Comparison
Comparison

Payment Processing Comparison: Built-in vs. External for Solana Tokens

Choosing a payment processing method is a critical launch decision. This comparison analyzes the integrated approach of platforms like Spawned against adding third-party crypto payment gateways. The right choice impacts creator revenue, holder rewards, and long-term project viability. We break down the costs, features, and operational realities for token creators.

TL;DR
  • Integrated Processing (Spawned): 0.1 SOL launch fee, 0.30% creator/trade, 0.30% holder rewards, includes AI website builder.
  • External Gateways: High setup costs ($500+), monthly fees ($29-$99), and per-transaction fees (1-3%) on top of launchpad costs.
  • Key Differentiator: Spawned's model funds ongoing holder rewards directly from trade volume, creating a sustainable ecosystem.
  • Bottom Line: For most creators, an integrated launchpad with built-in processing eliminates complexity and preserves more value for the community.

Quick Comparison

Integrated Processing (Spawned): 0.1 SOL launch fee, 0.30% creator/trade, 0.30% holder rewards, includes AI website builder.
External Gateways: High setup costs ($500+), monthly fees ($29-$99), and per-transaction fees (1-3%) on top of launchpad costs.
Key Differentiator: Spawned's model funds ongoing holder rewards directly from trade volume, creating a sustainable ecosystem.
Bottom Line: For most creators, an integrated launchpad with built-in processing eliminates complexity and preserves more value for the community.

The Verdict: Integrated Processing Wins for Most Token Creators

Spawned's all-in-one model isn't just convenient—it's economically smarter for building a loyal holder base.

For the majority of Solana token creators, especially those launching their first project, choosing a launchpad with integrated payment processing like Spawned is the superior path. The alternative—managing a separate crypto payment gateway—introduces significant cost, technical complexity, and fragmentation that often outweighs any perceived benefit.

The core advantage is unification: your launch, liquidity, website, and revenue mechanics exist in one ecosystem. This means the 0.30% fee per trade isn't just a cost; it's the engine that directly funds the 0.30% ongoing rewards to holders, a feature external gateways cannot replicate. You also avoid the recurring $29-$99 monthly SaaS fees typical of standalone website builders and payment processors. For a 0.1 SOL launch fee (~$20), you get a live token, a professional website, and a built-in economic model. Compare launchpad features to see how integration changes the game.

Side-by-Side: Cost & Feature Breakdown

Let's examine the tangible differences. The table below contrasts the total cost of ownership for the first year of a token project, assuming moderate trading volume.

Spawned (Integrated Model)
Launch Fee: 0.1 SOL (~$20) one-time.
Creator Revenue: 0.30% on every trade. No cap.
Holder Rewards: 0.30% automatically distributed from volume.
Website/AI Builder: Included at no extra monthly cost (saves $348-$1188/year).
Payment Processing: Native to the launchpad. No extra integration.
Post-Graduation: 1% fee structure via Token-2022 for perpetual project funding.
External Gateway + Basic Launchpad
Launchpad Fee: 0.5-1 SOL for launch + liquidity ($100-$200).
Gateway Setup: $500+ in development/integration costs.
Monthly Fees: $29-$99/month for the payment gateway SaaS.
Transaction Fees: 1-3% per transaction, on top of any launchpad fees.
Website Builder: Separate cost, another $29-$99/month.
Holder Rewards: Must be manually coded and funded separately, adding complexity and cost.
Maintenance: Ongoing cost to manage multiple service integrations.

The Hidden Cost of Fragmentation

Beyond the line-item fees, using an external payment processor creates operational burdens. First, you fracture the user experience. A supporter might buy your token on the launchpad but then be redirected to a third-party gateway for merchandise or donations, breaking trust and flow. Second, data becomes siloed. You won't have a unified dashboard showing how token holding correlates with other purchases, missing key community insights.

Most critically, it breaks the automated reward cycle. A system like Spawned's uses the protocol-level 0.30% trade fee to instantly fuel the 0.30% holder reward. An external gateway collects its 2% fee, and that value leaves your ecosystem entirely. To fund holder rewards, you now must manually collect profits, convert them, and schedule distributions—a process prone to error and delay. This fragmentation is why many token projects with great initial hype fail to sustain community engagement. See how integrated platforms build stronger tokens.

