How Businesses Can Connect Cryptocurrency Payments to Cut Transaction Costs

The Rising Costs of Traditional Payment Systems

Credit‑Card Fees: Percentages That Eat Into Margins

Swipe, dip, or tap – whenever customers pay by card, merchants pay tolls. Card processing fees are more than just the published “discount rate”; they include interchange fees, assessment fees, and payment processor mark‑ups.

• Base percentages: According to a January 2025 NerdWallet guide, credit‑card processing fees usually cost businesses 1.5 %–3.5 % of each transaction. For a $100 sale, that’s $1.50–$3.50 disappearing before the merchant even sees the funds.
• Processor mark‑ups: Popular processors charge additional flat fees. Examples include 2.29 % plus nine cents for in‑person card payments and 2.59 %–2.99 % plus 49 cents for online purchases. Other processors charge between 2.6 % and 3.5 % plus 15–30 cents per transaction. International transactions attract surcharges and currency‑conversion spreads.
• Chargeback risk: Card networks offer consumer protections, but the downside is chargebacks. Mastercard’s 2025 state of chargebacks report found that each disputed transaction costs issuers $9.08–$10.32 to process, and global chargeback volumes are forecast to reach 324 million annually. Merchants also bear operational costs to manage disputes and may lose both product and payment.
• Fraud and hidden expenses: Fraud drains profits through lost goods and dispute handling. LexisNexis estimates that merchants lose $4.61 for every $1 of fraud. Paper checks aren’t cheap either; the Association for Financial Professionals says businesses spend $2.01–$4.00 per check.
  
  

In short, legacy card rails tax businesses at every step, especially when sending money across borders or handling small payments. These high fees motivate companies to look for lower transaction fees and crypto alternatives.

Chargebacks and Settlement Delays

Traditional payment systems rely on correspondent banks and clearinghouses, adding layers of complexity. A typical international wire transfer can involve multiple banks, each charging fees and taking time to settle. Wire transfers often cost $25–$50 per transaction and can take days to clear. Card payments settle in batches; funds can be held for one to three days before reaching a merchant’s account.

Chargebacks exacerbate costs. Beyond the fees charged by processors, businesses must allocate time and staff to dispute management. As chargeback volumes rise (expected to grow 24% between 2025 and 2028), these hidden expenses compound. It’s little surprise that businesses are exploring blockchain payment solutions to escape these inefficiencies.

Crypto Payments for Businesses: Lower Costs

Accepting crypto payments for businesses lets companies bypass much of the legacy banking infrastructure. Digital assets move peer‑to‑peer across public or permissioned blockchains, eliminating middlemen. The result is fast crypto settlements and lower fees.

Flat, Low Fees vs. Credit Cards

On popular blockchains, transaction fees are measured in fractions of a cent rather than percentages. Permissioned DeFi models co‑developed by Boston Consulting Group and Fireblocks estimate that average transaction costs can be 60%–80% cheaper than traditional models. The Payments Consulting Network reports that efficient blockchains like Solana achieve settlement finality in ≈400 ms with transaction costs as low as $0.00025. Stablecoins such as USDC or USDT maintain a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, so price volatility is minimised while network fees stay predictable.

Small and medium‑sized businesses (SMBs) benefit even more. In Bitwage’s analysis of crypto invoicing, the typical card network skims 1.5%–3.5% in interchange fees, while issuing banks add 1.1%–3.15%. Crypto invoices, however, route payments peer‑to‑peer and slash cross‑border fees by up to 90%, eliminating card networks, correspondent banks, and FX spreads. Workers paid via stablecoins on low‑cost chains (e.g., Solana) can receive wages with network fees under one cent. For businesses, this translates into low‑fee crypto transactions that protect profit margins.

Faster Cross‑Border Settlements

Time is money. In conventional banking, cross‑border transfers typically take 1–5 business days. Crypto rails reduce this to seconds or minutes. The on‑chain transfer phase of a stablecoin payment is similar to sending an email: the sender’s wallet pushes a signed transaction to the network, and validators confirm it. With efficient chains, settlement finality can occur in under a second, giving businesses near‑instant access to funds. According to a 2025 payment consulting report, 48% of institutions cite real‑time settlement as the top benefit of stablecoins, ahead of cost savings. Faster settlement translates into better cash‑flow management, lower counterparty risk and improved working‑capital cycles.

Eliminating Banking Intermediaries

Legacy cross‑border payments resemble a relay race: money passes from the buyer’s bank to correspondent banks and finally to the seller’s bank, each taking a cut and introducing risk. Stablecoin cross‑border transactions operate like a digital sprint, eliminating most intermediaries. Businesses convert fiat to stablecoins via on‑ramps, send the digital currency directly to the recipient’s wallet, and recipients cash out via off‑ramps. Because the transaction happens on a blockchain, there is no correspondent banking chain, no SWIFT messaging, and no risk of chargebacks once the payment is final.

