⚡ What is NOWPayments?
NOWPayments is a non-custodial cryptocurrency payment gateway that enables merchants to accept payments in over 100 different cryptocurrencies. Launched in 2019, it has quickly become a popular choice for businesses seeking a decentralized, secure, and easy-to-integrate payment solution. NOWPayments is operated by the ChangeNOW team, a well-known non-custodial crypto exchange.
Unlike custodial gateways, NOWPayments never holds user funds. Payments go directly to the merchant's wallet, giving merchants full control over their assets. This non-custodial approach, combined with broad altcoin support and low fees, makes NOWPayments a trusted choice for thousands of merchants worldwide.
NOWPayments is trusted by thousands of merchants globally. Its non-custodial nature, extensive coin support, low fees (0.5%), fiat settlement, and robust integration options make it a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes.
🪙 Supported Cryptocurrencies
NOWPayments supports a wide array of cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains. Here are some of the most popular assets accepted:
BTC, Lightning (BTC), Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Dash
ETH, USDT (ERC20, TRC20, BEP20), USDC, DAI, MATIC, SHIB, and many ERC-20 tokens
TRX, USDT TRC20, BTT, NFT, and other TRC-10/20 tokens
XRP, Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, Polkadot, NEAR, Algorand, and more
In total, NOWPayments supports over 100 cryptocurrencies, making it one of the most inclusive payment gateways available.
💰 Fees & Pricing
NOWPayments operates a transparent fee structure that is competitive within the industry:
| Fee Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Transaction Fee | 0.5% | Applied to each transaction |
| Volume Discount | As low as 0.25% | For merchants processing > $1M/month |
| Fiat Settlement Fee | ~1% + FX spread | For conversion to USD, EUR, GBP, etc. |
| Coin Conversion | 0.5% | Convert between supported coins |
| Withdrawal Fee | Network fee | Varies by blockchain |
Merchants can choose to pass the 0.5% transaction fee to customers, making NOWPayments effectively free for the merchant. This is configurable per checkout.
🔌 How to Integrate NOWPayments
NOWPayments offers multiple integration methods suitable for businesses of all technical levels.
-
1
Create a NOWPayments account
Sign up at NOWPayments.io and generate your API key. No KYC is required for basic crypto payments.
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2
Choose your integration method
Use a plugin (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, WHMCS, PrestaShop) or custom API integration.
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3
Configure payment settings
Set your settlement currency, coin acceptance preferences, and checkout branding.
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4
Test and go live
Use NOWPayments' sandbox environment to test transactions before going live.
API & Webhooks
For custom integrations, NOWPayments provides a comprehensive REST API with endpoints for creating transactions, checking status, and handling Instant Payment Notifications (IPN). Merchants can set up webhooks to receive real-time updates on payment confirmations.
NOWPayments offers SDKs for PHP, Python, Node.js, and other popular languages. The API is well-documented and supports both testnet and mainnet environments.
🛠️ Merchant Tools & Features
Direct plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart, and 20+ other platforms.
Create invoices, payment links, and donation buttons without coding.
Settle in 5+ fiat currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and AUD.
Real-time analytics, transaction history, and payout management.
Auto-convert received crypto to your preferred coin or fiat.
Funds go directly to your wallet. NOWPayments never holds your assets.
🔒 Security & Trust
NOWPayments is built with a non-custodial architecture, meaning merchants retain full control of their funds. Key security features include:
- Non-custodial design – payments go directly to the merchant's wallet.
- API key security – restrict API access to known IP addresses.
- 2-factor authentication – required for all sensitive actions.
- Compliance – KYC/AML policies for fiat settlement and high-volume accounts.
- Operated by ChangeNOW – a trusted non-custodial exchange with millions of users.
Since NOWPayments never holds user funds, the risk of exchange hacks or frozen accounts is significantly reduced. Merchants maintain full sovereignty over their assets.
⚖️ NOWPayments vs Other Gateways
| Feature | NOWPayments | CoinPayments | Coinbase Commerce | BTCPay Server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Coins | 100+ | 100+ | ~10 | ~5 |
| Fee | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 0% (self-hosted) |
| Fiat Settlement | ✅ (5+ currencies) | ✅ (7+ currencies) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Non-Custodial | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Plugins | 20+ | 30+ | ~10 | ~5 |
| Hosting | Cloud (non-custodial) | Custodial | Custodial | Self-hosted |
🌍 Use Cases & Industries
Online stores using WooCommerce, Shopify, or custom platforms.
Recurring billing for software, hosting, and membership sites.
In-game purchases, casino payments, and virtual goods.
Accept donations in crypto with low fees and global reach.
🏆 Best Practices for NOWPayments Merchants
- Enable fiat settlement – if you want to avoid crypto volatility, set up automatic conversion to your preferred fiat currency.
- Use IP whitelisting – for API security, restrict access to your server's IP.
- Configure IPN – set up Instant Payment Notifications to automate order confirmation and fulfillment.
- Offer coin discounts – encourage customers to pay in coins with lower fees, like Litecoin or TRX.
- Test thoroughly – always test in sandbox mode before going live.
- Monitor exchange rates – use NOWPayments' real-time rate display to build trust with customers.