What Are Cryptocurrency Payments?
Before we delve into the world of cryptocurrency payments on Shopify and crypto, let’s take a moment to understand what cryptocurrencies are. Essentially, cryptocurrencies are a form of digital money. Imagine your typical cash, but instead of physical coins and banknotes, it’s entirely digital. What’s special about them is that they don’t rely on banks or governments. Instead, they use a secure technology called blockchain to keep track of who has what. People store their digital money in digital wallets, and each wallet has a unique address, sort of like an email address, for sending and receiving payments. It’s a modern way of handling money, often with lower fees, and it’s becoming more popular for online shopping.
Why You Should Accept Cryptocurrency Payments on Shopify
Embracing cryptocurrency payments can bring a range of benefits to your Shopify store, enhancing both your profitability and your customer base. Here are some compelling reasons to consider integrating cryptocurrency payments into your online business:
Low Transaction Fees
Traditional payment methods, such as credit cards or PayPal, often come with substantial transaction fees, cutting into your profits. Cryptocurrency transactions, on the other hand, typically involve significantly lower fees, usually around 1% compared to other payment methods that can range from 2% to 3.5%. This means more of the money you earn stays in your pocket.
No Chargebacks
Unlike traditional payment methods, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, which means once a payment is made, it cannot be undone. This eliminates the risk of chargebacks, where customers can reverse a transaction, helping protect your business from potential disputes and losses.
Fast Access to Funds
Cryptocurrency transactions often provide the significant advantage of immediate or same-day access to funds for both businesses and payment service providers. While the availability of instant access may vary among different crypto payment gateways, some offer real-time instant payouts. This means that as soon as a transaction is completed, funds are accessible without delay. This rapid access to funds stands in stark contrast to traditional payment methods, which frequently involve long settlement periods.
Safety and Privacy
Cryptocurrency payments offer a two-in-one safety advantage. Firstly, they’re really secure because they use blockchain technology, which is like an ultra-safe digital ledger for recording transactions. This makes it super hard for anyone to mess with or cheat on transactions. Secondly, cryptocurrencies are big on privacy. Since there are no middlemen like banks or credit card companies involved, you don’t have to share sensitive financial info when you use them. This privacy feature gives you extra security, shielding your business and customers from possible data breaches and identity theft.
Global Accessibility and cost Savings
Cryptocurrencies know no geographical boundaries. By accepting them on your Shopify store, you open your virtual doors to customers from around the world without the complexities of dealing with different currencies or cross-border payment challenges. Additionally, since cryptocurrencies bypass intermediaries, there are no hidden international transaction fees, saving you and your customers money on cross-border transactions.
Building Trust and Attracting Tech-Savvy Customers
Embracing cryptocurrency payments showcases your willingness to embrace innovation and technology. This can be a strong selling point, attracting tech-savvy customers who actively seek out businesses that offer these modern payment methods.
Best rated Shopify crypto payment gateways
Now that we’ve explored the compelling reasons to embrace cryptocurrency payments in your Shopify store, let’s take the next step in your journey to expanding your payment options. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the top-rated Shopify crypto payment gateways specially designed to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrencies into your Shopify e-commerce platform. Each of these platforms has a Shopify integration which enables you in accepting cryptocurrencies within minutes.
While NOWPayments emerges as the strongest performer with its extensive cryptocurrency support and competitive fees, Coinbase Commerce claims the top spot due to its user-friendly Shopify integration, despite its slightly higher fees and limited currency acceptance. Ultimately, the choice between these gateways depends on your specific preferences and priorities as a merchant.
- Coinbase Commerce: Great gateway with easy integration: accept 13+ cryptocurrencies with a 1% fee.
- NOWPayments: Best gateway with harder integration: accept 160+ cryptocurrencies with a 0.4% – 1% fee.
1. Coinbase Commerce
Coinbase Commerce is the cryptocurrency payment gateway offered by the renowned Coinbase exchange. Trusted by millions of users worldwide, Coinbase is well-established in the crypto industry. Coinbase Commerce enables businesses to accept payments in more than 13 cryptocurrencies. In this summarized review, we will explore the various aspects of Coinbase Commerce, including its transaction fees, accepted currencies, the Shopify integration, extra functionalities, and overall suitability for your businesses.
Transaction fees
Coinbase Commerce charges a flat fee of 1% for all transactions processed through its platform, including withdrawal fees. This fee is competitive and aligns with industry standards. However, it’s worth noting that some other cryptocurrency payment gateways offer even lower fees, with rates as low as 0.5%.
Accepted currencies
Coinbase Commerce supports over 13 cryptocurrencies, allowing businesses to accept payments in a variety of digital assets. While this selection covers major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, it falls short when compared to platforms that offer a more extensive range of supported currencies. Notably, certain prominent cryptocurrencies like Binance Coin (BNB) and Binance USD (BUSD) are not included, possibly due to Coinbase’s competition with Binance.
