
How to Accept Monero (XMR) Payments — Privacy-First Crypto Gateway Guide
Accept Monero payments on your website or store. We compare 4 gateways that support XMR, explain the privacy features, and walk through setup step by step.
Key Takeaways
- Monero (XMR) is the most private cryptocurrency — transactions are untraceable by default
- 4 gateways support Monero: BTCPay Server (0%), NOWPayments (0.5%), CryptoCloud (0.4%), GoURL (1.5%)
- Most payment gateways don't support XMR — BitPay, CoinGate, Coinbase Commerce all exclude it
- Monero transactions cost $0.01-0.05 and confirm in ~2 minutes
Table of Contents
Accepting Monero payments is different from accepting Bitcoin or Ethereum. Most mainstream payment gateways have dropped XMR support due to regulatory pressure — BitPay, CoinGate, and Coinbase Commerce all refuse to process Monero transactions. But for merchants who value privacy or serve privacy-conscious customers, Monero acceptance is a competitive advantage.
We found 4 gateways that still support Monero in 2026. Here's how each works and which one fits your business.
Why Accept Monero?
- Privacy by default — every XMR transaction hides sender, receiver, and amount. No blockchain analysis can trace payments
- Loyal community — Monero holders actively seek out merchants who accept XMR. It's a market differentiator
- Low fees — $0.01-0.05 per transaction regardless of amount
- Fungible — every XMR is identical. No risk of receiving "tainted" coins that exchanges might flag
- Growing demand — as crypto regulations tighten, privacy coin demand increases
Monero's Privacy Features
Ring Signatures
Hides the sender by mixing your transaction with decoys. Observers can't determine which input actually signed.
Stealth Addresses
Generates a one-time address per transaction. Your public address is never recorded on the blockchain.
RingCT
Hides the transaction amount. Only sender and receiver know how much was transferred.
Dandelion++
Hides your IP address when broadcasting transactions to the network.
4 Best Monero Payment Gateways
1. BTCPay Server — Free, Self-Hosted (0%)
BTCPay Server added native Monero support via the Monero plugin. You self-host the node, which means maximum privacy — no third party sees your transactions at all. Zero fees. The trade-off is you need to run a Monero node alongside BTCPay (requires ~100GB disk space).
2. NOWPayments — Easiest Setup (0.5%)
The simplest way to add Monero alongside 300+ other coins. Install a plugin for WooCommerce, Shopify, or any of 7 platforms. 0.5% fee. Minimal KYC. NOWPayments handles the Monero node infrastructure.
3. CryptoCloud — No KYC (0.4%)
Zero identity verification with Monero support. CryptoCloud is ideal for merchants who want XMR acceptance without any registration friction. 0.4% fee, Telegram Bot integration, white-label widget.
4. GoURL — WordPress Native (1.5%)
If you run WordPress/WooCommerce, GoURL's open-source plugin accepts Monero with zero KYC and non-custodial payments. Higher fee (1.5%) but payments go directly to your wallet.
Quick Setup: Accept Monero in 10 Minutes
- Get a Monero wallet — Feather Wallet (desktop), Cake Wallet (mobile), or Monero CLI (advanced). Get your XMR address.
- Choose a gateway — NOWPayments for easiest, BTCPay for free, CryptoCloud for no KYC.
- Install and configure — add the plugin/API, enter your XMR wallet address.
- Test with a small payment — send yourself 0.01 XMR to verify the flow.
FAQ
Is it legal to accept Monero?
In most jurisdictions, yes. Monero is legal to hold and transact in the US, EU, UK, and most of Asia. Some exchanges have delisted XMR, but merchant acceptance remains legal. Always check your local regulations.
Why don't BitPay and CoinGate support Monero?
Regulatory compliance. Monero's privacy features make it impossible for these companies to perform the AML/KYC transaction monitoring that regulations require. Gateways that support XMR either operate in less regulated jurisdictions or are non-custodial (like BTCPay Server).
Can I convert Monero to USD automatically?
Not directly through payment gateways. You'd need to convert XMR to a stablecoin or BTC on an exchange that supports Monero (Kraken, TradeOgre), then withdraw fiat. NOWPayments can auto-convert XMR to other crypto but not to fiat.