Sayyiku

Opening ChatGPT Plus from Scratch#

1. Introduction#

Recently, ChatGPT 4 was released, and many features are impressive, but currently, only the premium Plus membership at $20 per month can access them.

However, due to official restrictions, ChatGPT cannot be accessed directly in the country, and ChatGPT Plus must also be linked to a U.S. (or possibly European) credit card to activate, which indeed blocks many people...

But there are always more methods than difficulties.

2. Conclusion and Feasibility Analysis#

Let’s get straight to the conclusion, the process is as follows:

USDT (using Ouyi) — Credit Card (using Depay)

To explain the problem-solving approach briefly:

Depay can provide us with a virtual credit card in the U.S. (to be precise, a prepaid debit card with a CVV security code), which can be used to activate ChatGPT Plus (and many other features; see the end of the article for detailed card information), but it requires funding and activating the card using USDT (a type of cryptocurrency).

So the question becomes how to obtain USDT. For those who are unfamiliar, you can use Ouyi (a cryptocurrency exchange) to buy some. I already have some in my Tronlink (a cryptocurrency wallet), so I didn't need to buy more.

Once you have USDT, transfer it to the Depay wallet to activate the virtual credit card, then log in to the official OpenAI website, link the card, fill in the address (using a tax-free state address), confirm, and you will successfully activate it.

There will be a celebratory animation upon activation.

Then, we can happily use it!

Now let’s start explaining the steps in order.

3. Activation Steps#

You need:

• A scientific internet environment (from the U.S. or Europe)
• iPhone users need a U.S. (non-national) Apple ID
• It’s best to use the Chrome browser

The entire activation process is expected to cost between 150-210 RMB (depending on the type of card opened).

3.1 Obtaining USDT#

Here, we take Ouyi as an example.

Since Depay does not accept direct RMB deposits, we must rely on an exchange platform to complete the conversion process from RMB to USDT to USD, and then recharge ChatGPT Plus once the Depay account has USD.

For those unfamiliar with USDT, it is a virtual currency pegged to the USD, backed by large financial institutions, and theoretically, as long as the USD exists, so does USDT, so there’s no need to worry too much about safety. (However, we don’t need to deposit too much at once; just deposit what you need to minimize risk.)

Regarding exchanges, due to the regulatory policies in the mainland over the past two years, the reliable exchanges currently known are Ouyi and Binance, so we will choose to register an Ouyi account. Click here (be careful not to use a proxy, just access directly).

Wait for the Ouyi account to be registered, download and install the app. If the system prompts a security risk during installation, make sure to download such apps from the official website.

If you are an iPhone user, you need to log in with an overseas Apple ID to download the app from the app store. I won’t elaborate on how to apply for an overseas Apple ID here; you can search for it yourself. It’s basically registering a regular account and changing the country, providing a U.S. address, which can be generated here: https://www.meiguodizhi.com/usa-address/oregon.

Patiently wait for the Ouyi app to install successfully, click on the app homepage — Buy or Recharge Digital Currency — I want to buy coins — select USDT — purchase 25 USDT (about ¥170 is fine; note that if you plan to open a lite type Depay card later, you may need to recharge more, see 3.2.2 Apply for the First Card) — supports Alipay, WeChat, or bank card purchases.

You can choose Alipay, which generally requires you to add the merchant as a friend and then transfer the funds.

It is particularly important to note: New Ouyi users must wait 24 hours after completing identity verification before they can withdraw funds. If you are in a hurry to withdraw to Depay, you can try to find customer service and explain your request; there is a certain chance they can lift the 24-hour wait. If you are really in a hurry, you can also find someone to recharge through Depay, but generally, they will charge a service fee at a rate of 1:8, which I personally think is unnecessary and a waste of money.

After completing the above step, we have exchanged RMB for USDT.

Note: Although you often hear friends around you say that someone has made hundreds of times their wealth by trading coins or contracts, it is still not recommended to trade coins because the risks are very high. People can never earn money beyond their understanding; even if they do, they will lose it in another way. Very few people can control their greed. Indeed, some people make money, but more people lose money, so don’t try it lightly.

3.2 Obtaining a U.S. Credit Card#

Next, let’s open a card.

Since ChatGPT Plus requires a U.S. credit card for recharging, domestic dual-currency cards and all-currency cards cannot be used. So we will use Depay to open a U.S. virtual bank card.

