NOWPayments Vs CoinPayments Vs Larecoin: Which Crypto POS System Actually Gives Merchants Freedom?

Merchant freedom isn't a marketing buzzword. It's the difference between controlling your revenue and hoping a third party releases it to you.

Crypto payment processors promised independence from traditional banking rails. But here's the thing, many just replaced one middleman with another.

Let's break down how NOWPayments, CoinPayments, and Larecoin actually stack up when it comes to giving merchants real autonomy over their funds.

The Custody Question Changes Everything

Before comparing features, you need to understand one thing: who holds your money?

Custodial platforms control your funds after a transaction. They process. They hold. They release when they're ready.

Non-custodial and self-custody models? Funds hit your wallet directly. No waiting. No permission required.

This single factor determines your true level of merchant freedom.

NOWPayments: The Middle Ground

Launched: 2014 Supported Coins: 300+ Fee Structure: 0.5-1% per transaction

NOWPayments gets credit for offering non-custodial options. Payments can route directly to your wallet. That's a win for independence.

The Pros:

• Direct wallet payments available

• 30+ stablecoins supported

• ~5 minute processing times

• Customizable network fees

The Cons:

• Still charging 0.5-1% on every transaction

• No NFT receipt functionality

• No proprietary stablecoin ecosystem

• Limited Web3-native features

For merchants processing serious volume, that 0.5-1% adds up fast. On $500,000 annual revenue, you're looking at roughly $5,000 in fees.

Not terrible. But not revolutionary either.

CoinPayments: The Legacy Player

Launched: 2013 Supported Coins: 2,000+ Model: Primarily custodial

CoinPayments has been around the longest. Supports the most coins. But there's a catch.

The Pros:

• Massive cryptocurrency support

• Established reputation since 2013

• Crypto-to-wallet and crypto-to-fiat options

• CSV export functionality

The Cons:

• Primarily custodial, they hold your funds

• Variable processing times (minutes to hours)

• No customizable network fees

• Missing modern Web3 features

• Dependency on third party for fund access

That custodial model? It means your revenue sits in their system until they release it.

For merchants who left traditional payment processors seeking independence, this defeats the purpose.

Larecoin: Built for Merchant Independence

Blockchain: Solana Model: Full self-custody Fee Structure: Gas-only transfers

Here's where things get interesting.

Larecoin wasn't designed to be another payment processor. It was built as a complete ecosystem for merchant autonomy.

Key Differentiators:

• Full Self-Custody: Direct merchant-to-customer transactions. No middleman holding funds.

• Gas-Only Fees: Pay network costs only. No percentage-based cuts.

• LUSD Stablecoin: Native stablecoin integration for volatility protection

• NFT Receipts: Immutable, on-chain transaction records

• Near-Instant Settlement: Solana's speed means funds arrive in seconds

The Fee Breakdown That Matters

Let's talk real numbers for a merchant doing $500,000 in annual crypto transactions:

Platform	Fee Model	Annual Cost
Traditional Processor	2.5-3%	~$15,000
NOWPayments	0.5-1%	~$5,000
CoinPayments	0.5-1%	~$5,000
Larecoin	Gas-only	Under $2,000

That's potentially $3,000+ in annual savings over other crypto processors.

For small businesses, that's a new employee's quarterly bonus. For enterprises, multiply those savings across millions in volume.

NFT Receipts: Why They Matter

Traditional receipts disappear. Get lost. Become disputed.

NFT receipts on Larecoin create permanent, immutable transaction records on the blockchain.

Benefits for Merchants:

• Indisputable proof of transaction

• Automatic record-keeping

• Simplified accounting and tax documentation

• Customer engagement opportunity

• Zero additional cost

Benefits for Customers:

• Verifiable purchase history

• Collectible transaction records

• Warranty and return proof built-in

This isn't a gimmick. It's infrastructure that traditional and even most crypto processors simply don't offer.

LUSD: Stability Without Sacrifice

Crypto volatility scares merchants. That's fair.

LUSD, Larecoin's native stablecoin, solves this without forcing merchants back into traditional rails.

Accept payments in any supported cryptocurrency. Settle in LUSD for stability. Convert to fiat when you're ready.

No wild price swings between transaction and settlement. No forced conversions at unfavorable rates. No custody concerns.

Your funds. Your timing. Your choice.

The Self-Custody Advantage

Let's be direct about what self-custody actually means for your business:

With Custodial Platforms:

• Platform holds funds after transactions

• Withdrawal subject to platform policies

• Account freezes can lock your revenue

• You're trusting a third party with your money

With Larecoin Self-Custody:

• Funds arrive directly in your wallet

• Immediate access, no waiting periods

• No account freezes affecting your capital

• Complete control from transaction to spending

This isn't theoretical. Custodial platforms have frozen merchant funds before. Compliance issues. Suspicious activity flags. Policy changes.

Self-custody eliminates that risk entirely.

Feature Comparison At A Glance

Feature	NOWPayments	CoinPayments	Larecoin
Self-Custody	Partial	No	Full
Transaction Fees	0.5-1%	0.5-1%	Gas-only
NFT Receipts	No	No	Yes
Native Stablecoin	No	No	LUSD
Settlement Speed	~5 min	Variable	Near-instant
Fiat Conversion	Yes	Yes	Yes

Who Should Use What?

Choose NOWPayments if:

• You want non-custodial options without full commitment

• Supporting 300+ coins is a priority

• You're comfortable with 0.5-1% fees

Choose CoinPayments if:

• You need the widest possible coin support

• Custodial holding doesn't concern you

• Legacy reputation matters most

Choose Larecoin if:

• Merchant freedom is non-negotiable

• Minimizing fees directly impacts your bottom line

• You want Web3-native features like NFT receipts

• Self-custody and instant settlement are priorities

• You're building for the decentralized future

The Bottom Line

Crypto payment processing was supposed to liberate merchants from traditional payment rails.

Some processors delivered partial freedom. Lower fees than credit cards, sure. But still taking a cut. Still holding funds. Still acting as intermediaries.

Larecoin takes a different approach. Gas-only fees. Full self-custody. NFT receipts. LUSD stability. Near-instant Solana settlement.

Real merchant freedom isn't about choosing a slightly better middleman.

It's about eliminating the middleman entirely.

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Ready to take control of your crypto payments? Explore the Larecoin ecosystem and see what true merchant independence looks like.