Functionalities
Beyond its core payment processing capabilities, Coinbase Commerce offers several additional features and integrations. These include volatility protection mechanisms, offline payment gateway support, a robust crypto invoicing system, a crypto credit card option, and a donation widget. These supplementary functionalities enhance the overall value proposition of Coinbase Commerce and cater to diverse business needs.
Integration
Coinbase Commerce offers an official integration with Shopify, simplifying the process of enabling cryptocurrency payments within your Shopify store settings. By navigating to the Payments page in your Shopify admin, you can easily activate Coinbase Commerce as one of your additional payment methods.
Summary
In summary, Coinbase Commerce emerges as a dependable and secure cryptocurrency payment gateway, arming businesses with the ability to seamlessly accept digital currency payments on the Shopify e-commerce platform. With its competitive 1% transaction fee, support for more than 13 cryptocurrencies, and a spectrum of supplementary features, Coinbase Commerce represents a sound choice for businesses venturing into the realm of crypto payments within Shopify. Despite a more restricted range of accepted cryptocurrencies, Coinbase Commerce remains a trusted and viable option for Shopify-based businesses looking to diversify their payment options through cryptocurrencies.
2. NOWPayments
NOWPayments is a noncustodial cryptocurrency payment gateway founded in 2019 by the team behind ChangeNOW, a reputable cryptocurrency exchange service. It offers businesses and individuals a seamless way to accept cryptocurrency payments within their Shopify store while ensuring full control over their digital assets.
Fees
NOWPayments boasts a competitive fee structure for cryptocurrency transactions. Merchants are subject to a 0.5% fee per transaction, with high-volume merchants benefiting from a reduced rate of 0.4%. Additionally, an extra 0.5% conversion fee is applied when merchants opt for withdrawals in a currency different from the one used by the customer, typically resulting in an approximate total fee of 1%. This fee aligns well with industry standards, offering an attractive cost-effective solution for cryptocurrency payment processing.
Accepted currencies
A standout feature of NOWPayments is its extensive support for over 160 cryptocurrencies, positioning it as a leader in cryptocurrency payment gateways. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), Binance Coin (BNB), and others are included.
Functionalities
NOWPayments provides users with a wide range of tools to make accepting cryptocurrency payments easier. These tools include online and offline payment options, links for easy invoicing, customizable cryptocurrency subscription plans, and donation widgets for effortless fundraising. Additionally, NOWPayments offers smart features like anti-volatility and mass payouts. The anti-volatility feature automatically converts incoming cryptocurrency payments into a stablecoin of your choice to protect against cryptocurrency price changes. Mass payouts combine multiple payments into one transaction, reducing the fees associated with individual transfers.
Integration
It’s important to note that NOWPayments stands out as the only crypto payment gateway on the list that does not offer an official integration with Shopify. Unlike the other platforms, you cannot simply select and automatically install NOWPayments from the Third-party payment providers section within Shopify. Instead, to use NOWPayments with your Shopify store, you’ll need to take the route of creating a custom app. This process involves a bit more work and the copy and pasting of some code. By following this guide it can be implemented in around 10 minutes.
Summary
NOWPayments, founded by the team behind ChangeNOW, distinguishes itself on this list with its competitive fees and comprehensive range of supported cryptocurrencies. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to highlight that integrating NOWPayments with Shopify demands the creation of a custom app, introducing a slightly more technical aspect to the setup process. This integration approach is the sole reason NOWPayments didn’t secure the top spot.
3. Crypto.com Pay
Crypto.com Pay introduces itself as a robust cryptocurrency payment gateway provided by Crypto.com, a prominent and well-recognized name in the crypto realm with an extensive user base of over 50 million individuals worldwide. Crypto.com, known for its multifaceted services encompassing crypto exchange, wallets, credit cards, and more, has expanded its offerings to incorporate Crypto.com Pay, aligning closely with its mission to accelerate the global transition to cryptocurrency.
Important to note
Crypto.com Pay offers a dual approach to cryptocurrency payments:
- Crypto.com App Integration: Crypto.com Pay facilitates a seamless payment experience for existing Crypto.com app users. Customers can effortlessly finalize their purchases using their Crypto.com app and crypto balance. This option not only ensures smooth transactions but also maintains cost-effectiveness. However, it’s imperative to be aware that individuals without the Crypto.com app installed may encounter limitations when making payments.
- External Wallet Connections: To broaden accessibility, Crypto.com Pay empowers merchants to enable external wallet connections, including popular options like Metamask and Walletconnect, for their customers. While this expansion opens doors to a wider customer base, it’s crucial to exercise caution. Enabling external wallet connections can potentially compromise the security of your customers, as elaborated in our safety blog.
Fees
In the realm of transaction fees, Crypto.com Pay distinguishes itself as an enticing choice for businesses. In a deviation from the norm, Crypto.com Pay refrains from imposing any transaction fees on cryptocurrency payments. However, it’s prudent to acknowledge that they do apply a nominal 0.5% settlement fee and a 1% payout fee, which, while competitive, might not be as prominently communicated. Moreover, it’s essential to take into account that the option for receiving payouts in fiat currency remains reserved for select merchants, a factor businesses should consider.