Real‑World Proof of Crypto Cost Savings

Early Payment Processor Adoption

In mid‑2025, a major global digital payments company, PayPal, introduced a crypto checkout option that allows merchants to accept more than 100 digital assets. The service converts those assets into a stablecoin or fiat currency instantly and charges a 0.99% transaction fee; by comparison, typical international credit‑card processing costs 3–4%. According to the company’s press release, merchants using this feature see transaction fee reductions of up to 90% relative to international card processing. The service connects merchants to a market of over 650 million crypto users and provides near‑instant access to funds. This illustrates how established payment processors recognise the cost advantage of crypto merchant solutions and are racing to capture the market.

Payroll and Invoicing Platforms

Payroll and invoicing are areas where crypto can deliver tangible savings. The World Bank pegs the average cost of sending $200 cross-border at ~6.4% (with some digital channels bringing it closer to ~5%). By issuing invoices in stablecoins and settling on-chain, platforms like Bitwage report up to ~90% reductions in cross-border payment fees versus traditional rails. Workers in high‑inflation economies who once lost up to 50% of their income to bank transfers and FX spreads now receive nearly their full salaries via stablecoins. Stablecoin payrolls settle in seconds and cost fractions of a percent, enabling freelancers and contractors to retain more of their wages.

Stablecoins for Low-Cost Business Payments

Stablecoins deliver predictable pricing because their value is pegged to fiat currencies. Adoption is accelerating: transaction volumes reached $27.6 trillion in 2024, and institutional demand is surging. For companies researching how to accept crypto payments as a business, stablecoins are often the entry point, since traditional banks are twice as likely to prioritise cross-border payments with them over other use cases. Efficient blockchains and improved liquidity mean that stablecoin‑fiat conversions already win on price in roughly half of cross‑border corridors. This is especially true for corridors between Europe and Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa, and the United States and Latin America, where stablecoins offer not just cost savings but also currency stability. In volatile economies, stablecoins provide a hedge against devaluation and a reliable store of value.

Best Practices for Businesses Adopting Crypto Payments

Choosing the Right Provider

Selecting a platform for a business to accept crypto payment integration requires due diligence. Look for providers that offer:

1. Regulatory compliance and licensing. Verify that the provider holds money‑transmission licences or virtual asset service provider registrations in relevant jurisdictions.
2. Stablecoin and multi‑currency support. The ability to convert between stablecoins and local currencies at wholesale FX rates reduces exposure to volatility.
3. Non‑custodial infrastructure. Prefer solutions where you control private keys, reducing counterparty risk.
4. Integrated KYB/KYC and AML tools. Automated compliance checks streamline onboarding and reduce fraud risk.
5. Local payout rails. Access to local bank networks (e.g., SEPA Instant, Faster Payments, UPI) allows recipients to cash out quickly with minimal fees.

When evaluating processors, also consider the networks they support. To accept Bitcoin payments for everyday transactions, you might use the Lightning Network. Lightning channels settle transactions off‑chain and batch them later on the main chain, resulting in fees measured in sats (fractions of a cent) and near‑instant finality. For large transfers, layer‑1 blockchains with robust stablecoin ecosystems (such as Ethereum, Solana or Polygon) may be appropriate. Each network has different crypto payment processing fees and trade‑offs; choose the one that matches your transaction size and tolerance for volatility.

Using Layer‑2 Networks for Micro Fees

Layer‑2 solutions aggregate transactions off the main chain and settle them later, dramatically lowering costs. For example, using a layer‑2 network reduces gas fees on Ethereum from dollars to pennies. Stablecoin transfers on Solana cost around $0.00025. Businesses processing many micro‑transactions, such as content platforms or online games, can therefore reduce payment fees by routing payments through these networks.

Reducing Hidden Costs

Crypto transactions are not inherently free. Network congestion can increase gas prices, and exchanging between tokens may incur slippage. To minimise these costs:

• Choose efficient chains: Solana, Polygon and layer‑2s offer low fees.
• Use stablecoins: Pegged assets minimise volatility and remove the need for constant conversion.
• Batch transactions: Combining multiple payouts into a single transaction reduces fees.
• Schedule conversions strategically: Gas fees fluctuate; monitor network conditions and execute conversions during off‑peak times.
• Monitor compliance: Ensure that tax, AML and reporting obligations are met to avoid penalties.

