Complete Guide to Third-Party Top-ups in Gacha Games

Premium currency purchases on external sites represent a widespread but risky practice affecting millions of gacha game players. The main danger isn't a direct ban, but negative balances caused by fraudulent chargebacks, which can result in permanent bans. Codashop emerges as the only distributor with verified official partnerships with multiple developers, while sites like LootBar and LDShop operate in a gray area with moderate risk.

General Legality

The legal framework varies drastically by region

Third-party purchases exist in a legal gray area. Violating a game's Terms of Service (ToS) doesn't constitute a criminal offense, but consequences include account suspension, loss of progress and invested money, with no legal recourse since the user accepted the ToS.

Regulation by Region

Region	Legal Status	Key Regulations
🇯🇵 Japan	Regulated	"Complete gacha" illegal since 2012. Normal gacha legal with self-regulation
🇨🇳 China	Strict	Mandatory disclosure of drop rates. "Pity" system required
🇧🇪🇳🇱 Belgium/Netherlands	Prohibited	Loot boxes classified as gambling
🇪🇺 European Union	Under review	CPCN declared exploiting "whales" violates unfair practices directive
🇺🇸 United States	No federal regulation	FTC fined HoYoverse $20 million (January 2025) for COPPA violations
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Pending	House of Lords committee declared loot boxes as gambling

Specific Legal Consequences

Violating ToS: No direct legal consequences in most jurisdictions
Using stolen cards: Criminal offense in all jurisdictions
Chargeback fraud: May constitute civil fraud
Account recovery: Much more difficult if third-party top-ups are detected

Gachas that ALLOW Third-Party Purchases

Some games have official authorized distributors in addition to their own stores, allowing safe third-party purchases.

Games with Confirmed Official Distributors

Game	Developer	Official Distributor	Evidence
🎮 Genshin Impact	HoYoverse	✅ Codashop	Announced Feb 2021 as "exclusive third-party partner"
🎮 Honkai Star Rail	HoYoverse	✅ Codashop	Available on codashop.com
🎮 Zenless Zone Zero	HoYoverse	✅ Codashop	Officially offers Monochromes
🎮 Honkai Impact 3rd	HoYoverse	✅ Codashop	Original partner (precursor)
🎮 Wuthering Waves	Kuro Games	✅ Codashop	Partnership confirmed on LinkedIn
🎮 Punishing Gray Raven	Kuro Games	✅ Codashop	"Partnered with Kuro Technology"
🎮 Azur Lane	Yostar	✅ Yo-topup.com	Official Yostar portal

Evidence of Official Partnerships

HoYoverse + Codashop (February 2021):

"Codashop announced as exclusive third-party direct top-up partner for Genshin Impact... The partnership arose from their successful collaboration with Honkai Impact 3rd."

Kuro Games + Codashop:

"Codashop has partnered with Kuro Technology to offer official Punishing: Gray Raven Cards top ups!"

Gachas that PROHIBIT Third-Party Purchases

These games have explicit prohibitions in their Terms of Service against using unauthorized third-party sites.

Games with Explicit Prohibition

Game	Developer	ToS Prohibition	Established Consequences
🎮 Wuthering Waves	Kuro Games	"Strict Prohibition of Top-up through Third-Party Applications"	Earnings removal, suspension or permanent ban
🎮 Punishing Gray Raven	Kuro Games	Same Kuro Games ToS	Permanent ban or rollback
🎮 Azur Lane	Yostar	Official Twitter warning (2018)	Permanent ban
🎮 Arknights	Hypergryph	Monthly warnings about third-party software	Documented bans
🎮 Blue Archive	Nexon	"Purchases from unauthorized sources" prohibited	Account suspension
🎮 Girls' Frontline 2	Sunborn	"We will not tolerate third-party actions affecting fairness"	Periodic publication of banned accounts
🎮 Duet Night Abyss	Infold Games	Aggressive anti-cheat detects external software	10-year bans documented

Relevant ToS Excerpts

Wuthering Waves (Section 8.2.c):

"Any form of dishonest or fraudulent transaction, including but not limited to: (i) using top-up or payment methods that are not authorized or permitted by us"

HoYoverse (Section 10.b.ii):

"Explicit prohibition of using any unapproved payment method"

Azur Lane (Official Twitter, August 2018):

"Please refrain from third-party transactions as this may risk leading to fraudulent credit card behaviors. This will cause your account to be permanently banned."

