Paying with crypto online is closer to a bank transfer than to tapping a card: you push funds from a wallet you control to an address the merchant gives you, and the network — not a card processor — moves the money. This guide covers the whole flow so nothing surprises you at checkout.
Choose and fund a wallet
A wallet is the app that holds your keys and signs payments. Custodial wallets (an exchange account) are simplest but the provider controls your keys; non-custodial wallets (a mobile or browser app where you hold the recovery phrase) give you full control and full responsibility.
Fund the wallet with the specific coin the merchant accepts, on the specific network they list. Holding "USDC" is not enough — you need USDC on the same chain the checkout expects, or the payment won't arrive.
- Custodial: fast to start, provider holds keys, may require login and KYC.
- Non-custodial: you hold the recovery phrase, no gatekeeper, no password reset.
- Keep a little of the network's native coin (ETH, TRX, SOL) for fees.
Read the checkout before you send
A crypto checkout shows four things you must match exactly: the coin, the network, the destination address, and the amount. Most gateways also show a countdown timer, because the quoted amount is only valid while the exchange rate is locked.
Scan the QR code or copy the address with the built-in button — never retype it. If the merchant offers several networks, pick the one your funds are already on to avoid a bridge or a swap.
Understand network fees
The network fee (sometimes called gas) is paid to the network for processing your transaction, not to the merchant. It depends on how busy the chain is, and it comes out of your wallet on top of the payment amount.
Fees vary enormously by chain: a stablecoin transfer might cost a fraction of a cent on one network and several dollars on another at peak times. If a checkout offers multiple networks, the cheaper-fee option is usually the better choice for a small purchase.
Confirmations: how long it takes
After you send, the payment appears as pending and then gains confirmations as new blocks are added. Many merchants treat a payment as complete after one confirmation for small amounts and more for large ones.
Typical waits range from a couple of seconds on fast chains to around ten minutes for a first Bitcoin confirmation. The gateway page usually updates itself — you don't need to refresh, and you should never send a second payment because the first "looks slow."
If something goes wrong
Crypto payments are final: there is no chargeback button. That makes getting the details right the entire game. If you sent the wrong amount, most gateways detect an underpayment or overpayment and show instructions; if you sent on the wrong network, recovery depends entirely on the merchant.
Keep the transaction hash (a long ID your wallet shows after sending). It's the receipt: with it, the merchant can look your payment up on a block explorer and confirm it arrived.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to verify my identity to pay with crypto?
Paying a merchant from a non-custodial wallet needs no identity check. You may have completed KYC earlier when you bought the crypto on an exchange, but the payment itself is just a transfer.
What happens if the price changes while I'm paying?
Gateways lock a quote for a few minutes and show a timer. If you pay within the window, the locked amount stands. If the timer expires before your transaction confirms, the gateway reconciles any small difference and tells you what to do.
Can I get my money back if the merchant doesn't deliver?
On-chain payments have no built-in chargeback, so a refund depends on the merchant sending funds back. Buy from sellers you trust, and keep the transaction hash as proof of payment.
Which coin should I pay with?
Pay with what the merchant accepts, favouring a stablecoin on a low-fee network for predictable value. Avoid paying with a coin you'd have to swap first, since the swap adds fees and time.