usage to view your current bill and spending details.
📌 Advanced Operations (Optional)
Set 【Usage limits】 to control your maximum monthly fee and prevent excessive charges.
Set 【Email alerts】 to remind you of API usage exceeding your limit.
Add multiple payment methods for backup automatic deductions (if you plan to run multiple projects in the future).
🔐 Summary of Tested Recommendations (2025)
Recommendations
Explanations
✅ Using a US virtual Visa card has the highest success rate.
Coinepay and US Privacy cards offer stable binding.
✅ Avoid using unregistered cards or gift cards, as they are more likely to be flagged by risk control or have their verification rejected.
✅ Set reasonable limit amounts to prevent unexpected large-scale consumption of your balance by the API.
✅ GPT-4 can be activated after successful binding. API, DALL·E, Whisper and all other functions