Regarding Depay, you can check this post: https://www.v2ex.com/t/912011

It can be confirmed that this is a company founded by Chinese people, with the following characteristics:

• Depay Master Visa cards support binding to Alipay, WeChat Pay, Meituan, Pinduoduo, Paypal (national, U.S., Hong Kong), Tmall International, etc.
• Supports ChatGPT Plus recharges, Stripe merchants, Google Play Store, YouTube Premium, Paypal merchants, U.S. Apple Store, and e-commerce websites that do not support 3DS cards.
• Supports direct binding of cards for purchases on the domestic Apple official website for iPhones and Macs, may call for inquiries, just say directly.
• Supports USDT recharge, then uses VISA/MasterCard for direct consumption, avoiding OTC exchange risks (many people have had their bank accounts frozen).
• Allows for card opening without KYC (but there are fees and monthly charges), supports USDT recharge, achieving completely anonymous payments (this part will be detailed later).

3.2.1 Registering a Depay Account#

Click here to register a Depay account, you can use an email or phone number; I registered with a Google email. (My referral code is: 749432)

During use, I found that Depay has a small issue where sometimes the verification code is received slowly, so you need to be patient. If you haven’t received it after 2 minutes, you can request the verification code again.

After successfully registering the account, you will be prompted to download their app. Apple users need to log in with an overseas Apple account, while Android users can download directly (make sure to download such apps from the official website). Be patient while waiting for the app to install, and log in to Depay with the account and password you just registered.

3.2.2 Applying for the First Card#

Click the "Apply for Card" button in the upper left corner to open a virtual credit card. When opening the card, you can choose a card with a fee of 0 or a fee of 10 USDT; the difference is that the card with a fee of 0 requires you to complete KYC verification, which means you need to upload your ID card (domestic ID is fine) or passport for verification. If you don’t want to upload your ID or passport for real-name verification at the moment, you can choose the card with a fee of 10 USDT; just remember to transfer an additional 10 USDT. The advanced card and platinum card have opening fees of 10U and 50U, respectively; decide whether to open them based on the differences in monthly fees, service fees, and limits.

I opened a standard MasterCard.

You can choose according to your needs.

Note: If you want to use this card anonymously from the start, please choose the Lite card. If you want to upgrade to a higher-level card quickly, then directly open the standard card, as both advanced cards, platinum cards, and black cards require KYC.

After the card is activated, we can recharge USDT into Depay.

Open the Depay app wallet, find Wallet — USDT — Recharge — copy your recharge address, confirm that the main network displayed is TRC20 —
make sure not to copy the recharge address incorrectly!

Open the Ouyi app, find the homepage — Assets — Withdraw — USDT — On-chain withdrawal.
Fill in the withdrawal address with the recharge address from the Depay wallet, select TRC20 for the withdrawal network (do not select incorrectly, or it will not arrive),
choose an amount greater than 23 USDT, which is enough to recharge for one month of ChatGPT Plus membership, then submit and wait for it to arrive.

After successfully withdrawing from Ouyi to Depay and completing the recharge, first convert USDT to USD, then activate the card.

I am also a new user on Ouyi, so I directly transferred USDT from my Tronlink wallet to Depay, as I plan to continue renewing Plus, I transferred 70 USDT directly.

After depositing the exchanged dollars into the card, once activated, the card will have funds. The validity period of my card is 3 years.

Click on the CVV security code, receive the verification code, and you can see the detailed information.

Make sure to protect this information; with this, you can use the credit card to bind and activate ChatGPT Plus.

However, this tax-free address keeps showing as invalid, so I had to fill in a California address (probably related to the IP).

4. Activating ChatGPT Account#

5. Activating ChatGPT Plus#

Log in to the official website, making sure to use a U.S. environment (currently, it seems only the U.S. and Europe can upgrade to Plus; please correct me if I'm wrong), click to upgrade to the Plus version (an international IP is required during the upgrade, but not afterward):

Note: Try to use U.S. and European IPs for your internet environment, and enable incognito mode in your browser.

If you are unsure whether your IP is from the U.S. or Europe, check http://en.ipip.net/. Avoid using proxies that many people use, as they are likely to fail. If it fails, try switching to several proxies.

On the pop-up subscription page, fill in the credit card information, just use what Depay provides.

