Decoupled gift cards and process for activation and validation

A system for purchasing and activating a decoupled gift card in a retail store, the system comprising:

• a first gift card component of a first type, wherein the first gift card component includes a first identifier;
• a second gift card component of a second type that is different from the first type, wherein the second gift card component is separate from the first gift card component and includes a second identifier, wherein the second gift card component is configured to be attached to the first gift card component to form a decoupled gift card that is purchasable during a checkout process;
• a point of sale (POS) terminal configured to scan the first identifier and the second identifier during the checkout process;
• and
• a remote computer system in network communication with the POS terminal and configured to activate the decoupled gift card while the checkout process is performed at the POS terminal, wherein the remote computer system is configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, from the POS terminal, the scanned identifiers for the decoupled gift card;
• identifying a gift card number corresponding to the first scanned identifier;
• identifying an access token corresponding to the second scanned identifier;
• associating the gift card number with the access token to activate the decoupled gift card;
• and
• transmitting, to the POS terminal, an indication that the decoupled gift card has been activated,
• wherein the POS terminal is configured to complete the checkout process for purchasing the activated decoupled gift card.