Merchant Crypto Payments Spike 8% Following Bitcoin’s $100,000 Milestone: NOWPayments

With Bitcoin surging to a new all-time high over $100,000 in December, non-custodial cryptocurrency payment gateway NOWPayments reported increased adoption as businesses increasingly turn to crypto payment solutions to meet consumer demand.

“During previous Bitcoin price milestones, we observed an 8% increase in overall cryptocurrency payment adoption within just one week,” NOWPayments Marketing Manager Alex Yarovinski told Decrypt, noting that this increase was measured by comparing data from the week before and after the U.S. election results.

Yarovinski added that current market conditions are “showing even more promising trends, with growing interest in cryptocurrency payments—albeit at a different pace than previous cycles.”

The growing appetite for crypto payment solutions has highlighted the need for accessible, secure integration tools for businesses, which NOWPayments has been addressing since its formation.

Founded in 2019 by the team behind cryptocurrency exchange service ChangeNOW, NOWPayments is a non-custodial crypto payment gateway, meaning that it doesn’t hold or store user funds. The platform currently supports more than 300 cryptocurrencies, providing merchants with a secure way to accept digital asset payments. The company’s mission is to provide a crypto payment gateway that is easy to use and embed into existing websites. “We believe everyone should have the chance to accept crypto payments or crypto donations for their e-commerce stores, charities or any type of business,” Yarovinski explained.

“The most common concern businesses have about adopting crypto payments is the volatility of cryptocurrencies and its potential impact on revenue,” he added, explaining that NOWPayments’ auto-conversion feature enables businesses to instantly convert received crypto into stablecoins or fiat, minimizing exposure to price fluctuations. “This way, businesses can enjoy the benefits of crypto payments—like lower fees, faster transactions, and global reach—without worrying about volatility,” Yarovinski said.

Keeping it simple

NOWPayments aims to make accepting crypto payments simple, with a straightforward implementation and competitive pricing that sees transaction fees start at just 0.5%. Merchants can begin accepting crypto payments by simply copying and implementing a chunk of HTML code, and all transactions are securely tied to their NOWPayments account. API keys used for specific purposes also ensure proper tracking and management of incoming payments.

The technical simplicity extends to the platform’s integration tools as well. “Businesses often worry about the complexity of integrating crypto payments,” Yarovinski said, explaining that the platform addresses this through user-friendly APIs, plugins, and tools offering seamless integrations with platforms including Shopify and WooCommerce.

NOWPayments has also identified several sectors leading current adoption. “We’re seeing particularly strong interest from casinos, gambling operations, e-commerce, software-as-a-service providers, and web services sectors,” Yarovinski noted. These industries particularly benefit from the borderless nature of cryptocurrency transactions and the reduction in traditional payment processing fees.

Diverse payment solutions

NOWPayments offers specialized tools for different use cases, including widgets for donations and fundraisers, as well as an automatic exchange feature powered by ChangeNOW, that enables merchants to convert incoming payments into their preferred cryptocurrency immediately. This feature has proven particularly valuable for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. “Businesses adopting NOWPayments are able to grow faster than their competitors, reinvest funds more efficiently, and expand to international markets seamlessly,” Yarovinski said.

Real-world impact and security

NOWPayments has observed “significant benefits” for businesses implementing their solution, he added. “By integrating our crypto payment solution, these companies have reduced their tax costs and sped up transaction times thanks to the inherent efficiency of cryptocurrencies.”

Looking toward 2025, NOWPayments emphasized its readiness for continued market growth, Yarovinski said, explaining that, “We’re approaching the upcoming bull run with a well-established infrastructure, proven solutions and natural innovations that will allow our clients to feel like they are in a reliable partnership with professionals.”