Gachas with AMBIGUOUS Policy

These games don't have documented explicit prohibitions or have a history of low enforcement.

Games in the Gray Zone

Game	Developer	Policy	Enforcement	Documented Cases
🎮 Reverse: 1999	Bluepoch	Not specific about top-ups	Low	❌ No ban cases
🎮 Brown Dust 2	NEOWIZ	Generic ToS	Low	❌ No documented cases
🎮 Snowbreak: Containment Zone	Seasun Games	No prohibition found	Very low	❌ No reports
🎮 Girls' Frontline 1	Sunborn	Partial (tools, not purchases)	Low	⚠️ Game ceasing operations
🎮 Arknights: Endfield	Hypergryph	Inherited from Arknights	No data	⚠️ Very recent game (2026)

Detailed Analysis

Reverse: 1999:

Has official recharge center: re1999.bluepoch.com/payment/info
Multiple third-party services operate without ban reports
Community considers relatively "safe" to use third parties
No documented cases of negative balances or bans

Brown Dust 2:

Official web shop launched June 2025: webshop.browndust2.global
Offers exclusive coupons and 10% extra mileage
Active account market on EpicNPC with no visible enforcement
Recommendation: use official store for extra benefits

Snowbreak: Containment Zone:

No invasive anti-cheat according to Steam discussions
LDShop claims it's "completely safe"
No official developer warnings found

OFFICIALLY Certified Sites

Distributors with Verified Partnerships

Distributor	Authorized Games	Partnership Type	Verification
Codashop	Genshin Impact, HSR, ZZZ, HI3, WuWa, PGR	Exclusive official partner	✅ Confirmed by developers
Razer Gold	HoYoverse games	Official partner	✅ Mentioned as authorized
Yo-topup.com	Azur Lane	Official Yostar portal	✅ Operated by the publisher

Codashop: The Gold Standard

Features:

🔒 UID System: Only requires User ID, never passwords
📊 Trustpilot: 4.6/5 (20,390+ reviews)
🌍 Coverage: 50+ countries, 65+ markets
🤝 300+ publishers including Activision, EA, Riot Games
⚠️ No refunds accepted: Protection against chargebacks

Limitations:

❌ No discounts offered - prices equal to official store
Value lies in convenience and alternative payment options

Coverage Table by Game

Game	Codashop	Razer Gold	Official Web Store	Other
Genshin Impact	✅	✅	✅ HoYoverse	-
Honkai Star Rail	✅	✅	✅ HoYoverse	-
Zenless Zone Zero	✅	✅	✅ HoYoverse	-
Honkai Impact 3rd	✅	✅	✅ HoYoverse	-
Wuthering Waves	✅	❓	✅ Kuro	-
Punishing Gray Raven	✅	❓	✅ Kuro	-
Azur Lane	❌	❓	❌	✅ Yo-topup
Arknights	❌	❌	✅ Gift Site	-
Blue Archive	❌	❌	❌	In-app only
Reverse: 1999	❌	❌	✅ Bluepoch	-
Brown Dust 2	❌	❌	✅ NEOWIZ	-

General RISK Overview

Risk Matrix by Purchase Method

Purchase Method	Ban Risk	Fraud Risk	Data Risk	Recommendation
🟢 Official in-game	None	None	None	RECOMMENDED
🟢 Codashop/Razer Gold	Very low	Low	Low	SAFE
🟡 Third-party with UID	Low-Medium	Moderate	Low	With caution
🟠 Facebook/Discord	High	High	High	AVOID
🔴 40%+ discount	Very High	Very High	High	DO NOT USE
🔴 Requires login	Critical	Critical	Critical	NEVER

