At WiseAlt, we’ve seen too many crypto businesses get burned by choosing the wrong crypto merchant services and payment provider. One Web3 client had their IBAN frozen overnight — no warning, no appeal. The reason? “Crypto no longer fits our risk appetite,” said their bank. That single decision put their entire operation on pause.
Whether you’re launching a DeFi platform, managing a centralized exchange, offering staking, or consulting in blockchain, payment infrastructure isn’t just a back-end concern — it’s the bloodstream of your business. Our team put together this guide to help you avoid common pitfalls and choose a provider who won’t disappear when it matters most.
What Kind of Crypto Business Are You Running?
The crypto space is a zoo: token sales, NFT marketplaces, DeFi protocols, centralized exchanges, DAOs. And each has its own headaches:
- Centralized & Decentralized Exchanges (yes, Binance and Uniswap are very different animals)
- Web3 / DeFi platforms (like Aave, Compound)
- VASP / CASP-licensed entities (Kraken, Bitstamp)
- Crypto wallets & prepaid card programs (Ledger, Crypto.com)
- Mining and staking platforms (NiceHash, Lido)
- Token sale / Web3 / DeFi projects
- Crypto education & consulting firms
Some need crypto acquiring, others need fiat payouts, others just want a stable crypto IBAN account without the constant fear of de-banking.
What Services Do You Actually Need?
Crypto merchants sometimes assume: “As long as I can accept payments, I’m good.” But then they run into a wall — a declined card due to high-risk MCC, or worse, no way to withdraw earnings without a crypto-friendly bank.
Here’s what you should look for:
- Card processing (crypto acquiring)
- Named or pooled IBAN accounts
- Settlements in EUR, USD, or stablecoins
- Wallet tokenization and multi-currency support
- Prepaid or debit card programs
A great benchmark is Crypto.com — offering all-in-one merchant services, crypto cards, and wallet-based payments (Crypto.com Pay).
Regional Payment Methods That Actually Work
Europe:
- SEPA IBAN via crypto-friendly EMIs like Bank Frick or Clear Junction
- Sofort, Giropay, and Open Banking for instant deposits
Asia:
- UPI, Alipay, WeChat Pay — Binance supports local top-ups in multiple countries (source)
Latin America:
- PIX, PSE — Bitso’s regional model is a great case study (bitso.com)
Middle East:
- UAE-friendly banks (RAKBANK, Mashreq)
- Rain exchange integrates regional rails effectively (rain.com)
Are You Covered Legally?
Not every provider supports VASP / CASP-licensed projects. If you’re regulated, that’s a plus — but you’ll need a provider who understands:
- Blockchain analytics and blacklist screening (e.g., Chainalysis, OFAC)
- Role separation between your business and their AML stack
- Local compliance responsibilities (who KYC’s whom?)
Kraken is one of the most proactive when it comes to compliance alignment (Legal Overview).
Tech Stuff — Don’t Skip It
Some integrations are a nightmare. One of our clients experienced a 3-month delay due to missing API documentation. Ask early:
- Is there a developer portal or sandbox?
- UTXO support (essential for Bitcoin-related flows)
- Multi-wallet and tokenized routing support
- Is it iframe-based or self-hosted?
As a benchmark, MoonPay is one of the best-documented solutions for NFT and token-based projects (docs).
What About Fees of the Crypto Merchant Services?
This isn’t just about the transaction rate. Make sure you understand:
- Setup fees, monthly minimums
- Fees per transaction and dispute handling
- Settlement delays or rolling reserves
- Currency and method of payout
Sometimes “cheap” means your money arrives two weeks later — or not at all if you exceed some arbitrary threshold.
Questions You Should Ask Every Provider
- Do you work with VASP / CASP-licensed clients?
- What’s the onboarding timeline?
- Can you issue a crypto IBAN account?
- Do you support stablecoin payouts?
- Is multi-region acquiring available?
- What are your monthly volume limits?
- What tools do you use for AML and blacklist screening?
Red Flags to Watch For
- Vague or missing info about licensing
- Promises like “No KYC” or “Instant payouts worldwide”
- No sandbox or dev portal
- One person handles everything — and only replies from a generic support@ email
Final Checklist
- ✅ Your crypto segment is explicitly supported (e.g., DeFi, CEX, wallets)
- ✅ They offer crypto merchant account and IBAN for crypto exchange needs
- ✅ Jurisdiction and licensing align
- ✅ Transparent pricing
- ✅ Scalable infrastructure
Conclusion
In our experience, most crypto founders underestimate how fragile payment setups can be — until something breaks. Picking a provider isn’t just an ops task; it’s a strategic choice.
If you’re building something ambitious — a cryptocurrency merchant service, an exchange, or a DeFi product — get the right provider who will help you scale safely.
Start here — tailored for crypto exchanges, Web3, and DeFi.