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View Audit Services
Custom DeFi Protocol Development
Explore DeFi
Full-Stack Web3 dApp Development
View App Services
Free 30-min Web3 Consultation
Book Consultation
Smart Contract Security Audits
View Audit Services
Custom DeFi Protocol Development
Explore DeFi
Full-Stack Web3 dApp Development
View App Services
Free 30-min Web3 Consultation
Book Consultation
Smart Contract Security Audits
View Audit Services
Custom DeFi Protocol Development
Explore DeFi
Full-Stack Web3 dApp Development
View App Services
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Comparisons

MoonPay vs Mercuryo: Choosing the Right Fiat-to-Crypto Gateway

A data-driven comparison for CTOs and product leaders evaluating MoonPay and Mercuryo. We analyze fees, compliance, global coverage, and developer experience to determine the optimal on-ramp for your application.
Chainscore © 2026
introduction
THE ANALYSIS

Introduction: The On-Ramp Infrastructure Decision

Choosing between MoonPay and Mercuryo is a foundational decision that impacts user acquisition costs, compliance overhead, and geographic reach.

MoonPay excels at global reach and brand recognition because of its extensive direct integrations with major blockchains and wallets like Solana, Phantom, and OpenSea. For example, its coverage spans over 160 countries with 50+ local payment methods, processing billions in transaction volume annually. This scale provides a reliable, plug-and-play solution for protocols targeting a broad, mainstream audience.

Mercuryo takes a different approach by prioritizing cost-efficiency and flexible compliance in key emerging markets. This results in a trade-off between ubiquitous brand presence and potentially lower fees in regions like Eastern Europe and LATAM. Its API-first design and white-label solutions offer more customization for teams needing to embed fiat on-ramps deeply into their own UX without prominent third-party branding.

The key trade-off: If your priority is maximizing user conversion with a trusted, turnkey solution across North America and Western Europe, choose MoonPay. If you prioritize controlling costs and tailoring the flow for specific regional corridors with a more integrated backend, choose Mercuryo.

tldr-summary
MoonPay vs Mercuryo

TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance

A data-driven breakdown of core strengths and trade-offs for enterprise integration decisions.

01

MoonPay: Global Scale & Brand Recognition

Market leader with 15M+ users and integrations in 160+ countries. This matters for consumer-facing dApps and NFT platforms requiring maximum user reach and trust. Their direct partnerships with major payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay) ensure high authorization rates and a familiar checkout experience.

02

MoonPay: Enterprise-Grade Compliance

Licensed or registered in over 45 jurisdictions, including key US states like New York (BitLicense). This matters for protocols operating in regulated markets (DeFi, institutional services) where legal due diligence is paramount. Their dedicated compliance API simplifies KYC/AML integration for high-volume applications.

03

Mercuryo: Cost-Effective for High Volume

Competitive, transparent fee structure often undercutting larger players, with volume-based discounts. This matters for wallet apps and exchanges processing high transaction volumes where fee optimization directly impacts unit economics and user retention. Supports fiat-to-crypto in 200+ countries.

04

Mercuryo: Developer-First Flexibility

Lightweight SDKs and a single API for both fiat on/off-ramps. This matters for engineering teams building multi-chain products (EVM, Solana, TON) who need a unified, fast-to-integrate solution without complex vendor management. Offers direct bank transfer options (SEPA, Faster Payments) key for European markets.

05

MoonPay: Premium NFT & Wallet Integrations

Deep, native integrations with top wallets (MetaMask, Phantom, Ledger Live) and NFT marketplaces (OpenSea, Magic Eden). This matters for projects where seamless, in-wallet purchasing is critical to conversion. Their 'NFT Checkout' widget is a turnkey solution for minting platforms.

06

Mercuryo: Speed to Market & Payouts

Faster integration cycle with streamlined documentation and responsive support. This matters for startups and agile teams launching MVPs. Faster fiat payout speeds (as quick as 1-2 business days) for merchant settlements, crucial for businesses managing cash flow from crypto sales.

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

MoonPay vs Mercuryo: Feature Comparison

Direct comparison of key metrics and features for crypto on-ramp providers.

MetricMoonPayMercuryo

Supported Fiat Currencies

130+

40+

Average Processing Fee

4.5%

3.95%

Average Settlement Time

< 10 min

< 5 min

Buy & Sell Functionality

Crypto-to-Crypto Swaps

Direct Bank Transfers (SEPA/SWIFT)

NFT Checkout Integration

Native Wallet Integration (e.g., MetaMask)

pros-cons-a
ON-RAMP COMPARISON

MoonPay vs Mercuryo: Pros and Cons

Key strengths and trade-offs for two leading fiat-to-crypto gateways. Choose based on your project's primary needs: global reach vs. cost efficiency.

