Do you think more companies will add crypto payments in 2025? — A practical guide for businesses
Why accept crypto?
Accepting crypto is no longer a niche marketing stunt — it can be strategic. Key business reasons include:
Customer demand & market reach. Global crypto ownership and adoption continue to climb; more consumers expect crypto options for ecommerce and mobile payments.
Faster cross-border settlement. Stablecoins and tokenized cash can remove long ACH/card settlement cycles, improving cash flow for merchants with international customers.
Lower chargeback risk and new revenue channels. On-chain payments are final, reducing disputes; crypto offers new loyalty/marketing opportunities (cards, wallets, micropayments).
Competitive differentiation. Early adopters in ecommerce, hospitality, travel, and B2B marketplaces gain publicity and new customers without huge infrastructure changes.
Integration options (POS, API)
There are two common patterns for merchants:
1. Point of Sale (POS) & consumer checkout plugins
In-store QR or card solutions: Customers pay with a wallet (scan QR or NFC). For brick-and-mortar, QR checkout or crypto-linked cards (like a crypto-to-card spend product) are easiest.
Ecommerce plugins: Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom carts can integrate payment gateways that accept crypto.
2. API & gateway integrations
Payment APIs let platforms, marketplaces, and custom apps accept crypto programmatically (order lifecycle, refunds, webhooks). If you want deep control, the API route is ideal — see developer docs like /api-docs for sandbox testing and integration examples.
Hosted checkout vs direct API: Hosted checkout is quicker to deploy; direct API gives more control and better branding.
Settlement & conversion
The economics of accepting crypto hinge on settlement:
Instant on-chain settlement (stablecoins): Merchants can receive USDC/other stablecoins in seconds and optionally convert to fiat immediately. This reduces FX and settlement lag for cross-border sales. Major payments teams and PSPs are building stablecoin rails for merchant settlement.
Automatic fiat conversion: Many payment providers offer immediate conversion to local currency at checkout to avoid volatility. This is attractive for merchants who want crypto payments but not crypto exposure.
Holding crypto: Some businesses accept and hold crypto as treasury assets. This requires treasury policy, custodial solutions, and risk tolerance. Institutional-grade custody is available but requires compliance and security measures.
Fees
Fees for crypto payments are competitive with traditional rails — but vary by model:
Network fees: On-chain gas/transaction costs (often wrapped into merchant pricing or absorbed by payment providers).
Gateway/processor fees: Payment providers may charge a per-transaction percentage or flat fee; some platforms offer zero-fee promotions for early adopters.
Conversion spreads: If you automatically convert to fiat, check the FX spread and settlement timing.
Security & compliance
Risk management is the make-or-break piece for wider adoption:
AML/KYC & regulatory readiness: Providers that integrate compliant onboarding and transaction monitoring reduce legal risk for merchants. Choose providers with clear AML policies and local regulatory alignment. Payitnow positions itself as a fully AML-compliant NZ platform.
Custody & insurance: Use reputable custodians for holding crypto; look for insurance or guarantees for hot/cold storage.
Operational security: Two-person controls, transaction limits, and secure API keys are essential for merchant integrations.
Because regulation is evolving, many companies adopt a hybrid approach: allow crypto payments but route settlement through a compliant PSP that handles KYC/AML and conversion.
Case studies
Real examples help procurement teams justify projects.
Retail & hospitality: Some merchants are increasing international spend acceptance by offering crypto checkout and crypto cards for in-store spending; card programs can bridge on-chain funds to Visa/Mastercard rails.
Marketplaces & B2B: Marketplaces use stablecoin settlement to eliminate long payment cycles between sellers and buyers, improving liquidity.
Local NZ example — Pay It Now: Payitnow offers NZ merchants a way to accept crypto with zero volatility and AML compliance, plus local support — see their case studies hub /case-studies for merchant stories and results (sales uplift, lower chargebacks, faster settlements).
How to get started
Use this step-by-step path to pilot crypto payments in 60–90 days:
Define goals. Is this for cross-border sales, lower fees, or customer demand?
Choose settlement option. Fiat auto-convert to avoid volatility, or stablecoin settlement for faster cashflow.
Select a compliant provider. Verify AML/KYC, custody, integration options, and local support (e.g., Payitnow in NZ/AU).
Start with a pilot. Enable ecommerce checkout plugin or hosted payment page, monitor volume and chargebacks, then expand to POS.
Measure & iterate. Track sales lift, conversion, settlement timing, fees, and any support issues. Use findings to update your payments roadmap.
Contact Details
Payitnow — Unit 3/38b Birmingham Drive, Middleton, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand
Website: https://payitnow.io/
Phone: +64 3 925 8870
Sales Inquiries: [email protected]
General Inquiries: [email protected]
