NOWPayments
NOWPayments LTD
NOWPayments is a non-custodial cryptocurrency payment gateway that lets businesses accept crypto payments from customers worldwide. Funds go straight to the merchant's wallet, without the service holding any private keys. It charges a 0.5% transaction fee (plus 0.5% if a conversion is needed), with no setup or monthly fees. It is operated by NOWPayments LTD, incorporated in Seychelles and part of the NOW Group.
Data & conditions
| Service type | Stablecoin infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per transaction |
| Custody model | non-custodial |
| Customer type | Marketplace, SMEs, Platforms, Developers |
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
| KYC | Light |
| Supported countries | US, EEA, UK, APAC, LATAM, MENA, AFRICA |
| Segment | B2B |
| Funding / solidity | Founded 2019 (part of the NOW Group), incorporated in Seychelles · non-custodial crypto gateway · no setup or monthly fees |
| MiCA / License status | Not disclosed |
Strengths
- Non-custodial model: funds go straight to the merchant
- No setup or monthly fees
- Support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
- Light KYC: minimal identity verification.
Weaknesses
- No known traditional financial license; incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction (Seychelles)
- Aimed at merchants/businesses rather than end consumers
- Crypto-focused service, not a regulated fiat processor
- No notable sovereignty drawback documented.
Verdict
Score 3.3/5, solid profile. In its favour: non-custodial model: funds go straight to the merchant. The trade-off to weigh: no known traditional financial license; incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction (Seychelles).
On the Sovereignty lens the score is 3.4/5 (solid): the strength is fund control (5.0/5), while privacy & anonymity (2.5/5) is the weak link.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
Does NOWPayments custody my funds?
No, it is a non-custodial gateway: crypto payments go straight to the merchant's wallet and the service does not hold private keys.
How much does it cost?
0.5% per transaction, plus another 0.5% if a conversion is needed; no setup or monthly fees.
Sources
- Official service page Data verified on Jul 17, 2026
- coincodecap.com Data verified on Jul 17, 2026