Looking For a CoinPayments Alternative? Here Are 10 Things Small Business Merchants Should Know

Crypto payments aren't just for tech giants anymore.

Small businesses are jumping in. Fast. And they're quickly realizing that the payment processor they choose matters: a lot.

CoinPayments has been around. It's done its thing. But here's the deal: the Web3 payments landscape has evolved dramatically. And merchants who want to actually keep more of their revenue? They need to pay attention.

If you're hunting for a CoinPayments alternative, here are 10 critical things you absolutely need to know before making the switch.

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1. Fee Structures Can Make or Break Your Margins

Let's talk numbers.

Most crypto payment processors charge between 0.5% and 1% per transaction. NOWPayments sits at 0.5%. CoinGate takes 1%. CoinPayments hovers in that range too.

Sounds reasonable? Think again.

When you're processing thousands of transactions monthly, those percentages stack up. Traditional interchange fees already eat into your profits. Adding another layer of crypto processing fees? Brutal.

Here's where things get interesting.

Larecoin slashes merchant interchange fees by 50% or more. That's not a typo. Half. Gone.

For small business merchants operating on tight margins, that difference isn't just nice: it's game-changing.

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2. Cryptocurrency Support Varies Wildly

CoinPayments flexes with 2,300+ supported coins. Impressive on paper.

But reality check: how many of those coins do your customers actually use?

Most merchants see 80%+ of their crypto transactions in a handful of major currencies. Supporting thousands of obscure altcoins adds complexity without adding value.

The smart play? Choose a processor that supports the currencies your customers actually spend: with infrastructure that's built for speed and reliability.

Quality over quantity. Every time.

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3. Custodial Models Are a Ticking Time Bomb

This one's crucial.

CoinPayments operates a custodial model. Translation: they hold your funds. Your crypto sits in their wallet until you withdraw it.

What's the problem?

Counterparty risk. If something goes wrong on their end: hack, insolvency, regulatory action: your money is caught in the crossfire.

We've seen this movie before. Repeatedly. And it never ends well for merchants.

Self-custody isn't optional in Web3. It's mandatory.

NOWPayments and CoinGate offer non-custodial options, sending payouts directly to your external addresses. Better.

But Larecoin takes it further. True financial sovereignty means your funds are yours: from the moment the transaction completes. No intermediaries holding your money hostage.

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4. Integration Complexity Kills Momentum

You've got a business to run. You don't have time for six-week integration projects.

Some processors offer plug-and-play solutions for WooCommerce, Wix, and other major platforms. Others require custom API work that demands developer resources.

Know your technical capabilities before committing. A processor that takes months to integrate is a processor that's costing you sales.

The best alternatives? Seamless setup. Minimal friction. You're live in hours, not weeks.

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5. Volatility Protection Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

Crypto volatility terrifies most merchants. Understandably so.

Accepting Bitcoin today, watching it drop 15% before settlement tomorrow? That's not a business model. That's gambling.

Most processors offer automatic cryptocurrency-to-fiat conversion. Fine for traditional thinkers.

But here's the evolution: stablecoins.

LUSD: Larecoin's stablecoin: gives merchants the best of both worlds. You accept crypto payments. You receive stable value. No wild price swings. No scrambling to convert before the market moves.

This isn't just volatility protection. It's smart volatility protection.

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6. Compliance Footprints Determine Your Reach

Global commerce requires global compliance.

Different processors operate in different regulatory environments. BVNK holds 25+ licenses across 130+ markets. Others? Far more limited.

Before choosing an alternative, verify coverage in:

• Your home jurisdiction

• Where your customers are located

• Markets you plan to expand into

A processor that works today but blocks you from tomorrow's growth isn't a partner: it's a ceiling.

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7. Industry Specialization Matters More Than You Think

Generic solutions create generic results.

OpenNode specializes in Bitcoin payments via Lightning Network. CoinsPaid targets gaming and crypto-native merchants. Others excel at subscription billing or e-commerce.

What's your model?

Small business merchants need processors that understand retail dynamics. Point-of-sale integration. Fast settlement. Customer-friendly checkout experiences.

The alternative you choose should be optimized for how you actually do business: not how some enterprise client across the world operates.

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8. NFT Receipts Are the Future of Transaction Records

Here's where things get genuinely innovative.

Traditional receipts? Paper or PDF. Lost in email inboxes. Forgotten in drawers. Zero utility beyond "proof of purchase."

NFT receipts flip the script.

Every transaction generates a unique, immutable digital receipt. Stored on-chain. Verifiable forever. Impossible to forge or manipulate.

For merchants, this means:

• Simplified accounting: Every transaction is automatically recorded and timestamped

• Dispute resolution: Indisputable proof of sale

• Customer engagement: Transform receipts into loyalty assets, discount tokens, or collectibles

Larecoin's NFT receipt system isn't a gimmick. It's the infrastructure for next-generation merchant-customer relationships.

Traditional processors don't offer this. They can't.

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9. Enterprise Features Shouldn't Cost Enterprise Prices

Invoicing. Mass payouts. Subscription management. AML monitoring.

These capabilities used to be reserved for big players with big budgets.

Not anymore.

The best CoinPayments alternatives bundle enterprise-grade features into packages that small businesses can actually afford. You shouldn't need three different vendors to run a complete payment operation.

Check what's included before you sign up:

• Recurring billing support

• Multi-currency management

• Real-time reporting dashboards

• Customer payment portals

If it's not included, ask yourself: why not?

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10. Financial Sovereignty Is Non-Negotiable

Let's zoom out.

Why are you even considering crypto payments?

For most merchants, it's not just about fees or transaction speed. It's about control.

Traditional payment systems put intermediaries between you and your money. Banks. Card networks. Payment processors. Each one takes a cut. Each one sets rules. Each one can freeze your funds if they decide to.

Web3 payments promised to change that.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: many crypto payment processors have recreated the same centralized dynamics. Different technology. Same control structures.

Real alternatives prioritize merchant sovereignty.

That means:

• Self-custody by default

• Transparent fee structures

• No arbitrary holds on your funds

• Your keys, your coins, your business

Larecoin was built on this principle. Financial freedom isn't a marketing slogan: it's the architecture.

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The Bottom Line

CoinPayments served its purpose. So did NOWPayments. So did a dozen other processors that emerged over the past decade.

But small business merchants in 2026 need more.

They need fees that don't destroy margins: 50%+ savings on interchange isn't optional, it's expected.

They need stablecoin infrastructure that eliminates volatility anxiety.

They need NFT receipts that transform boring transaction records into valuable business assets.

And above all, they need true self-custody that delivers on Web3's core promise: financial sovereignty.

The alternative you choose today determines your competitive position tomorrow.

Choose wisely.

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Ready to see what next-generation crypto payments actually look like?

Explore Larecoin and discover why merchants are making the switch.