Looking For a NOWPayments Alternative? Here Are 10 Things You Should Know About Self-Custody Crypto POS Systems

Shopping for a NOWPayments alternative? You're not alone.

Merchants everywhere are questioning custodial platforms. The ones that hold your crypto. The ones that control your business revenue.

Here's what nobody tells you about self-custody crypto POS systems.

1. The Custody Question - Who Actually Holds Your Money?

NOWPayments is custodial. So is CoinPayments.

They hold your cryptocurrency. Not you.

Self-custody systems flip this entirely. Your wallet. Your keys. Your crypto.

Larecoin operates on pure self-custody principles. Payments land directly in your wallet. No intermediary storage. No permission needed to access your funds.

This isn't a feature. It's a fundamental difference.

2. Fee Structure Reality Check

NOWPayments charges 0.5-1% per transaction. CoinPayments takes up to 0.5%.

Sounds small until you calculate annual volume.

Self-custody platforms eliminate processing fees entirely. Gas fees only. Blockchain native costs. Nothing to a middleman.

Run the numbers on $100K monthly volume:

• NOWPayments: $6,000-$12,000 yearly in fees

• Self-custody: Gas fees only (typically $50-$200 monthly depending on network)

The savings compound fast.

3. Settlement Times and Your Cash Flow

NOWPayments advertises ~5-minute settlements. To their custodial wallet. Not yours.

Then you withdraw. Another delay. Another process.

Self-custody means instant final settlement. Customer pays. Crypto arrives in your wallet. Done.

No withdrawal windows. No daily limits. No waiting for platform approval.

Your money moves at blockchain speed. Not platform bureaucracy speed.

4. NFT Receipts Change Accounting Forever

Traditional platforms send email confirmations. Maybe CSV exports.

Self-custody systems built for Web3 do better.

Larecoin issues NFT receipts. Immutable transaction records. On-chain proof of every sale.

Your accountant will thank you. Your auditor will thank you. Your future self will thank you.

These aren't gimmicks. They're permanent financial records that can't be altered or lost.

5. Stablecoin Options That Actually Matter (LUSD)

NOWPayments supports 300+ cryptocurrencies. Impressive list.

But volatility remains. Bitcoin payments mean Bitcoin exposure.

LUSD changes this equation. Liquity's decentralized stablecoin. No centralized issuer. No freezing risk.

Accept payments in LUSD. Maintain value stability. Keep complete self-custody.

CoinPayments offers USDT and USDC. Centralized stablecoins. Blacklist functions. Counterparty risk.

LUSD eliminates these concerns entirely.

6. Gas-Only Transfers Mean Zero Platform Fees

Every custodial platform takes a cut. Processing fees. Service charges. Percentage of your revenue.

Self-custody platforms operate differently.

You pay blockchain gas. Nothing else. No platform percentage. No monthly subscriptions. No surprise charges.

This model aligns with crypto's original vision. Peer-to-peer value transfer. No rent-seeking intermediaries.

Your profit margins stay intact.

7. Merchant Independence vs. Platform Control

Custodial platforms set the rules. Account freezes. Geographic restrictions. Arbitrary policy changes.

You're building on someone else's foundation.

Self-custody means true independence. Your wallet. Your rules. Your business decisions.

No platform can:

• Freeze your account

• Hold your funds

• Change terms unilaterally

• Shut down your operations

Financial sovereignty isn't marketing speak. It's operational reality.

8. Your Private Keys, Your Business

"Not your keys, not your crypto."

This Bitcoin maximalist mantra applies to merchants too.

NOWPayments holds keys to wallets containing your revenue. CoinPayments does the same. You're trusting them completely.

Self-custody reverses this trust model. You hold your private keys. You control your wallet. You decide everything.

Platform hacked? Your funds stay safe in your wallet. Platform bankrupt? Your crypto remains untouched. Platform exits market? Your business continues unchanged.

9. Web3 Native vs. Retrofitted Solutions

NOWPayments launched in 2019. CoinPayments in 2013. Both built for crypto 1.0.

They retrofitted features as blockchain evolved. Custodial architecture remained.

Self-custody platforms built for Web3 from day one. Smart contract integration. DeFi compatibility. NFT functionality. Decentralized by design.

This isn't just technical detail. It determines what's possible with your payment infrastructure.

Web3 native systems integrate seamlessly with:

• DeFi protocols

• NFT marketplaces

• DAO treasuries

• Cross-chain bridges

• Liquidity pools

Legacy platforms? They're still figuring out basic wallet connections.

10. The Real Cost of Convenience

Custodial platforms market convenience. Simple dashboard. Customer support. Managed infrastructure.

The price? Your autonomy.

Self-custody requires more initial setup. More personal responsibility. More direct blockchain interaction.

But consider the long-term trade:

Custodial convenience costs:

• Ongoing percentage fees

• Platform dependency

• Regulatory exposure

• Counterparty risk

• Limited control

Self-custody setup costs:

• Initial learning curve

• Wallet management responsibility

• Direct gas fee payment

One-time education investment versus permanent dependency. Which scales better for your business?

Making the Switch

Evaluating alternatives to NOWPayments means questioning fundamental assumptions.

Do you want a payment processor or a payment system?

Processors take custody. Charge fees. Insert themselves between you and your money.

Systems give you tools. Direct blockchain access. Complete control.

Larecoin represents the self-custody approach. Built for merchants who prioritize independence. Designed for businesses building on Web3 foundations.

No processing fees. Just gas. No custodial wallets. Just your address. No platform control. Just blockchain technology.

The Bottom Line

Self-custody crypto POS systems aren't for everyone.

If you need maximum coin variety and don't care about key control, custodial platforms work fine.

But if you're building for the long term. If you understand "not your keys, not your crypto." If you value merchant independence over convenience.

Self-custody isn't an alternative. It's an evolution.

The question isn't whether to leave NOWPayments. It's whether you're ready to truly own your payment infrastructure.

Your business. Your wallet. Your decision.

Ready to explore true merchant freedom? Visit Larecoin and discover what self-custody crypto payments actually mean.