Gift cards are not an exchange of currency.
Gift Cards = Stored Value Cards and therefore are regulated by FinCEN
"(3) Issuer of traveler's checks, money orders, or
stored value. An issuer of traveler's checks, money orders, or, stored value (other than a person who does not issue such checks or money orders or stored value in an amount greater than $1,000 in currency or monetary or other instruments
to any person on any day in one or more transactions). "