The Typical Fraud Cycle

Risk Indicators by Discount

Discount Offered	Risk Level	Explanation
0-10%	🟢 Low	Legitimate regional pricing difference
10-20%	🟢 Low	Normal reseller margins
20-30%	🟡 Moderate	Could be regional or semi-legitimate
30-40%	🟠 High	Probably questionable methods
40-50%+	🔴 Very High	Almost guaranteed fraud/stolen cards

BAN Risk

Documented Cases by Game

Game	Confirmed Cases	Ban Type	Probability
🎮 Genshin Impact	✅ Multiple	10+ years (permanent)	Medium-High
🎮 Arknights	✅ Documented	Permanent	High
🎮 Duet Night Abyss	✅ Multiple	7 days to 10 years	Very High
🎮 Honkai Star Rail	✅ Some	10+ years	Medium
🎮 Azur Lane	⚠️ Threatened	Permanent	Unknown
🎮 Wuthering Waves	⚠️ Reported	Permanent	Medium
🎮 Blue Archive	⚠️ For exploits	Variable	Low (top-ups)
🎮 Reverse: 1999	❌ Not found	N/A	Low
🎮 Snowbreak	❌ Not found	N/A	Very Low

Specific Documented Cases

Arknights Case (EpicNPC, March 2020):

Account banned the day after purchase. Support confirmed: "banned because the person was exploiting illegal payment loopholes"

Duet Night Abyss Case (Steam Community, January 2026):

Multiple users report bans for "failed purchase" without making a chargeback. The system treats payment failures as chargebacks.

Genshin Impact Case (Reddit):

User with -57,926 Primogems asking how to recover. Would require $500+ USD in official purchases.

How Companies Detect

Pattern monitoring: Purchases from suspicious regions
Geo-location verification: Detect VPN usage
Chargeback tracking: Automatic alerts when payment is reversed
Risk systems: Internal controls that intercept suspicious orders
Velocity analysis: Many purchases in short time = flag

Ban Types and Duration

Type	Cause	Duration	Reversible
Temporary suspension	Negative balance	Until resolved (7 days)	✅ Yes, by paying
Restriction	Suspicious activity	Variable	⚠️ With appeal
Permanent ban	Not resolving balance	10+ years	❌ Generally no
Fraud ban	Stolen cards/carding	Permanent	❌ No

Negative Balance Risk (Chargebacks)

How Chargebacks Work in Gacha

A chargeback occurs when the original card holder disputes a charge with their bank. In gacha games, this creates a unique problem because the premium currency was already converted and spent.

The Negative Balance Mechanism

Documented Negative Balance Cases

Case	Game	Negative Amount	Cost to Resolve
Mass purchase	Genshin Impact	-28,800 Primogems	~$400 USD
Whale account	Genshin Impact	-28,423 Primogems	~$350 USD
Extreme case	Genshin Impact	-57,926 Primogems	~$500+ USD
Minor case	Genshin Impact	-1,580 Primogems	Farmable
Trolling	Genshin Impact	-60 Primogems	Minimal but still banned

The "Malicious Trolling" Phenomenon

A particularly serious problem: trolls obtain UIDs in co-op, make small top-ups (60 Genesis Crystals), players don't notice the increase and convert them, then the troll refunds and the innocent victim gets banned.

