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Cryptocurrency payment guides
Crypto payments, from purchase to recipient.
Learn how to buy cryptocurrency, receive it in a personal wallet, and use it to make a payment.
- Currencies and networks
- Personal wallets and privacy
- Cryptocurrency payments
Find a way to buy
What do you want to buy?
Choose the exact currency and network first, then the way you want to pay.Pick your starting point
What do you need help with?
Start with payment concepts or go straight to the task in front of you. Check the important details before money moves.
01Start hereCrypto payment basicsUnderstand currencies, networks, wallet addresses, and who controls the funds.Go to this section 02Step by stepPay from your walletCheck the payment details, send from your wallet, and confirm delivery.Go to this section 03Find an optionChoose how to buyMatch an exact currency and network with the payment method you want to use.Go to this section 04Stay in controlProtect your privacyKnow what a provider is asking for, why it wants the information, and how the answer may be used.Go to this section
Currency, network, address, and wallet
Crypto payment basics
Every cryptocurrency payment has a currency, a network, a destination, and a wallet controlled by a person or provider.
01
Currency
The thing being sent, such as BTC, ETH, or USDT.
02Network
The system that carries the payment. One currency can sometimes use more than one network.
03Wallet address
The destination for a payment, similar to an account number.
04Personal wallet
An app or device where you control the wallet and its recovery information.
From purchase to payment
How a typical payment works
Most payments follow three stages: buy the currency, receive it in a wallet, then send it to the recipient.
Where do fees appear?
A vendor may charge a purchase fee, and the network may charge a separate transfer fee. Review both before continuing.
Why can a payment take time?
Networks confirm transfers at different speeds. A recipient may wait for more than one confirmation before marking a payment complete.
- 01
Buy the right currency
Choose the exact currency and network, then pay the vendor with your preferred purchase method.
- 02
Receive it in your wallet
Give the vendor your personal wallet address and any required destination tag or memo.
- 03
Check and send the payment
Confirm the currency, network, full address, amount, and fee before approving the transfer.
Currencies and networks
Choose the exact currency and network
Pick the combination requested by the recipient. USDT on Ethereum and USDT on Tron are separate choices.
Keep control after you buy
A personal wallet puts you in control
We recommend receiving cryptocurrency in a wallet you control, instead of leaving it in an account controlled by a vendor.
- You control the wallet and its recovery information.
- You can pay directly without returning to the purchase provider.
- You can choose a wallet that fits your device and needs.
Temporary arrangement
Vendor custody
The vendor controls the cryptocurrency until you withdraw it to an external wallet.If a vendor holds the funds temporarily, finish the withdrawal to your personal wallet.
Pause before money moves
A short check can prevent a permanent mistake
Cryptocurrency transfers usually cannot be cancelled. Read every detail back before you approve one.
Transfers are usually irreversible. If an address or network is wrong, a bank or card company normally cannot reverse the payment for you.
Check these six details
- The requested currency
- The same network at both ends
- The full destination address
- Any required destination tag or memo
- The amount the recipient expects
- The purchase and network fees
Privacy and scam awareness
Protect your privacy and spot payment scams
Ask why personal data is needed, and stop when a payment request uses secrecy, pressure, or urgency.
Privacy
Ask why information is needed
Identity checks vary by country, transaction, and vendor. A vendor policy is not automatically a legal requirement.Useful questions to ask
Ask whether the information is legally required or vendor policy, how long it will be kept, and who it will be shared with.
Scam prevention
Treat urgency as a warning sign
Stop if someone pressures you to pay quickly, keep the payment secret, or ignore a wallet or vendor warning.A quick scam check
Confirm who is asking, contact them through a trusted channel, and never send cryptocurrency to unlock a prize or fix an unexpected account problem.
Choose the task in front of you
Choose your next task
Choose the next useful action for the task in front of you.
Compare wallet appsFind a wallet for the currency, network, and device you need.Set up a personal walletUnderstand control and recovery before receiving funds.Buy to your personal walletChoose a currency, network, and purchase method.Withdraw from a providerMove a provider-held balance to a wallet you control.Pay from your walletFollow the checks that matter before sending.Transfer between walletsReview the destination and network before moving funds.Buy directly to another walletUnderstand the additional checks before using a recipient's destination.
Before every payment