NOWPayments is a crypto payment gateway for merchants collecting payments for goods, services or donations. It processes the customer’s payment, then credits a business account balance or sends the proceeds to a configured payout wallet.
Where the funds go
The provider’s current documentation says new accounts start with Custody enabled. Payments are held in a NOWPayments balance for later conversion, withdrawal or payouts. A separate non-custodial processing mode forwards payments to a configured external wallet. The customer’s deposit address is a processing address; it can differ from the merchant’s payout address.
Does it fit your workflow?
- Useful for: online stores, service providers and physical shops that need to connect crypto payments to customer orders.
- Less suited to: a simple transfer between two personal wallets when no invoice, order tracking or merchant processing is needed.
- Account required: yes, with email verification. Using an API requires an account API key.
- Wallet for settlement: a compatible external address is needed for direct wallet settlement or crypto withdrawals. Supported assets and networks must match the receiving wallet.
A hosted invoice can be created without installing checkout code. Store plugins require a compatible storefront; a custom API integration requires developer work. Web access and an API are available.
Service fees and network costs
The standard service fee is 1% for payments without exchange and 1.5% for multi-currency, fixed-rate or customer-paid-fee payments. Blockchain network fees are separate and vary by network conditions. These are transaction charges, not a monthly subscription price. Custom merchant discounts depend on eligibility and agreement.
Conditions that affect availability
Support applies to specific assets on specific networks, rather than every token on each chain. Conversion routes and payment availability can change. Fiat settlement also depends on the applicable provider and verification conditions.
Identity or business verification may be requested under the service’s AML/KYC policy. The published terms exclude residents or citizens of the European Union, United Kingdom, United States and United Arab Emirates, as well as people located in or resident in Russia; other legal restrictions can also apply.
Merchant vocabulary: Custody means payments enter a provider-held balance before withdrawal or payout. Settlement is the asset and destination in which the merchant receives the proceeds. A hosted invoice avoids custom checkout code; it does not establish that account, wallet or API-key configuration can be skipped.