01

MoonPay: Global Coverage & Brand Recognition

Specific advantage: Supports 150+ countries and 80+ fiat currencies, with deep integrations into major wallets like MetaMask and Phantom. This matters for consumer-facing dApps requiring maximum accessibility and trust from a recognized name in the space.

150+
Countries
80+
Fiat Currencies
03

Mercuryo: Lower Fee Structure

Specific advantage: Typically offers lower transaction fees (often 1-2%) compared to MoonPay's standard rates. This matters for high-volume platforms or cost-sensitive users where minimizing the on-ramp premium is a primary competitive advantage.

pros-cons-b
PROS AND CONS

MoonPay vs Mercuryo: Key Differentiators

A data-driven breakdown of strengths and trade-offs for CTOs evaluating on-ramp providers for Web3 applications.

01

MoonPay's Strength: Global Scale & Brand Recognition

Dominant market position: Processes billions in volume annually with integrations in major wallets like Trust Wallet and Phantom. This matters for consumer-facing dApps where user trust and familiarity are critical for conversion. Their extensive compliance infrastructure supports operations in 160+ countries.

02

MoonPay's Trade-off: Higher Cost Structure

Premium pricing: Transaction fees are typically higher than many competitors, often ranging from 1-4% plus network fees. This matters for high-frequency traders or cost-sensitive DeFi protocols where margins are thin. The cost reflects their extensive compliance, marketing, and support overhead.

03

Mercuryo's Strength: Competitive Fees & Crypto-Native Focus

Aggressive fee model: Often offers lower transaction fees (starting from ~1%) and favorable rates for direct crypto purchases. This matters for crypto-native platforms and exchanges looking to minimize user acquisition cost. Strong focus on B2B2C API solutions for seamless Web3 integration.

04

Mercuryo's Trade-off: Limited Geographic Reach

Regional restrictions: While growing, licensed coverage is not as extensive as the largest players, with notable gaps in some key US states and jurisdictions. This matters for globally scaling applications that require uniform service availability. Users in unsupported regions face blocked transactions.

CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY

Decision Framework: When to Choose Which

MoonPay for Developers

Verdict: Superior for seamless, branded on-ramps into complex dApps. Strengths: Offers the most comprehensive SDK and widget suite (Buy, Sell, On/Off Ramps) for deep integration. Provides NFT checkout and cross-chain swap capabilities directly in the flow. Features a robust KYC Connect API for programmatic compliance. Supports a wider range of alternative payment methods (APMs) like Google Pay and Apple Pay for user flexibility. Considerations: Integration is more involved than a simple link. Pricing is typically higher, making it better suited for high-value transactions where UX is paramount.

Mercuryo for Developers

Verdict: Ideal for fast, lightweight integration with a link-based model. Strengths: The widget and direct link model allows for deployment in minutes with minimal code. Offers a straightforward API for fiat-to-crypto conversions. Generally provides lower fees for standard buy/sell operations, appealing to cost-sensitive applications. Supports a solid base of payment methods and currencies. Considerations: Less customizable than MoonPay's full SDK. Lacks some of the advanced features like native NFT checkout, making it more of a pure payment rail than a full-stack Web3 onboarding solution.

verdict
THE ANALYSIS

Final Verdict and Recommendation

Choosing between MoonPay and Mercuryo hinges on your application's core priorities: seamless user experience or global coverage and cost.

MoonPay excels at providing a polished, developer-friendly on-ramp experience because of its deep integration with major wallets and dApps. Its robust SDKs and extensive documentation, used by platforms like OpenSea and Trust Wallet, allow for rapid deployment. For example, its Checkout product boasts a 95%+ transaction success rate, a critical metric for user retention and conversion.

Mercuryo takes a different approach by prioritizing global accessibility and competitive fees. This results in superior coverage in emerging markets and often lower transaction costs for end-users. However, its user interface can be less streamlined than MoonPay's, representing a trade-off between reach and polish. Mercuryo supports over 170 countries and 50+ fiat currencies, a significant advantage for projects targeting a worldwide audience.

The key trade-off: If your priority is maximizing user conversion with a seamless, branded flow and you serve primarily established crypto markets, choose MoonPay. If you prioritize global user acquisition, cost-effective transactions, and support for a vast array of fiat options, choose Mercuryo.

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