Why Due Is Built for Businesses That Value Efficiency

Due was designed from the ground up to provide a single API for cryptocurrency payments. The platform connects businesses to banks and settlement networks across 80 + countries, allowing them to send and receive transfers instantly, 24/7. Key features include:

• Integrated multi‑currency and stablecoin support. Due’s stablecoin payments API lets businesses hold, send and receive digital dollars (USDT, USDC and other major stablecoins) and swap between them at 1:1 rates with no slippage. It also offers real‑time FX conversion to local currencies at wholesale rates.
• Transparent pricing and low fees. Due’s processing fees are remarkably low, 0.2% to 0.3% for cross-border crypto payments and under 1% for merchant processing.
• Global-ready infrastructure. The API supports local payout rails (SEPA, ACH, FPS, PIX, UPI and more) and ensures that payouts settle instantly or within 24 hours. A single integration unlocks transfers across Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and APAC.
• Enterprise-grade security. Due is SOC 2 certified and implements end‑to‑end encryption, non‑custodial key management and automated KYB/KYC with real‑time risk monitoring.
• Modular architecture. Modular, API-first architecture. Businesses build custom experiences on top of Due’s API and webhooks.
• Transparent licensing. Due operates through regulated subsidiaries across Europe, North America, Africa and Latin America. It is not a bank; funds are held in segregated accounts, ensuring client control over assets.

Use Cases

• Global vendor payments: Move funds across borders 24/7, settle invoices in minutes and manage payables in multiple currencies.
• International payroll: Pay remote teams worldwide at wholesale FX rates and reduce settlement costs.
  Marketplace settlements: Enable marketplace sellers to receive stablecoin payments and convert them to local currency instantly.
• Treasury management: Optimise multi‑currency cash flows by holding stablecoins and converting them only when needed.
• Web3 on/off‑ramps: Provide secure, compliant channels for clients to accept Bitcoin payments or stablecoins and exchange them for fiat.

Getting Started With Due in Minutes

Integrating with Due is straightforward, via API or the no-code Business Dashboard at app.due.network:

1. Sign up and verify your business. Due’s automated KYC/KYB verifies your entity quickly to ensure compliance.
2. Choose your integration path.
   
   
   • API: After approval, open your dashboard to generate API keys and configure webhooks. Use our API to embed crypto merchant flows into your checkout or accounting system. The API supports receiving and sending stablecoins, as well as direct bank transfers in local currencies.
   • Business Dashboard (no code): If you’re not using APIs, simply operate from the dashboard at app.due.network, issue invoices, accept payments, manage conversions, and reconcile without writing code.
     
     
3. Start accepting payments worldwide. Once live, you can issue invoices in stablecoins, collect cryptocurrency payments from customers anywhere, and convert to fiat at competitive rates.

Due is non-custodial; clients maintain control of their keys while using Due’s infrastructure for scalability, compliance, settlement, and (where applicable) gasless payments.

FAQ – Common Questions Businesses Have

Q1. What fees can businesses expect when accepting cryptocurrency payments?

Fees vary by network and provider, but they are generally far lower than credit‑card fees. Stablecoin transfers on efficient blockchains cost around $0.00025 per transaction. Providers may charge a small spread or flat fee for conversions to fiat. Overall, businesses typically pay 0.5% or less on stablecoin transactions, compared to 1.5%–3.5% with cards.

Q2. Does crypto eliminate chargebacks?

Yes. Blockchain transactions are final; once settled, they cannot be reversed unilaterally. This eliminates chargebacks and the associated $9–$10 processing costs. However, businesses should still implement refund policies and dispute resolution mechanisms to maintain customer satisfaction.

Q3. What about hidden costs like gas or conversion fees?

Gas fees fluctuate based on network demand. To manage them, select blockchains with predictable pricing (e.g., Solana), monitor gas prices, use fee-optimising tools, and leverage providers that sponsor fees, Due offers gasless payments by covering blockchain costs for clients. Conversion fees can be reduced by using providers that offer wholesale FX rates and 1:1 stablecoin swaps.

Q4. Are stablecoins a better option for businesses?

Yes, with Due, absolutely. Due’s Stablecoin Payments API gives you instant, 24/7 settlement, transparent, low-fee crypto transactions, and automatic conversion to local rails in 80+ markets, so you get paid faster, in the currency that works for your ops. Compliance is built-in (automated KYB/KYC, SOC 2, real-time risk), and our global-ready API drops into your stack quickly. Net effect: faster cash flow, fewer intermediaries, lower total payment costs.

Q5. Is integrating crypto payments difficult?

Not anymore. With Due, teams plug in a REST API and ship with white-label UI plus example components for rendering virtual-account details. The Quick Start (signup → keys → customers/wallets → recipients → transfer) mirrors a familiar gateway flow, and most teams deploy in days with the help of Due’s developer docs and API reference.

Q6. Can small businesses use crypto payment integration effectively?

Absolutely. Many small merchants adopt crypto because it’s the cheapest way to accept crypto payments and expand their customer base. With providers like Due, even micro‑sellers can open wallets, issue invoices and accept stablecoins. SMB crypto adoption is growing quickly as entrepreneurs realise they can reduce international payment fees with crypto, access new markets and avoid high chargeback costs.