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Are Bitcoin Payment Services Similar to Credit Cards?
Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency with a market cap above $700 billion. It is also one of the safest, privacy-friendly ways to make online transactions - and if you follow basic safety rules, your Bitcoin wallet will never be hacked. However, BTC is far from the only crypto that you can use for everyday transactions: popular examples include ETH, DOGE, and LTC.
As the overall amount of Bitcoin transactions increases, companies that operate within the fiat-based economic system are starting to accept cryptocurrencies. This process is helped by the global spread of crypto payment services and gateways. Crypto is commonly used by customers that value privacy and safety of their funds.
Thanks to the modern crypto payment processors, paying with BTC has become much easier than it was years ago. Some gateways even support instant transactions in online shops and physical points of sale.
In this article, we explain how modern Bitcoin payment processors work, the advantages of crypto payments, and the differences between traditional fiat payments and cryptocurrency payment systems.
As the overall amount of Bitcoin transactions increases, companies that operate within the fiat-based economic system are starting to accept cryptocurrencies. This process is helped by the global spread of crypto payment services and gateways. Crypto is commonly used by customers that value privacy and safety of their funds.
Thanks to the modern crypto payment processors, paying with BTC has become much easier than it was years ago. Some gateways even support instant transactions in online shops and physical points of sale.
In this article, we explain how modern Bitcoin payment processors work, the advantages of crypto payments, and the differences between traditional fiat payments and cryptocurrency payment systems.
How do companies accept bitcoin payments?
Bitcoin payment services serve the same purpose as other forms of payment
While standard fiat gateways interact with banks, cryptocurrency payment systems interact with blockchains. When you send Bitcoin from your wallet, the transaction appears on the blockchain and is eventually confirmed by miners.
Let's look at the most common example: visiting a supermarket and using a debit or credit card to make a payment. After entering the PIN, you send money from your bank account to another bank account. Even though all the transactions are processed automatically, they remain in a centralized network and can be blocked by the bank - in fact, your card itself can be blocked.
In decentralized payment systems, transactions are confirmed by miners in a decentralized fashion, and nobody can block or freeze your wallet or payment. On the customer's end, this extra degree of security doesn't mean a more complicated payment process. In fact, in terms of user experience, BTC payments work the same way as card payments: pick an item and hit the "Pay with BTC" button (or something similar). In response, the payment window will display an address that you can use to send your BTC to. The best processors, such as CoinsPaid, also provide a convenient link and a QR code that you can click on or scan with your phone to open up the blockchain wallet with prefilled payment data (address and amount).
While standard fiat gateways interact with banks, cryptocurrency payment systems interact with blockchains. When you send Bitcoin from your wallet, the transaction appears on the blockchain and is eventually confirmed by miners.
Let's look at the most common example: visiting a supermarket and using a debit or credit card to make a payment. After entering the PIN, you send money from your bank account to another bank account. Even though all the transactions are processed automatically, they remain in a centralized network and can be blocked by the bank - in fact, your card itself can be blocked.
In decentralized payment systems, transactions are confirmed by miners in a decentralized fashion, and nobody can block or freeze your wallet or payment. On the customer's end, this extra degree of security doesn't mean a more complicated payment process. In fact, in terms of user experience, BTC payments work the same way as card payments: pick an item and hit the "Pay with BTC" button (or something similar). In response, the payment window will display an address that you can use to send your BTC to. The best processors, such as CoinsPaid, also provide a convenient link and a QR code that you can click on or scan with your phone to open up the blockchain wallet with prefilled payment data (address and amount).
Why do companies need Bitcoin payment gateways?
Cryptocurrency payment gateways provide businesses and companies with a two-layer solution that helps them receive crypto payments, convert that crypto into fiat, and withdraw it to a bank account. Once a company decides to accept Bitcoin payments, it needs to integrate a payment gateway or install a crypto plugin if using an eCommerce platform like WooCommerce.
In addition to online processing, some payment gateways provide offline businesses with POS (Points Of Sale) solutions that allow brick-and-mortar merchants to receive payments in crypto from clients who have mobile wallets.
We should also mention recurring crypto payments - a relatively new but very promising service that allows merchants to bill customers on a regular basis. So far the only processor to have implemented it is CoinsPaid, and it will be interesting to see if others will follow suit.
Finally, merchants can implement more advanced technical solutions via an API - for example, to receive BTC payments in an app rather than a website.
