// GLOSSARY -- PAYMENTS & FINTECH

What is Crypto Payment Gateway?

1 min read Updated

A crypto payment gateway enables merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments through their existing checkout flow — handling wallet interaction, transaction monitoring, confirmation tracking, and optional fiat conversion.

WHY IT MATTERS

Crypto payment gateways abstract blockchain complexity for merchants. They provide: checkout integration (buttons, widgets, QR codes), multi-chain support, real-time confirmation tracking, and settlement options (hold crypto or auto-convert to fiat).

Major gateways include: BitPay (pioneer), Coinbase Commerce (institutional backing), NOWPayments (wide crypto support), and newer entrants focused on L2 payments for lower costs.

The market is evolving toward stablecoin-native payments on L2 networks — combining the simplicity of dollar-denominated transactions with blockchain's settlement speed and low fees.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do crypto gateways work?
Generate payment request → customer pays from wallet → gateway monitors blockchain for transaction → confirms after required blocks → notifies merchant → settles funds.
What does a gateway cost?
Typically 0.5-1.5% per transaction. Lower than credit card processing (2-3%). Some gateways charge flat monthly fees. Free tiers exist for low-volume merchants.
Do gateways support L2 payments?
Increasingly yes. L2 payments (Base, Arbitrum) offer faster confirmation and lower fees. Major gateways are adding L2 support. This makes crypto payments practical for small purchases.

FURTHER READING

Enforce policies on every tool call

Intercept is the open-source MCP proxy that enforces YAML policies on AI agent tool calls. No code changes needed.

npx -y @policylayer/intercept
github.com/policylayer/intercept →
// GET IN TOUCH

Have a question or want to learn more? Send us a message.

Message sent.

We'll get back to you soon.