Fill in a tax-free state address for the billing address; if you don’t have one, you can generate one here: https://www.meiguodizhi.com/usa-address/oregon —

Click subscribe, and it will start spinning...

After a while, it will indicate that the subscription was successful, with flowers everywhere!

Click Continue, and you can use the brand new GPT 4!

5.1 Initial Experience with ChatGPT Plus#

Of course, if you just want to try it out, you can also cancel the automatic subscription.

However, our Depay credit card does not actually have an overdraft function; it is essentially a debit card. Theoretically, as long as you don’t add money to the card, you don’t have to worry about being charged next month.

Of course, to be safe, you can still cancel the automatic subscription. The method is:
Open the ChatGPT homepage and log in — bottom left corner — My Account — Manage My Subscription — Cancel Plan.

6. Frequently Asked Questions and Reminders#

1. Recommended cryptocurrency wallets for USDT: Tronlink, Binance's Trust is also good, but it seems to have higher fees;
2. Do not store large amounts of currency on Depay; try to recharge only what you need;
3. Remember to fill in a tax-free state address for the billing address; otherwise, you will be taxed, and it won’t be low;
4. Make sure to access using a U.S. IP; otherwise, you may encounter the following error:

Your credit card was declined; please try using a debit card for payment.

5. Don’t think about getting rich overnight by trading coins.

In the mainland, it is indeed quite difficult to use it smoothly, so everyone should make good use of it.

7. Supplementary Information#

7.1 About Depay#

In summary: Don’t store large amounts of money in it; if you don’t want identity verification, just open a Lite card.

The following content comes from the internet (forgot the source = =):

Depay is reportedly a British company that solves various application scenarios for individuals using cryptocurrency, holds a U.S. MSB license, and is subject to compliance supervision by Fincen (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), with a clear and legal operating entity that meets the capital requirements, information security requirements, and KYC/AML standards set by financial regulators.

Depay supports USDT cryptocurrency, with built-in electronic accounts in GBP, EUR, and USD, allowing free transactions and transfers between GBP, EUR, USD, and USDT — solving the issues of cash inflow and outflow between cryptocurrency and fiat currency, eliminating the traditional problems of money laundering and frozen cards in cryptocurrency withdrawals, and enjoying borderless electronic currency payments. Supporting USDT stablecoin serves as a bridge, which also means supporting all cryptocurrencies, including BTC and ETH.

In practical use, here are some summarized points:

• This company's business mainly targets the needs of users in mainland China — users in Europe and America do not need to use this product; its registration process is clearly prepared for Chinese users — with Chinese language services and support for ID verification.
• It has certain service fees; USDT to USD conversion generates about 1% profit, and recharging USD and other fiat currencies to the MasterCard incurs about 1% in fees (depending on different card packages), along with a small monthly fee, so its profit model is clear and profitable.
• This prepaid credit card for foreign currency can be linked to WeChat and Alipay in domestic RMB payment scenarios (Alipay itself charges an additional 3% fee, which is quite steep), supporting well-known transaction services like JD.com, Sinopec/PetroChina fuel cards, Meituan, Didi, Paypal, Tmall International, Q coin recharge, Pinduoduo, Maoyan movie tickets, Vipshop, etc., but there are not many opportunities for offline supermarkets to support it, so there are imperfections.
• However, as a substitute card for daily consumption, it achieves seamless use of cryptocurrency for RMB payments (and even easier for foreign payments), which is significant and facilitates services like paying for ChatGPT memberships that require European and American bank cards (credit cards). Additionally, Apple users can also use this MasterCard number and a U.S. family address (find one yourself) to open a U.S. Apple ID to access the U.S. app market APP STORE, achieving things that were previously impossible.
• The Depay bank card has been launched for over a year, and I believe that such bank cards will become more and more common and easier to use in the future — unless there are major changes in European and American financial regulatory policies.
• Regarding potential risks, considering Depay as a small company product, to control the overall safety risk of personal funds, it is recommended not to recharge too much money into Depay at once. Even if it were to close operations for various reasons in the future, you wouldn’t lose too much — but Depay is a compliant financial service in Europe and America, so theoretically, it should have a bottom line.
• Due to well-known reasons, for the free flow of funds between domestic and foreign, friends with such needs can apply for a card first, as such interesting things are currently rare; you know what I mean.

View the original webpage: catcat.blog