Grace Period and Consequences

Situation	Time Limit	Consequence
Negative balance detected	Immediate	Warning notification
Grace period	~7 days	Opportunity to resolve
No resolution	After 7 days	PERMANENT BAN
Welkin Moon refund	N/A	ALL 90 daily primogems recovered

How to Resolve a Negative Balance

Official purchase enough to bring balance to 0 or positive
Farm (only viable for small amounts - chests, quests, abyss)
Contact support with transaction evidence:
- Genshin: genshin_cs@hoyoverse.com
- Response time: 24-72 hours
Document everything with screenshots

Data Theft and Fraud Risk

Known Fraudulent Sites and Sellers

Documented scammers:

Tigaboost: Banned on EpicNPC for scamming multiple users
Facebook Groups: Thousands of members with fake accounts
Discord "helpers": Impersonate moderators or staff

Common Scam Types

Scam Type	How It Works	Loss
Vanish scam	Accept payment, disappear	Money
Chargeback scam	Deliver, then refund	Account + money
Account recovery	Sell account, "recover" it	Account + money
Fake middleman	"Intermediary" disappears	Total funds
Credential harvest	Top-up requires login → steal	Complete account
Malicious trolling	Small top-up + refund	Ban without fault

The "UID Hacking" Myth

The reality:

❌ UID alone CANNOT hack your account directly
⚠️ BUT: The UID allows third parties to make top-ups without your consent
⚠️ If they refund afterwards, YOU suffer the consequences
HoYoverse has received criticism for this vulnerability

Documented Phishing Tactics

Fake pages: Domains similar to official ones (codash0p.com, lootbar.co)
Fake emails: "Your purchase was successful" → malicious link
Fake Discord servers: "Official" channels with fabricated testimonials
DMs from "creators": Promise free Battle Pass for "verification"
Free generators: 100% scams to steal credentials

"Carding" in Gacha Games

How it operates:

Obtaining card data (data breaches, dark web)
Validation with automated bots
Mass top-ups to gacha accounts
Selling "cheap top-up" or loaded accounts
Inevitable chargeback → player's account affected

War Thunder documented case:

"Multiple players who made third-party transactions had their accounts frozen at once. Reason: a popular seller was using carding to process orders."

Warning Signs

Indicator	Risk
🟢 10-20% discount	Low (regional pricing)
🟡 20-30% discount	Moderate
🔴 40-50%+ discount	VERY HIGH - stolen cards
🔴 Ask for credentials	GUARANTEED SCAM
🔴 Crypto/wire/gift cards only	High risk
🔴 Insist on external middleman	Red flag

Complete List of Top-up Sites

Reliability Ranking

Position	Site	Security	Discounts	Trustpilot	Recommendation
🥇 1	Codashop	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌ None	4.6/5 (20K+)	SAFEST
🥈 2	LootBar	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Good	4.9/5 (36K+)	Recommended
🥉 3	LDShop	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅✅ Best	5/5 (2.9K+)	Recommended
4	G2G	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Variable	4.7/5 (53K+)	For items
5	Eneba	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Good	4.3/5 (278K+)	For keys
6	OffGamers	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Small	4/5 (6.7K+)	Established
7	SEAGM	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Moderate	4.1/5 (7.5K+)	Caution
8	MTCGame	⭐⭐	✅ Good	3.2/5*	CAUTION

*MTCGame has discrepancy between Trustpilot and Sitejabber - possible review manipulation

Detailed Analysis of Each Site

CODASHOP (codashop.com)

Legitimacy: VERY HIGH ✅
How it works: Direct top-up via UID, no passwords
Partnerships: HoYoverse, Kuro Games, 300+ publishers
Prices: Same as official store (no discounts)
Advantage: Only one with verified official partnerships
Disadvantage: No savings offered, only convenience

LOOTBAR (lootbar.gg)

Legitimacy: HIGH ✅
How it works: UID for HoYoverse, manual login for others
Sponsors: Genshin content creators
Prices: Real discounts, VIP system
Advantage: Popular, good discounts
Disadvantage: Not a confirmed official partner

LDSHOP (ldshop.gg)

Legitimacy: HIGH ✅
Backing: LDPlayer (recognized emulator)
Prices: "Cheaper than Codashop, LootBar and RazerGold"
Advantage: Best reported discounts (up to 35%)
Disadvantage: Fewer reviews, isolated problem cases

