Payments, Gateways, and Crypto: the complete community guide
Juliana Carvalho · 2026-10-07
Contents
1. choosing a payment processor
2. card approval rate
3. receiving usdt
4. chargebacks
5. local instant payments
6. cash flow in COD
7. balance freezes
8. interest-free installments
9. cryptocurrencies in e-commerce
1. choosing a payment processor
Choosing a payment processor is crucial to the success of your e-commerce business. Here are the factors to consider:
- Fees: Compare transaction fees (0.5% to 5%), setup fees (R$ 0 to R$ 1.500), and monthly fees (R$ 0 to R$ 200).
- Reserves: Understand the processor’s reserve policy. Some companies may require a reserve of 10% to 30% of your revenue.
- Payout time: Payout times range from 1 to 30 days. Prefer processors that offer shorter payout times.
- Contracts: Read the terms carefully, especially the ones about hidden fees and cancellations.
2. card approval rate
The approval rate can range from 70% to 95%. To increase it, consider these levers:
- Customer data verification: Confirm the customer’s name, address, and CPF.
- Credit limit: Make sure the customer has available credit.
- 3D Secure authentication: Enable it for higher-value transactions.
- Purchase history: Analyze the customer’s buying behavior.
- Fraud prevention: Use fraud prevention tools.
- Targeting: Target campaigns to audiences with higher approval rates.
- Checkout optimization: Simplify the purchase process.
- Limited-time offers: Create urgency to complete the purchase.
- Customer feedback: Ask about any issues during checkout.
3. receiving usdt
Receiving USDT can be beneficial, especially for international transactions. Check:
- Actual costs: Conversion fees of 0.1% to 3% and variable transfer fees.
- Reporting: Report the amounts received as crypto in your accounting records. Consult an accountant.
- Volatility: Be aware of USDT price fluctuations.
4. chargebacks
Chargebacks can affect your operation. Here’s what to do:
- Acceptable ratio: Keep it below 1% of sales.
- Responding to disputes: Have a clear process for gathering evidence and responding quickly.
- Prevention: Use clear product descriptions and return policies.
5. local instant payments
Consider solutions like:
- Pix: Instant transfers, with no fees for the seller.
- BLIK, MB Way, and iDEAL: Popular alternatives in their respective regions, with fast processes and low fees.
6. cash flow in COD
For COD sales:
- Payout time: Usually between 7 and 15 days.
- Returns: Be prepared to handle frequent returns, especially for fashion products.
- Reserve: Keep a reserve of 10% to 20% of revenue to cover potential returns.
7. balance freezes
If your processor has frozen your balance:
- Contact them right away: Reach out to the processor’s support team.
- Documentation: Have all your documents ready to prove the transactions are legitimate.
- Monitoring: Check on the situation daily.
8. interest-free installments
Installment payments can increase conversion, but consider:
- When to use them: Use them for higher-priced products (over R$ 300).
- Actual cost: Be aware that the built-in interest rate may reduce your profit margin.
9. cryptocurrencies in e-commerce
Accepting cryptocurrencies can open up new opportunities, but consider:
- Viability: Assess whether your audience is willing to use crypto.
- Integration: Use gateways that accept crypto, like Coinbase Commerce.
- Regulations: Stay up to date on current legislation in Brazil and Europe.
Final checklist
- Compare fees from different processors.
- Check the reserve policy.
- Analyze your card approval rate.
- Consider receiving USDT.
- Have an action plan for chargebacks.
- Explore local instant payment options.
- Prepare for COD cash flow.
- Monitor balance freezes.
- Evaluate using interest-free installments.
- Research cryptocurrency acceptance.
What card approval rate are you currently getting?