Payment methods
Crypto payments for merchants: stablecoins, Bitcoin and MiCA in 2026
Crypto payments let a shopper pay from their own wallet in a stablecoin such as USDC or a coin such as Bitcoin, to an address generated by a crypto payment gateway. The gateway detects the on-chain transfer, confirms the order, and can convert the amount to euros. Gateway fees are typically 0.4–2%, there are no chargebacks, and in the EU the gateway must be a MiCA-authorised CASP.
At a glance
| Type | Push payment from the shopper's wallet to a gateway-generated blockchain address |
|---|---|
| Common assets | USDC and EURC stablecoins, USDT outside EU-regulated venues, Bitcoin, Ether; large gateways list 50 to 300+ coins |
| Typical gateway fee | 0.4–2% per payment plus network fees; CoinGate 1%, BitPay 1–2% + USD 0.25 |
| Confirmation time | Seconds to a few minutes on Tron, Solana or Polygon; typically 10–60 minutes on Bitcoin |
| Settlement | In crypto, or converted to EUR, GBP or USD and paid out by bank transfer, depending on the gateway |
| Chargebacks | None; refunds are new on-chain transfers initiated by the merchant |
| EU regulation | MiCA transitional period ended 1 July 2026; 379 CASPs on the ESMA interim register as of 15 October 2026 |
| Travel Rule | Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 applies since 30 December 2024; wallet ownership checks above EUR 1,000 for self-hosted wallets |
What are crypto payments for a business?
A crypto payment is a transfer of a digital asset from the customer's wallet to the merchant, recorded on a public blockchain. For an online shop it looks like any other alternative payment method: the customer picks crypto at checkout, sees an amount and an address or QR code, and pays from a wallet app or an exchange account.
Most merchants do not run their own wallets. A crypto payment gateway generates a unique address per invoice, watches the blockchain, notifies the shop when the payment is confirmed and can convert the coins to euros. In 2026 most business volume is in stablecoins pegged to the US dollar or the euro, which remove the price risk of Bitcoin or Ether.
How does accepting crypto work at checkout?
The flow is the same for nearly every gateway, whether you use a hosted invoice page, a plugin or an API.
- Invoice created Your shop creates an invoice in EUR; the gateway quotes the amount in the chosen coin and locks the rate for a short window, often 15–20 minutes.
- Shopper pays The shopper scans a QR code or connects a wallet and sends the exact amount on the selected network, for example USDC on Ethereum or Polygon.
- Detection The gateway sees the transaction on-chain and marks the invoice as pending.
- Confirmation After the required number of block confirmations the invoice becomes paid, and your system receives a signed webhook.
- Settlement Funds are credited to your gateway balance in crypto or converted to fiat and paid out to your bank account on the agreed schedule.
Which cryptocurrencies and stablecoins should a merchant accept?
Coverage matters less than picking the assets your customers already hold. For European merchants the regulatory status of the token is now as important as its popularity: EU-authorised gateways may only offer stablecoins that comply with MiCA, which excludes USDT for EU clients on regulated platforms.
Network choice drives cost and speed: the same USDC travels on several blockchains, with network fees from fractions of a cent to several dollars.
| Asset | Type | Status for EU-regulated gateways | Typical confirmation | Price risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDC | USD stablecoin (Circle) | MiCA-compliant, issued under a French EMI licence | Seconds to minutes, network-dependent | Low |
| EURC | EUR stablecoin (Circle) | MiCA-compliant | Seconds to minutes | Low, no FX for EUR merchants |
| USDT | USD stablecoin (Tether) | Not MiCA-authorised; withdrawn by EU CASPs for EU clients | Seconds on Tron | Low |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Native coin | Allowed | About 10 minutes per block, 1–6 blocks | High |
| Ether (ETH) | Native coin | Allowed | About 13 minutes to finality | High |
How much do crypto payments cost?
Gateways typically charge a percentage per payment, sometimes with a fixed fee, plus separate charges for payouts and conversions. The network fee is usually paid by the shopper when sending. Compared with cards the headline rate is often lower and there is no chargeback cost, but conversion spreads and payout fees belong in the comparison.
| Gateway | Processing fee | Fiat settlement |
|---|---|---|
| CoinGate | 1%, custom for enterprise | EUR, GBP, USD; SEPA withdrawals free above EUR 50 |
| BitPay | 2% + USD 0.25 under USD 500k a month, down to 1% + USD 0.25 | EUR, GBP, USD and other local currencies |
| NOWPayments | Typically 0.5–1%, enterprise pricing on request | Via off-ramp partners |
| Cryptomus | 2% for new accounts, negotiable down to 0.4% | Crypto-focused |
| Plisio | 0.5% API, 1.5% white label | Crypto only |
Is accepting crypto legal in the EU under MiCA?
Yes. Accepting crypto as payment for your own goods does not require a licence, but the gateway that holds, converts or transfers crypto for you is a crypto-asset service provider. Under MiCA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, the national transitional periods ended on 1 July 2026, and since then only CASPs listed in the ESMA interim register may serve EU clients. CoinGate, BitPay, Triple-A and Coinbase hold such authorisations.
The Transfer of Funds Regulation applies the Travel Rule to crypto: the gateway collects payer and payee data and verifies ownership of self-hosted wallets for transfers above EUR 1,000. It also runs KYB on you and AML screening of incoming wallets, so some payments can be held for review. In the US, stablecoins fall under the GENIUS Act of July 2025, while the CLARITY Act failed a Senate procedural vote in September 2026.
How are refunds and price volatility handled?
A blockchain transfer cannot be reversed by the payer, so there are no chargebacks. A refund is a new outbound transfer that you or the gateway send to an address the customer provides; most gateways charge a small fee and the network fee for it. Agree in your terms whether refunds are paid in the original coin or in the fiat value of the order.
Volatility is handled by the rate lock on the invoice and instant conversion: if you settle in euros, the gateway sells the coins at the locked rate and you carry no market risk. Coins kept on balance carry price risk and gains or losses for accounting.
How to add crypto payments through OrsunPay
OrsunPay is a technical layer that connects your own accounts at crypto gateways such as CoinGate or NOWPayments to the same checkout, payment links and webhooks you use for other methods. It does not hold or convert crypto; custody, conversion and compliance stay with the authorised gateway you contract with, and you can route by country or currency or keep a second gateway as a fallback.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to accept crypto payments?
Not for selling your own goods or services and receiving crypto as payment. The gateway that converts or holds the crypto for you needs a MiCA authorisation to serve EU clients since 1 July 2026, so check it in the ESMA register.
Can I receive euros instead of crypto?
Yes. Most gateways convert each payment at the rate locked in the invoice and pay out euros by SEPA transfer. You then never hold crypto and carry no price risk.
Can I accept USDT in the EU?
USDT is not authorised under MiCA, and EU-authorised CASPs have withdrawn it for EU clients. Merchants in the EU typically accept USDC or EURC instead; some non-EU gateways still offer USDT.
Are there chargebacks with crypto payments?
No. A blockchain transfer cannot be reversed by the payer. Refunds are new transfers that the merchant sends, usually through the gateway's dashboard or API.
What happens if a customer underpays or sends the wrong coin?
The gateway marks the invoice as underpaid and usually lets the customer send the difference within the payment window. Funds sent on an unsupported network may be recoverable only manually and at a fee, so clear network labels at checkout matter.
How long does a crypto payment take to confirm?
Stablecoins on fast networks such as Tron, Solana or Polygon typically confirm within minutes. Bitcoin usually needs 10–60 minutes, depending on the confirmations the gateway requires.