Payment Processing Guide for Crypto Creators
Setting up payment processing for a token website involves more than just a "buy" button. This guide compares the integrated approach of an AI builder like Spawned against piecing together separate services. We break down the specific costs, technical steps, and revenue models to show what works best for launching on Solana.
- •Integrated AI builders handle payment setup automatically, saving hours of technical work.
- •Spawned charges creators 0.30% per trade and gives 0.30% to holders, with no monthly website fees.
- •Manual setups require separate services for hosting, checkout, and wallet connections, costing $50+ monthly.
- •Post-launch, Spawned uses Token-2022 for 1% perpetual fees, automating revenue collection.
- •The total launch cost on Spawned is 0.1 SOL (~$20), including the website and payment system.
Quick Comparison
Verdict: Integrated AI Builder vs. Manual Setup
Should you build your payment system or use one that's ready?
For crypto creators launching a token, using an integrated AI website builder like Spawned is the most efficient path for payment processing. Building a site manually requires connecting a web host ($10-30/month), a front-end library for wallet connection, a checkout SDK, and configuring a merchant account for fiat—if you even offer it. This can take days and requires ongoing maintenance.
In contrast, Spawned's AI builder creates a site with a live trading interface in minutes. The payment system is pre-configured for Solana, connecting directly to the token's liquidity pool. There's no code to write for 'Connect Wallet' or 'Buy/Sell' buttons. The launch fee is 0.1 SOL, and the ongoing cost is built into the tokenomics: 0.30% per trade to the creator and 0.30% to holders, with no separate hosting bill. For a direct feature comparison, see our page on the best AI builder for tokens.
- Choose Spawned's AI Builder if: You want a live trading site in under 10 minutes, prefer fees based on trade volume (0.30%) over monthly subscriptions, and want built-in holder rewards.
- Choose Manual Setup if: You need complex, custom payment flows outside of DEX trading, must accept traditional credit cards, and have dedicated web development resources.
Cost Breakdown: Fees, Subscriptions & Hidden Expenses
Is it cheaper to pay per month or per transaction?
Understanding the real cost of payment processing is critical. Many guides only mention transaction fees, but setup and platform costs can dominate.
Manual Payment Processing Costs:
- Website Hosting: $10 to $50 per month for a reliable VPS or managed service.
- Payment Gateway/API: Services like Stripe or Coinbase Commerce charge ~2.9% + $0.30 for card payments. Crypto-only APIs may have lower percentages but setup fees.
- Developer Time: Configuring wallets (Phantom, Solflare), swap widgets (Jupiter), and checkout flows. Value: $500+ if hired.
- Maintenance: Updating libraries, fixing broken connections. Ongoing time cost.
Spawned AI Builder Costs:
- Launch Fee: 0.1 SOL (approximately $20) one-time.
- Creator Fee: 0.30% on every trade. No trades, no fee.
- Holder Reward Fee: 0.30% on every trade, distributed to token holders.
- Website Hosting: $0 per month. Included in the platform.
- Post-Graduation Fee: After moving from the launchpad, a 1% fee on trades via Token-2022 program.
The AI builder model aligns costs with success. You pay more only when your token is actively trading. For a deeper look at platforms with this model, visit our token platform with AI builder comparison.
Step-by-Step: How Payment Processing Works on Spawned
From zero to a live, income-generating site in minutes.
The process is designed for speed. Here’s what happens from start to live site:
- Create Token & Website: You enter your token name, symbol, and description. The AI generates the website content and design.
- Automatic Payment Integration: The system automatically deploys your token and creates its liquidity pool. Your new website is built with a fully functional trading interface connected to that pool.
- Go Live: Your site is published with a unique URL. Visitors can connect their Solana wallet (like Phantom or Backpack) directly on the page.
- Trade & Earn: Users can buy and sell your token instantly. With each trade, 0.30% is sent to your creator wallet and 0.30% is distributed proportionally to all token holders.
- Scale & Graduate: If your token reaches the market cap threshold, it can 'graduate' to Raydium. The 1% fee via Token-2022 ensures you continue to earn from all future trades on the open market.
There is no step where you configure API keys, set up a merchant ID, or write smart contract code for the checkout. It's a unified flow.
Revenue Models: Creator Fees vs. Traditional Processing
Your payment processing system dictates how you make money. Traditional models charge you, while crypto-native models can pay you.
Traditional E-commerce Model:
- You Pay Fees: You are charged 2-3% per sale by payment processors like PayPal or Stripe.
- Revenue is Static: You earn (Sale Price - Product Cost - Processing Fee). There's no ongoing benefit from secondary market activity.