G2G (g2g.com)

Type: Peer-to-peer marketplace
System: Escrow (GamerProtect)
Ideal for: In-game currency, items, boosting
NOT recommended for: Account purchases (high recovery risk)

ENEBA (eneba.com)

Type: CD-keys and gift cards marketplace
Note: NOT ideal for gacha top-up - it's for game keys
Use PayPal: Better buyer protection

SEAGM (seagm.com)

Alert: ScamAdviser gives "Very low trust score"
Problem: Excessive and frustrating KYC verification
Advantage: Accepts cryptocurrencies

MTCGAME (mtcgame.com)

ALERT: Massive incident in Bolivia (Feb 2025) - users scammed with used codes
Discrepancy: High Trustpilot vs low Sitejabber (suspicious)
Recommendation: AVOID

Other Identified Sites

Site	Type	Notes
RazerGold	Gift cards	Very safe, no discounts
BuffBuff	Top-up	Claims official distributors
Kaleoz	Top-up	Requires credentials (risky)
Z2U	Marketplace	Similar to G2G
FunPay	Marketplace	Popular in Russia/CIS
U7BUY	Top-up	Less verified
Eldorado	Marketplace	Higher prices
TopUpLive	Top-up	Emerging, few reviews
Joytify	Top-up	New, to be verified

Conclusions and Final Recommendations

What is SAFE

Buy directly in-game (official store)
Use Codashop for HoYoverse and Kuro Games titles
Use official web stores from each developer
Razer Gold for alternative payment options

What is MODERATE RISK

LootBar/LDShop with caution (start with small purchases)
Services that ONLY use UID (never credentials)
10-25% discounts may be legitimate

What you should NEVER do

Share credentials with any service
Use sites with 40%+ discounts (probably stolen cards)
Buy in Facebook Groups/Discord from strangers
Use "free primogems generators" (100% scams)
Ignore negative balance warnings

Summary by Game

Game	Overall Risk	Recommended Channel
🎮 Genshin Impact	Medium-High	Codashop or in-game
🎮 Honkai Star Rail	Medium	Codashop or in-game
🎮 Zenless Zone Zero	Medium	Codashop or in-game
🎮 Wuthering Waves	Medium-High	Codashop or in-game
🎮 Arknights	High	In-game only
🎮 Duet Night Abyss	Very High	In-game only
🎮 Blue Archive	Medium	In-game only
🎮 Reverse: 1999	Low	Official Bluepoch store
🎮 Brown Dust 2	Low	Official NEOWIZ store

Security Checklist

✅ Only use official channels or Codashop
✅ Never share my password
✅ Verify the URL before buying
✅ Be suspicious of discounts greater than 30%
✅ Have 2FA enabled on my account
✅ Use a unique password for the game
✅ Keep receipts of all my purchases
✅ Regularly check my premium currency balance

Remember: Saving a few dollars isn't worth the risk of losing an account with hundreds or thousands of dollars invested. When it comes to gacha games, security should always be the priority.

References and Sources

Main Sources on Top-up Sites

Sources on Developer Policies

Sources on Risks and Documented Cases

Sources on Security and Fraud

Official Developer Sites

HoYoverse - Terms of Service
Kuro Games - Terms of Service
Yostar - Publisher of Azur Lane, Arknights
Bluepoch - Reverse: 1999 Recharge Center
NEOWIZ - Brown Dust 2 Official Store

Review Platforms Consulted

Trustpilot - Top-up site reviews
ScamAdviser - Security analysis
Sitejabber - Alternative reviews

Communities Consulted

Reddit: r/Genshin_Impact, r/HonkaiStarRail, r/WutheringWaves, r/arknights, r/BlueArchive
HoYoLAB - Official community forums
Discord - Official servers for each game

Last updated: January 2026

Disclaimer: This report is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Use of third-party services for in-app purchases is at your own risk. Always verify current policies of each game before making any transaction.