Mercuryo vs Paybis: Geographic Reach and Onboarding
Mercuryo and Paybis are fiat-to-crypto infrastructure providers that handle on-ramps and off-ramps for retail buyers and Web3 platforms. Founded in 2018, Mercuryo operates across 150 countries, supporting 70 cryptocurrencies and dynamic pricing across payment methods such as cards, bank transfers, SEPA, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Launched earlier in 2014, Paybis serves 180 countries and 48 US states, offering more than 35 payment options alongside an integrated custodial wallet. The primary differences involve verification tiers, pricing structures, and geographic licensing. Paybis waives its platform fee on a customer's first card purchase and permits card purchases up to $1,000 per year under simplified verification. In contrast, Mercuryo applies dynamic fees tied to user location and network costs from the start, requiring complete identity verification before purchases process. Paybis also holds European Union CASP authorization under MiCA and an EU Payment Institution license, providing a more detailed compliance profile for regional buyers.
Quick verdict
The core difference between the two platforms centers on regulatory footprints, onboarding thresholds, and upfront pricing. Paybis delivers wider regional reach across 180 countries, authorized EU licensing under MiCA and PSD2, and a zero platform fee on initial card purchases. Mercuryo focuses heavily on embedded integrations through widgets, SDKs, and APIs for over 500 Web3 partners, but requires immediate account verification and uses dynamic fees that change by route and jurisdiction.
Choose Mercuryo if you run a Web3 app, exchange, or non-custodial wallet seeking an embedded partner with card-issuing services like Spend virtual cards, API integrations, and settlement across 30 supported blockchain networks.
Choose Paybis if you want direct wallet delivery with over 35 payment methods, reside in the United States or the European Union, need simplified verification for card transactions up to $1,000 per year, or want an introductory card purchase without a Paybis service fee.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 3.9/5 | 4.2/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Fees | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Coverage | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Payment methods | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Support | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Specs | ||
| Service | On-ramp, Off-ramp, Widget / API | On-ramp, Off-ramp, Widget / API |
| Payment methods | Card, Bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA | Card, Bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA |
| Typical fee | Dynamic; depends on payment method, user location and network fees. The exact fee is shown in the widget before payment confirmation. | First card purchase: 0 Paybis fee. Other fees are shown at checkout and included in the quoted exchange rate. |
| Countries | 150 | 180 |
| Assets | 70 | Not disclosed |
| Developer widget / API | Yes | Yes |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Sell to fiat (off-ramp) | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery time | 15 seconds | Within minutes for card purchases, subject to payment clearance and network congestion |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2018 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Investors | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Best for | Wallets embedding card purchases, Web3 apps needing fiat access, Exchanges adding payment methods | Card-based crypto purchases, Direct wallet delivery, EU and US on-ramp users |
Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.
FAQ
Is Paybis cheaper than Mercuryo?
Paybis is cheaper on an initial card transaction because it charges a 0 platform fee for first-time card buyers. Mercuryo applies dynamic fees across all transactions based on payment type, location, and network conditions.
Which platform supports more countries?
Paybis covers more territory, serving over 180 countries and 48 US states. Mercuryo advertises availability in more than 150 countries.
Can you buy crypto without full identity verification?
Paybis allows card purchases up to $1,000 per year under a simplified verification process. Mercuryo requires users to create an account and complete identity verification before buying cryptocurrency.
Do Mercuryo and Paybis provide crypto off-ramps?
Both platforms support fiat off-ramps. Each service allows users to sell supported cryptocurrencies and receive payouts through bank transfers and regional payment methods.