Accepted currencies
Crypto.com Pay impressively supports over 30 different cryptocurrencies, offering a diverse array of digital assets for businesses to cater to a wide-ranging audience. This encompassing selection encompasses major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, Ripple, Cardano, Solana, and Dogecoin. However, it’s noteworthy that Crypto.com Pay does not include support for Binance Coin (BNB) and Binance USD (BUSD), notable cryptocurrencies that occupy prominent positions in the crypto hierarchy. This omission may be attributed to their association with a rival exchange, Binance.
Functionalities
Crypto.com Pay offers a range of additional features to enhance its value proposition. These include an intuitive invoicing system, a donation widget, and robust volatility protection measures. Notably, every transaction benefits from an automatic conversion feature, ensuring seamless transitions into a predefined currency, which can include fiat. This feature serves as a safeguard against the potential effects of cryptocurrency price fluctuations.
Integration
Similarly to Coinbase Commerce, Crypto.com Pay also has an official integration with Shopify and can therefore easily be installed in your payments settings within your Shopify store.
Summary
In summary, Crypto.com Pay emerges as a robust cryptocurrency payment gateway backed by the reputable Crypto.com platform. With its extensive support for over 30 cryptocurrencies, competitive fee structure, and versatile payment methods, it presents an appealing option for businesses seeking to integrate cryptocurrency payments. Furthermore, its official integration with Shopify simplifies the setup process for online stores, making Crypto.com Pay a practical choice for expanding payment options in the digital currency landscape.
4. Bitpay
Bitpay, a pioneer in cryptocurrency payment gateways since its inception in 2011, set out with a mission to transform global financial transactions using cryptocurrencies. With over 5 billion dollars processed in transactions, Bitpay holds a significant presence in the cryptocurrency payment processing landscape. But does it live up to the hype?
Fees
Bitpay employs a tiered pricing model for cryptocurrency transactions based on cumulative monthly volumes. Fees range from 1% to 2%, with an additional fixed fee of 25¢ per transaction. Lower-volume businesses processing under $500,000 per month incur a 2% fee, while those in the $500,000 to $999,999 range pay 1.5%. High-volume businesses with monthly transactions exceeding $1,000,000 benefit from a reduced 1% fee. Some high-risk industries may face higher fees. Although competitive, Bitpay’s fee structure is somewhat higher than competitors offering flat 1% fees or even lower at 0.5%.
Accepted currencies
Bitpay supports over 15 cryptocurrencies, including major ones like Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, it lacks support for some of the top 10 cryptocurrencies, such as Tether (USDT). While it integrates lesser-known coins like Apecoin and Bitcoin Cash, the absence of widely-used cryptocurrencies like USDT might be seen as a missed opportunity for broader acceptance.
Functionalities
In terms of functionality, Bitpay offers merchants a robust set of features, including a notable volatility protection mechanism. This ensures that exchange rates are locked in at the time of sale, safeguarding merchants from cryptocurrency price fluctuations.Additionally, merchants can accept in-store crypto payments, send crypto invoices, create donation pages, and establish recurring payments.
Integration
Getting started with Bitpay involves merchant registration, where extensive business documentation and identification are required. Once these initial requirements are met, the integration process is smooth and straightforward with their pre-built Shopify integration.
Summary
In summary, Bitpay is a robust cryptocurrency payment gateway. While its fee structure is slightly higher than some competitors, and its supported cryptocurrency selection is not the most extensive, Bitpay’s solid reputation and user-friendly integration options make it a prominent player in the cryptocurrency payment industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the world of cryptocurrency payments and the advantages they offer is essential for any Shopify merchant looking to stay ahead in the digital economy. With low transaction fees, enhanced security, quick access to funds, global accessibility, and the opportunity to attract tech-savvy customers, cryptocurrency payments can significantly benefit your Shopify store.
When it comes to choosing the right cryptocurrency payment gateway for your Shopify store, several options stand out.
- Coinbase Commerce: User-friendly with support for 13+ cryptocurrencies and a 1% transaction fee.
- NOWPayments: Offers 160+ cryptocurrencies, competitive fees (0.4% – 1%), and advanced features, but requires a custom app for Shopify integration.
- Crypto.com Pay: Supports 30+ cryptocurrencies, no transaction fees but applies a 0.5% settlement fee and a 1% payout fee. Only for crypto.com using customers.
- Bitpay: A pioneer with fees ranging from 1% to 2% and support for 15+ cryptocurrencies.
Ultimately, your choice between these Shopify crypto payment solutions should align with your specific needs, technical proficiency, and business objectives. All gateways have their unique strengths and considerations, enabling you to make an informed decision that best suits your business model and customer base. Whether you prioritize ease of use or cryptocurrency diversity, these gateways can empower your Shopify store to tap into the growing world of cryptocurrency payments.
