How do Cryptocurrency Payment Providers work?

As blockchain technology continues to gain attraction worldwide in various industries like healthcare, supply chain, and education, the development of payment processors for digital currencies is also on the rise.

These gateways provide a straightforward solution for merchants to adopt cryptocurrencies without the hassle of creating and maintaining a wallet or converting digital currency into fiat.

In this article, we look at the role of crypto payment gateways, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as how they work.

What Are Cryptocurrency Payment Gateways?

Well-known crypto payment processors such as CoinsPaid make it possible for businesses to offer alternative payment options and accept cryptocurrencies, thus expanding their potential audience.

Although these merchants could technically accept payments through a private wallet that individuals use, it would be extremely difficult and consist of lengthy transaction times due to the high number of transactions and customers.

Crypto gatewayssimplify the process of accepting cryptocurrency alongside fiat currency and enable real-time transaction settlements.

Crypto payment gatewayscan be classified into two categories: custodial and non-custodial.

• Custodial gateways: These hold the merchant's profits in an account, from which they can withdraw funds to their wallets.
• Non-custodial gateways: These solely process payments and transfer the profits directly to the merchant's wallet.

In contrast, fiat payment gateways only accept national currencies like the US dollar or the euro, and they cannot serve as fiat-to-crypto payment gateways. Fiat payment gateways authorize or decline bank card and e-wallet payments based on customers' card details.

How Do Crypto Payment Gateways Work?

Merchants can use crypto payment gateways if they wish to provide an in-demand payment option without fully committing to the cryptocurrency market.

When a customer decides to make a payment with crypto on your site, the process is pretty simple and convenient. The process of payments executed by cryptocurrency payment gateways is as follows:

1. A customer selects a product or service and opts to pay with cryptocurrency through the gateway.
2. The transaction window locks in the current market conversion rate between the chosen cryptocurrency and the preferred fiat currency (e.g., British pound).
3. The gateway converts the payment into the desired fiat currency.
4. The funds are deposited into the merchant's account for withdrawal or other purposes.

Pros and Cons of Crypto Payment Gateways

Advantages:

• Instant transaction settlements with minimal fees.
• Enhanced customer experience due to fewer intermediaries.
• Protection against chargeback fraud.
• Support for multiple cryptocurrencies.
• Reduced volatility risk for merchants.

Disadvantages:

• Centralized nature of the settlement process.
• Potential for delayed payments if the service provider encounters issues.
• Higher costs compared to direct blockchain payments.
• Trust requirement for the centralized organization.

Are Cryptocurrency Payment Gateways Safe?

Before choosing a cryptocurrency payment gateway, merchants should conduct thorough due diligence on various aspects, such as:

• How service providers store cryptocurrencies and fiat payments.
• Transaction fees.
• Supported cryptocurrencies.
• History of hacks or scams on the platform.
• Availability of customer support.
• Reputation of the service provider.

If we use CoinsPaid an example we can see how a crypto payment gateway should look, based on their security measures.

They are annually checked by 2 independent security firms, Hacken and 10Guards, to ensure they don’t have any platform vulnerabilities. And they also work with 2 crypto compliance providers, Scorechain and Crystal, to make sure that everything is legally compliant and up to date with global crypto regulations.

To assess the reputation of other gateways, merchants can visit specialized review websites and read about others' experiences with different providers.

How Crypto Payment Gateways Help in Various Industries.

As the adoption of cryptocurrencies continues to grow, crypto payment gateways are becoming increasingly relevant in numerous industries.

In this section, we will discuss how these gateways are making an impact in 3 of the world’s largest sectors: healthcare, education, and supply chain management.

Healthcare:

By accepting cryptocurrencies, healthcare providers can improve their cash flow and streamline payment processes. Moreover, crypto payment gateways can help reduce the risk of fraud and chargebacks, which are common issues in healthcare billing.

Education:

Academic institutions can benefit from crypto payment gateways by offering students and researchers more flexible payment options for tuition, fees, and other expenses.

International students, in particular, can save on currency conversion and remittance fees by using cryptocurrencies for their payments.

Furthermore, by adopting crypto payment gateways, academic institutions demonstrate their commitment to innovation and prepare for a future where digital currencies become more mainstream.

Supply Chain Management:

By accepting cryptocurrencies, businesses can facilitate faster cross-border transactions, minimize currency conversion fees, and lower the risk of payment disputes.

Integrating crypto payment gateways into the supply chain can also provide a competitive edge, as more customers and suppliers are seeking businesses that embrace innovative payment methods.

Closing Thoughts.

Cryptocurrency payment gateways play a vital role in promoting the adoption of digital currencies across various industries.

As businesses continue to explore alternative payment options, crypto payment gateways are becoming increasingly important for enabling seamless and secure transactions.