Choosing a crypto payment gateway is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your online business. The right gateway saves you money, simplifies your operations, and gives you full control over your funds. The wrong one can introduce new risks — frozen accounts, hidden fees, and custody models that put your money in someone else's hands.
In this comparison, we'll break down three of the most popular crypto payment gateways in 2026 — BitPay, CoinGate, and GroundedPay — across the dimensions that actually matter: fees, custody, supported currencies, integrations, and who each one is best suited for.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | BitPay | CoinGate | GroundedPay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | 1% per transaction | 1% per transaction | Flat monthly fee |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial | Non-custodial |
| Settlement | Next business day | Daily or manual | Instant to your wallet |
| KYC Required | Yes (full) | Yes (full) | Minimal |
| High-Risk OK | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Shopify Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stablecoin Support | USDC (limited) | USDT, USDC | USDC, USDT, DAI |
| Can Freeze Funds | Yes | Yes | No |
BitPay: The Legacy Player
BitPay is the oldest crypto payment processor, founded in 2011. It's processed billions in crypto payments and has integrations with most major e-commerce platforms. If you've seen a "Pay with Bitcoin" button on a large retailer's website, there's a good chance BitPay is behind it.
What BitPay does well:
- Brand recognition and trust with enterprise clients
- Automatic conversion to fiat currency (USD, EUR, etc.)
- Invoicing tools for B2B payments
- Support for Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, ETH, and select stablecoins
Where BitPay falls short:
- Custodial model. BitPay holds your funds until settlement. They can freeze your account and withhold payouts, just like a traditional processor.
- Heavy KYC. Full identity verification, business documentation, and approval process that can take days to weeks.
- Per-transaction fees. At 1% per transaction, a business doing $500K/month pays $5,000/month in fees. That adds up fast.
- Limited coin support. Compared to newer gateways, BitPay's supported cryptocurrency list is relatively narrow.
- High-risk restrictions. BitPay maintains a restricted business list similar to traditional processors. CBD, supplements, and other high-risk categories may be declined.
CoinGate: The Mid-Range Option
CoinGate, based in Lithuania, has carved out a solid position as a versatile crypto payment gateway for small to mid-sized merchants. It supports over 70 cryptocurrencies and offers plugins for most popular e-commerce platforms.
What CoinGate does well:
- Wide cryptocurrency support (70+ coins)
- Multiple settlement options (crypto, EUR, USD)
- Plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and more
- Lightning Network support for faster Bitcoin payments
Where CoinGate falls short:
- Still custodial. Like BitPay, CoinGate holds your funds. Account freezes and compliance holds are possible.
- 1% fee adds up. Same per-transaction pricing model as BitPay.
- Mandatory KYC. Full business verification required before you can start accepting payments.
- Settlement delays. Fiat settlements can take 1-3 business days depending on your region.
- High-risk limitations. While more lenient than BitPay, CoinGate still restricts certain business categories.
GroundedPay: The Non-Custodial Alternative
GroundedPay takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of holding your funds and settling later, GroundedPay routes payments directly to your wallet. The gateway never touches your money — it provides the checkout interface, order tracking, and merchant dashboard while payments flow peer-to-peer.
What GroundedPay does well:
- Non-custodial. Funds go directly to your wallet. No account freezes, no held funds, no settlement delays.
- Flat monthly pricing. No per-transaction fees. A merchant doing $500K/month pays the same as one doing $50K/month.
- No KYC friction. Minimal verification means you can be live in minutes, not days.
- High-risk friendly. No restricted business categories. If it's legal, you can accept payments for it.
- Instant settlement. Payments arrive in your wallet the moment the customer pays. No waiting for business days.
- Shopify integration. One script tag and you're live. See our Shopify setup guide.
Where GroundedPay differs:
- No automatic fiat conversion. You receive crypto directly. If you want USD, you'll need to off-ramp through an exchange yourself. (Many merchants see this as a feature, not a bug.)
- Newer platform. GroundedPay doesn't have the decade-long track record of BitPay. However, the non-custodial model means there's less trust required — your funds are never at risk on our platform.
The Custody Question: Why It Matters More Than Fees
When merchants compare crypto gateways, they tend to focus on fees first. But custody is arguably the more important factor. Here's why:
A custodial gateway holds your funds. That means they can freeze your account for compliance reviews, withhold payouts during disputes, or even terminate your account and hold your balance — exactly the same risks you face with Stripe or PayPal. If you're a merchant who has already been burned by a traditional processor, switching to a custodial crypto gateway doesn't eliminate the core problem.
A non-custodial gateway never holds your funds. There's nothing to freeze because there's nothing in their possession. Your wallet, your keys, your money. This is the model GroundedPay uses, and it's why we can work with any legal business regardless of risk category.
"We evaluated all three gateways. BitPay rejected us because we sell supplements. CoinGate approved us but froze our account for a compliance review after two weeks. GroundedPay has been running smoothly for four months — no interruptions." — GroundedPay merchant
Fee Comparison: Per-Transaction vs. Flat Monthly
Let's compare the actual cost for a merchant processing different volumes:
| Monthly Volume | BitPay (1%) | CoinGate (1%) | GroundedPay (flat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $100 | $100 | $49 |
| $50,000 | $500 | $500 | $49 |
| $100,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $49 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $49 |
The math speaks for itself. At any volume above roughly $5,000/month, GroundedPay's flat fee is cheaper than per-transaction pricing. At higher volumes, the savings are dramatic.
Which Gateway Should You Choose?
Choose BitPay if: You're an enterprise business that needs automatic fiat conversion, doesn't mind custody, and operates in a low-risk category. BitPay's brand recognition matters to your customers.
Choose CoinGate if: You want wide cryptocurrency support (70+ coins), need Lightning Network for Bitcoin payments, and are comfortable with custodial settlement. Good for merchants in Europe who want EUR settlement.
Choose GroundedPay if: You want full control of your funds, operate in a high-risk category, want flat predictable pricing, or have been burned by processors freezing your account. Best for merchants who prioritize sovereignty over their payment infrastructure.
Try the non-custodial difference
Sign up for GroundedPay and start accepting crypto payments in minutes. Flat monthly pricing, no transaction fees, and your funds always stay in your wallet.
Start accepting payments