When External Processing Might Make Sense (And When It Doesn't)

While integrated is best for most, there are narrow use cases for external gateways. Here’s a quick list to guide your decision.

  • Consider an External Gateway If: Your project is an established brand with an existing, high-traffic e-commerce site needing to accept a wide array of cryptocurrencies beyond SOL. Your volume is sufficient to negotiate custom, lower rates with the gateway provider.
  • Stick with Integrated Processing If: You are launching a new token-centric community. Your primary goal is to incentivize and reward holding. You want to keep operational overhead and monthly fixed costs near zero. You value having your website and token economics in a single, manageable interface.

3 Steps to Choose Your Payment Processing Path

Follow this decision framework to select the right model for your token project.

Why Spawned's 0.30%/0.30% Model is a Different Approach

It's easy to view the 0.30% per-trade fee as just another cost. In reality, it's a strategic reinvestment into the project's health. On platforms with zero fees, there is no built-in mechanism to fund ongoing development or community incentives after the initial launch hype fades.

Spawned allocates that 0.30% in two direct ways: half (0.30%) goes to the creator as revenue, and the other half (0.30%) is distributed as ongoing rewards to token holders. This transforms every trade into a community-building event. Holders are directly incentivized for loyalty, and creators have a predictable revenue stream tied to project activity. This is fundamentally different from an external gateway, which extracts value for a third-party service without returning any to your token's ecosystem. It’s the difference between building a circular economy and paying a toll booth. Explore the best AI builders that incorporate this model.

Launch with Integrated Processing on Spawned

Stop juggling multiple services and sacrificing holder value to third-party fees. Spawned provides the complete toolkit: launch your Solana token, deploy a professional AI-generated website, and activate sustainable holder rewards—all through a unified, built-in payment and economic model.

Your project deserves a foundation that grows with it. Start for 0.1 SOL and put the 0.30%/0.30% model to work for you and your community from day one.

Launch Your Token on Spawned - Integrate your launch, website, and payments in one step.

Related Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the 0.30% fee applies to every buy and sell trade of tokens launched on Spawned. This is how the model generates sustainable value. 0.30% is allocated to the project creator as revenue, and 0.30% is automatically distributed as rewards to existing token holders, directly incentivizing a loyal community.

Technically, yes, you could add code for an external gateway to your Spawned AI-built website. However, this defeats the core economic advantage. You would incur the gateway's fees (1-3% + monthly cost) on top of Spawned's trade-based model, fragmenting revenue and complicating reward distributions. The integrated approach is designed to be more efficient.

The integrated economic model is designed to persist. After graduation, the token migrates to using Solana's Token-2022 program, which enables a perpetual 1% fee on transfers. This fee continues to support the project, allowing for a sustainable transition from launchpad support to independent operation while maintaining a funding mechanism.

The distribution is fully automated at the protocol level. With each trade, a portion of the tokens involved in the fee are automatically sent to a rewards pool and then distributed pro-rata to all current holders. Holders see their token balance increase automatically in their wallet, with no need to claim manually.

The AI website builder is included with your token launch for 0.1 SOL, with no recurring monthly fees. Unlike standalone website builders that charge $29-$99 monthly, Spawned bundles this tool to eliminate an ongoing cost for creators. You own the site for as long as your project exists.

pump.fun charges 0% fees but offers no built-in website or sustainable reward mechanics. To add a website and payment gateway, you'd pay thousands upfront and hundreds monthly. Spawned's 0.30% fee funds the entire ecosystem: your revenue, holder rewards, and the platform tools. For long-term projects, Spawned's model creates more value for creators and holders.

The fees are transparent and published: a 0.1 SOL one-time launch fee and a 0.30% fee on every trade (split 0.30%/0.30% between creator and holders). There are no monthly subscription fees for the website builder, no setup fees for payment processing, and no percentage fees on top of the stated trade fee.

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