- Example: You sell 100 NFTs for 1 SOL each. You pay ~0.03 SOL per sale in fees, netting 97 SOL.
Spawned's Crypto-Native Model:
- You Earn Fees: You earn 0.30% on every single trade of your token, forever.
- Secondary Market Revenue: You earn not just on the initial launch, but on every subsequent buy and sell. This creates potential for long-term, passive income.
- Holder Incentives: The 0.30% holder reward encourages buying and holding, which can support the token's price.
- Example: Your token does 10,000 SOL in daily volume. You earn 30 SOL per day (10,000 * 0.003) as creator revenue, paid automatically.
This model is particularly powerful for tokens with strong communities and consistent trading volume. Explore how this fits into future trends in our 2025 AI builder outlook.
5 Must-Have Features in Token Payment Processing
When evaluating any payment solution for your crypto project, ensure it has these core features:
- Direct Solana Wallet Connection: Users should connect Phantom, Solflare, or similar with one click. No manual address entry.
- Real-Time Swap Interface: Integrated price charts and a swap widget (like Jupiter) for instant token purchases with SOL or other SPL tokens.
- Automated Fee Distribution: Creator and holder fees should be taken and distributed by the smart contract automatically. No manual claiming.
- No Monthly Hosting Fee: Costs should be tied to usage (trade volume), not a fixed monthly bill that drains funds during quiet periods.
- Post-Launch Sustainability: A clear path for earning after the initial launch, such as perpetual fees via Token-2022, is essential for long-term project health.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid for Beginners
New creators often stumble on these payment processing issues:
- Underestimating Gas Fees: Failing to account for the SOL needed for users to pay transaction (gas) fees for swaps. Ensure your site mentions this.
- Ignoring Holder Rewards: A token without a reward mechanism for holders has less incentive for long-term retention. The built-in 0.30% reward addresses this.
- Complex Checkout Flows: Each extra step (email entry, sign-up) reduces conversion. The ideal flow is: Connect Wallet > Approve Transaction > Done.
- Lock-In to a Single DEX: Ensure your payment setup allows for liquidity migration or uses aggregation (like Jupiter) to get the best price for your buyers from multiple sources.
Ready to Launch with Built-In Payments?
Stop researching how to stitch together a website, a wallet connector, and a checkout system. Spawned provides the complete package: an AI-generated website with payment processing live from day one.
You launch your token, and your professional trading site goes live simultaneously—no code, no separate services, no monthly subscriptions. Your revenue model is active immediately, earning you 0.30% on every trade.
The process starts with 0.1 SOL. You define your token, the AI builds your site, and you're ready to share your project with the world in minutes. See how it works and launch your token today.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
No coding is required. The Spawned AI builder handles all the technical setup. You provide basic token details, and the platform automatically creates the website with a fully functional trading interface, wallet connection, and fee mechanism. The 0.30% creator and holder fees are programmed into the token's smart contract from the start.
Spawned's native integration is designed for on-chain crypto swaps using Solana wallets. It does not directly process credit cards. For fiat on-ramps, users would typically use a separate service (like MoonPay or Transak) to buy SOL with a card, then swap for your token on your site. The AI-built site provides the seamless swap interface once the user has crypto.
The 0.30% creator fee is active from launch and applies to all trades while your token is on the Spawned launchpad. The 1% fee via the Token-2022 program activates if your token 'graduates' to a full decentralized exchange like Raydium. This 1% is a perpetual fee that continues to earn you revenue from all trades, even on external markets, without any further action on your part.
The holder reward is distributed automatically and proportionally by the smart contract. With every trade, 0.30% of the trade value is taken and distributed to all current holders of the token based on how much they own. This happens in real-time, rewarding people for holding your token and contributing to price stability.
Your token's smart contract and liquidity pool exist independently on the Solana blockchain. The website generated by Spawned can be hosted elsewhere if needed. The core payment logic—the swap function and fee distribution—is encoded in the token's immutable contract, so trading and fee collection continue to function on-chain regardless.
The key difference is the ongoing revenue model and included website. While pump.fun charges 0% creator fees, it also provides no holder rewards or website builder. Spawned's 0.30% creator fee funds the platform and your ongoing earnings, and includes a professional AI-generated website—saving you $29-$99 per month on a separate site builder. It's a more full-featured, sustainable package for serious creators. For a full platform comparison, check our dedicated guides.
With Spawned, your costs are volume-based. If there are no trades, you pay $0 in creator fees. You also avoid monthly website hosting fees. Your only cost is the initial 0.1 SOL launch fee. This model protects you during the early stages or quiet periods, unlike a traditional setup with fixed monthly bills.
Ready to get started?
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