Paying with crypto isn’t just a novelty anymore. Whether you’re buying a domain, tipping a creator, or moving funds cross-border—crypto payments are becoming a viable alternative to traditional rails.

But what actually happens under the hood when you “pay with crypto”? And how can developers integrate crypto payments into their apps or platforms?

Let’s break it down:

Why Crypto Payments?

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” What makes crypto-based payments different from your average Stripe or PayPal setup?

Benefits:

No intermediaries: Peer-to-peer and censorship-resistant
Global by default: Anyone with a wallet can transact
Lower fees: Especially for international or microtransactions
Programmable money: Payments can trigger on-chain actions (subscriptions, unlocks, etc.)

Trade-offs:

Volatility (unless you use stablecoins)
Gas fees (can vary depending on the chain)
UX friction (wallets, keys, confirmations)

So… how do you make it work as a dev?

The Crypto Payments Stack

There are two ways to accept crypto payments in your app:

Direct (non-custodial)
Via payment processors (custodial or semi-custodial)

Let’s walk through both.

1. Non-Custodial Payments (DIY, On-Chain)

Here, you don’t touch the user’s funds—they pay directly from their wallet to yours.

How it works:

User connects wallet (MetaMask, WalletConnect, etc.)
You display an address or prompt a transaction
Smart contract receives the payment (optional)
You verify the transaction on-chain

jsCopyEdit// Ethers.js: Detect a payment
const provider = new ethers.providers.Web3Provider(window.ethereum);
const txReceipt = await provider.getTransactionReceipt(txHash);
if (txReceipt && txReceipt.status === 1) {
  console.log("Payment successful");
}

Great for:

Donations, paywalls, tips
NFT mints
Token-gated access

Chains: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, Base, etc.

Custodial Payment Processors

If you want Stripe-like UX without managing wallets or contracts, you can use third-party APIs.

Examples:

Coinbase Commerce
MoonPay / Transak (fiat on-ramps)
BitPay / NOWPayments
Stripe (crypto in beta)
Request Finance (invoicing, recurring payments)

bashCopyEditPOST /api/charge
{
  "amount": "10.00",
  "currency": "USDC",
  "network": "Ethereum",
  "callback_url": "https://yourapp.com/payment-success"
}

These abstract away a lot of the complexity, handle volatility via stablecoins, and offer dashboards for reconciliation.

What About Security?

Crypto payments come with new attack surfaces. Key considerations:

Use ENS or verified addresses to avoid typos
Display QR codes + address checksums for manual payments
Use event listeners (or services like Alchemy/Infura) to track tx status
Always verify contract interactions if you’re using smart contracts

Also, never ask for seed phrases. Just don’t.

The Future of Crypto Payments

In 2025, we’re seeing major momentum:

USDC & stablecoins dominate on-chain payments
EVM L2s offer low-cost, near-instant transactions
Account abstraction (ERC-4337) could eliminate gas anxiety
Wallets like Coinbase Smart Wallet & Uniswap’s wallet are making onboarding smoother
Cross-chain infra is improving with protocols like Axelar, Wormhole, and LayerZero

Soon, paying with crypto could feel as seamless as Apple Pay—without sacrificing sovereignty.

TL;DR

Crypto payments aren’t just for whales and hackers anymore.
They’re programmable, composable, and globally accessible.

As a dev, integrating them is easier than ever—whether you go full-on smart contract or use Stripe-style APIs.

The internet finally has native money. It’s time to build with it.

Crypto Payments: How They Work and Why You Should Care