Introduction
Welcome to Paycrest - A decentralized routing protocol for instant, secure, zero-fee global payments.
Welcome to Paycrest
Paycrest is a decentralized payment routing protocol that democratizes global payments by enabling instant, secure, and zero-fee fiat-to-stablecoin and stablecoin-to-fiat exchange through a network of verified providers.
Our Mission
“To accelerate the creation of democratized payment systems of the future”
We believe that financial infrastructure should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Paycrest is building the foundation for a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient global payment ecosystem where:
Universal Access
Anyone can participate as a sender, provider, or developer
Decentralized Control
No central authority controls the flow of funds
Built-in Security
Transparency and security are built into every transaction
Global Integration
Local solutions work seamlessly with global networks
This mission drives every aspect of our protocol design, from the decentralized architecture to the developer-friendly APIs.
The Problem
Cross-border payments — especially in Africa and other emerging markets — remain globally expensive, slow, and fragmented. This is largely due to:
Legacy Infrastructure
- Reliance on legacy intermediaries
- Closed banking networks
- Fragmented liquidity
Compliance Bottlenecks
- Compliance bottlenecks
- Informal exchange networks
- Poor user experience
The Solution
Paycrest addresses these challenges by introducing a decentralized payment routing protocol that enables:
Instant Conversion
Near-instant fiat/stablecoin conversion via a decentralized network of Providers
Zero Sender Fees
Zero transaction fees for senders, with protocol fees paid by Providers and optional sender fees for businesses
Embedded Compliance
Embedded compliance through user-friendly KYC and attestation flows
Crypto-Free UX
Streamlined crypto-free UX, enabling adoption without requiring users to understand wallets or chains
Multi-Chain Support
Multi-chain interoperability, beginning with support for Ethereum L2s and expanding to modular chains
How It Works
Create Order
A sender creates a payment order on the Gateway Smart Contract, specifying the amount, token, recipient details, and rate.
Aggregate
The aggregator node indexes the order and assigns it to one or more provision nodes run by liquidity providers.
Fulfill
The provisioning node automatically disburses funds to the recipient’s local bank account or mobile wallet via connections to payment service providers (PSPs).
Performance: Most orders complete in under 30 seconds, with automatic refunds if not completed within 5 minutes.
What is Paycrest?
Just as SWIFT operates as a financial messaging protocol without being a financial institution, Paycrest functions as a decentralized payment messaging protocol without being a payment processor. The Paycrest protocol doesn’t hold funds, process payments, or act as a financial intermediary.
Instead, the protocol provides the infrastructure and messaging layer that enables:
- Instant order routing between senders and providers
- Secure message transmission with encrypted recipient data
- Standardized payment instructions across different currencies and networks
- Compliance integration with regulatory requirements
The key difference? Paycrest is faster, cheaper, and onchain - leveraging blockchain technology to eliminate the need for traditional banking intermediaries while maintaining the same reliability and security standards.
Key Participants
Sender
KYC-verified entities that initiate fiat-to-stablecoin or stablecoin-to-fiat transactions
Recipient
The beneficiary who receives local fiat or stablecoins without interacting with the protocol
Provider
KYC-verified participants that supply fiat liquidity in exchange for stablecoins
Aggregator
KYC-verified entities that match orders with suitable Providers and coordinate fulfillment
Protocol Vision
Paycrest exists to bridge the gap between digital assets and real-world financial systems, especially in underbanked and high-friction economies. Our long-term vision includes:
Modular Architecture
Modular Architecture
Storage, KYC, and execution may occur across different chains and systems
Multi-Chain Support
Multi-Chain Support
Beginning with Ethereum L2s and expanding to modular chains and app-specific rollups
Embedded Compliance
Embedded Compliance
User-friendly KYC and attestation flows
Zero-Fee Experience
Zero-Fee Experience
Protocol fees paid by Providers, not senders
Get Started
Ready to integrate with the Paycrest protocol? Choose your path:
For Senders
Learn how to create payment orders and integrate with the Paycrest API
For Providers
Set up a provider node to supply liquidity and earn fees
Use Cases
Paycrest serves a wide range of industries and use cases:
Crypto Businesses
Crypto Businesses
- DeFi Payouts: Automate yield and reward distributions to bank accounts
- NFT Marketplace Payouts: Pay creators in their local currency
- Crypto Exchange Offramp: Enable seamless crypto-to-fiat conversion
Traditional Businesses
Traditional Businesses
- Cross-Border Payroll: Pay international employees using stablecoins
- E-commerce Payment Processing: Accept crypto payments, settle in fiat
- Freelancer Payments: Streamline global contractor payments
Financial Services
Financial Services
- Remittance Services: Faster, cheaper international transfers
- Microfinance: Efficient loan disbursement and collection
Gaming & Entertainment
Gaming & Entertainment
- Gaming Platform Payouts: Pay winnings to players globally
- Content Creator Payments: Pay influencers in local currencies
Enterprise Solutions
Enterprise Solutions
- B2B Payment Processing: International supplier payments
- Treasury Management: Manage global cash flows efficiently
Supported Currencies
Paycrest supports a growing list of currencies across multiple regions, with new currencies and delivery channels added regularly.
Fiat Currencies
- African Markets: NGN 🇳🇬, KES 🇰🇪, UGX 🇺🇬, TZS 🇹🇿, MWK 🇲🇼, GHS 🇬🇭, XOF 🇧🇯🇨🇮
- Asian Markets: BRL 🇧🇷, INR 🇮🇳
- More Coming: We’re actively expanding to new markets and currencies
Stablecoins
- USDT: Tether USDt (Multi-chain support)
- USDC: USD Coin (Multi-chain support)
- CUSD: Celo Dollar (Celo network only)
- CNGN: Compliant Naira (Multi-chain support)
Our currency support is constantly growing. For the most up-to-date list of supported currencies and delivery channels, check our Supported Currencies page or use the GET /currencies API endpoint.
Security & Compliance
KYC/KYB Verification
All participants undergo identity verification
Smart Contract Security
Audited Gateway contracts with escrow functionality
Multi-Signature Governance
Protocol changes require multi-signature approval
Compliance Integration
Built-in support for regulatory requirements
Paycrest is designed for both Web3-native users and those who may never need to know they’re using crypto. The protocol abstracts away the complexity of blockchain technology while maintaining the benefits of decentralization.
Roadmap
Paycrest is evolving from a federated protocol to a fully decentralized, permissionless network. Here’s what’s live and what’s coming next:
Current: Offramp Protocol
- Paycrest operates the only aggregator (federated model)
- Providers pay protocol fees to the aggregator that assigned the order
- Senders and providers must sign up and obtain API keys
Q3 2025: Onramp Launch
Support for onramp (fiat-to-stablecoin) flows
Onchain KYC (2025+)
- Shareable, reusable KYC credentials across all Paycrest-integrated apps
- Based on onchain identity standards
Full Decentralization & P2P Networking
- Multiple aggregators, permissionless participation
- Unified Paycrest node: aggregator, provision, and hybrid modes
- Identities and communication via public key cryptography and P2P (e.g., libp2p)
Currently, Paycrest operates a single aggregator. In the future, the protocol will support multiple aggregators and full decentralization. See the Roadmap above for details.