In addition to online processing, some payment gateways provide offline businesses with POS (Points Of Sale) solutions that allow brick-and-mortar merchants to receive payments in crypto from clients who have mobile wallets.
We should also mention recurring crypto payments - a relatively new but very promising service that allows merchants to bill customers on a regular basis. So far the only processor to have implemented it is CoinsPaid, and it will be interesting to see if others will follow suit.
Finally, merchants can implement more advanced technical solutions via an API - for example, to receive BTC payments in an app rather than a website.
How do Bitcoin payment services work?
Once a customer decides to buy something from a business that accepts cryptocurrency, a payment gateway activates and provides the customer with a wallet address in several different ways:
- QR code
- Regular address
- Payment link
- NFC solution
Once the customer sends BTC to the provided address, the payment gateway confirms the transaction and gives a signal to the merchant to complete the purchase on their end. When digital currency is deposited in the merchant's account with the processing system, it can be converted into fiat currency to eliminate volatility risks. All this is done automatically and in a matter of seconds for many cryptos.
Of course, a merchant can also decide not to convert crypto into fiat and store it in their account for a while or move it to an external blockchain wallet. Alternatively, the merchant can request a withdrawal (settlement) to a specified bank account in USD, euro, or another fiat currency.
Sometimes merchants mistakenly believe that they can handle crypto payments on their own - either by using a regular blockchain wallet or by developing a new processing solution from scratch. However, once crypto transaction volume hits thousands or dozens of thousands of dollars, managing it on one's own becomes a technical and accounting nightmare.
Of course, a merchant can also decide not to convert crypto into fiat and store it in their account for a while or move it to an external blockchain wallet. Alternatively, the merchant can request a withdrawal (settlement) to a specified bank account in USD, euro, or another fiat currency.
Sometimes merchants mistakenly believe that they can handle crypto payments on their own - either by using a regular blockchain wallet or by developing a new processing solution from scratch. However, once crypto transaction volume hits thousands or dozens of thousands of dollars, managing it on one's own becomes a technical and accounting nightmare.
What are the advantages of accepting cryptocurrency payments?
There are plenty of reasons to make cryptocurrency payments your payment option of choice:
- 1Easy integrationAlmost any business or store can integrate a cryptocurrency payment gateway without any paperwork or technical issues. Modern crypto processing companies provide you with customizable, easy to use solutions that can be added to any website, store, or offline selling point in a matter of days. Even beginner entrepreneurs can quickly start receiving Bitcoin for payments by using crypto payment processors.
- 2SafetyIf you decide to accept BTC, you won't have to worry about your wallet getting seized, frozen, or blocked for any reason. Bitcoin, like other cryptocurrencies, works on a decentralized network, hence no authority out there can block your transaction or seize your money.
- 3FlexibilityDo you own a restaurant? Great, accept Bitcoin payments via offline POS (point of sale) and instantly convert them to fiat. Are you developing an Android app? Cool, here's a ready-to-use API for adding cryptocurrency payments directly to your app. Unlike traditional bank acquiring services, crypto doesn't require tons of paperwork and plans for different businesses. Fees and terms are uniform for everyone.
Even though it may sound like it's hard to start to accept Bitcoin payments, it's not true. In addition to that, sometimes it can be easier than getting a business account with a bank to receive fiat payments. Cryptocurrency payment gateways allow you to tap into a new audience and boost revenue while saving both money and time.
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Data and information on this website are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for reference or other purposes. All financial, statistical and other relevant data regarding the clients/merchants, conducted transactions, etc., has been provided as aggregate from activities of all legal entities operating under the brand name of Coinspaid and Cryptoprocessing, including, but not limited to: (I)Dream Finance OÜ, Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Kai tn 4, 10111, Estonia; (II) Dream Finance UAB, Gynejq St. 14-65, Vilnius, Lithuania and (III) Dream Finance S.A. DE C.V., 3A Calle Poniente Y, 71 Avenida Norte, Colonia Escalón, office No 3698, San Salvador, El Salvador.
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Dream Finance OU (Reg No. 14783543)
Address: Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Kai tn 4, 10111, Estonia
VAT: EE102212301
License No.: FVT000166.
Dream Finance OU (Reg No. 14783543)
Address: Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Kai tn 4, 10111, Estonia
VAT: EE102212301
License No.: FVT000166.
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