Merchants often ask, “Which coins should we enable first?” The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on who your buyers are and where they pay from. In 2025, the data trend is clear: stablecoins lead most commercial checkout flows, while BTC/ETH remain important for crypto-native audiences and brand alignment. Here’s a practical, region-by-region view—and how to use it to prioritize your rollout.

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Global snapshot: stablecoin-first, BTC/ETH optional

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Across DTC, SaaS, marketplaces, and iGaming, merchants see:

• Stablecoins (USDC) as the default rail for predictability and lower fees on modern networks.
  
  
• BTC/ETH offered as alternates for preference, promotions, and higher-AOV purchases.
  
  
• Dynamic routing to minimize fees and latency, abstracting chain choice from the buyer.
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Europe (EU/UK)

• USDC adoption is strong in cross-border commerce and B2B settlement.
  
  
• BTC remains a brand credibility option, but many merchants default to stablecoins for accountants and auditors.
  
  
• Regulatory awareness is high—wallet screening and monitoring are expected.
  
  

Recommended enablement: USDC first; add BTC/ETH with fixed quotes. Offer refunds in stablecoin by default.

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North America

• Stablecoins power marketplace payouts and SaaS invoices.
  
  
• BTC/ETH acceptance is common in crypto-friendly consumer segments (gaming, collectibles).
  
  
• Lightning gains interest where latency and micro-fees matter, but stablecoins still dominate for accounting simplicity.
  
  

Recommended enablement: USDC default; BTC/ETH optional. Consider Lightning only if your audience is demonstrably Lightning-native.

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LatAm

• Cross-border and inflation concerns make stablecoins extremely compelling.
  
  
• Local rails may be costly; crypto rails often beat card acceptance on both fees and success rates.
  
  

Recommended enablement: Stablecoin-first (USDC). Add BTC if your audience skews crypto-native. Push hosted checkout in Spanish/Portuguese.

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APAC

• Highly fragmented; adoption varies by market and regulation.
  
  
• Stablecoins for cross-border B2B and marketplaces; BTC/ETH for communities and higher-AOV items.
  
  

Recommended enablement: Start with USDC and expand based on regional data. Localize languages and support hours.

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Asset and rail selection framework

1. Start stablecoin-first (USDC), multi-chain.
   
   
2. Add BTC/ETH for preference and marketing reach, but use fixed quotes.
   
   
3. Measure conversion by asset/rail, fee %, and confirmation time.
   
   
4. Iterate quarterly—enable/disable rails based on performance, not hype.

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Pricing, fees, and routing

• Show fiat prices; issue a single fixed quote that hides routing complexity.
  
  
• Route to rails with low fees and short confirmation times.
  
  
• Track “cost to clear” per asset/rail to inform routing rules.
  
  

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Localization and help-center content

• Translate “How to Pay with Crypto” for your top locales.
  
  
• Explain refunds in simple terms—“We refund in stablecoin unless you request otherwise.”
  
  
• Provide wallet links and QR codes; reduce manual copy errors.
  
  

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Marketplace & platform angles

• Support split settlements to vendors in stablecoins to compress payout times.
  
  
• Offer vendor treasury options (hold USDC, or auto-convert to fiat).
  
  
• Provide clear reporting per sub-merchant for tax and accounting.
  
  

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Metrics to watch

• Conversion rate by asset/rail
  
  
• Effective fee % (gateway + network + spread)
  
  
• Median time to confirmation
  
  
• Refund rate and cycle time
  
  
• Support contact rate (under/over-payments, expired quotes)
  
  

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FAQs

Is USDC enough to start?
For most merchants, yes. Add BTC/ETH once you see demand in analytics or for specific campaigns.

Do buyers care about chains?
Rarely. They care about speed, certainty, and trust. Route smartly behind the scenes.

How do we prevent under-payments?
Show a countdown, validate min confirmations, and provide a top-up link.

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