Managing Cryptocurrency Payments

Hostwinds accepts cryptocurrency payments via select stablecoins via Stripe. Cryptocurrency payments must be initiated manually from an unpaid invoice within your Hostwinds Client Area.

Cryptocurrency payments are not automatic recurring payments. You must manually complete the payment workflow for each unpaid invoice unless you configure a supported automated payment method, such as a credit card or PayPal.

Supported Cryptocurrency Payments

Stripe Crypto supports only select stablecoin tokens and specific network combinations. The exact, active options available for your specific invoice will be explicitly displayed on the secure Stripe Checkout screen during payment.

Supported stablecoin options typically include:

USDC on the Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, or Base networks.
USDP on the Ethereum or Solana networks.
USDG on the Ethereum network.

Unsupported Networks and Tokens: Bitcoin (BTC), Tron (TRX), native Tether (USDT), native Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and other non-stablecoin assets are not accepted unless Stripe explicitly lists that exact asset and network interface on your active checkout screen. If you hold an unsupported token, you must manually convert it to an approved stablecoin/network combination before attempting checkout.

Important Cryptocurrency Payment Requirements

Stripe Crypto, which uses an asynchronous architecture, requires strict precision. Because these payment flows rely on real-time rate locks and automated tracking scripts, any variance will cause the gateway to reject the transaction.

To ensure your invoice updates automatically, you must adhere to the following rules:

Send the exact amount requested; do not round up or down to "be safe." The amount hitting Stripe's node must match your invoice down to the exact decimal.
Account for Exchange Withdrawal Fees: If you are withdrawing funds directly from a centralized exchange (such as Binance, Kraken, Coinbase Exchange, or Crypto.com), you must manually add the exchange's fixed network fee to your withdrawal transaction.
- Example: If your invoice requires exact amounts 83.88 USDC and your exchange charges a fixed 0.30 USDC fee to process a Solana transfer, you must input 84.18 USDC the total withdrawal amount. This ensures exactly 83.88 USDC what is deposited into Stripe's wallet. If you type exactly 83.88 USDC or round up to 85.00 USDC, the wrong amount will arrive, breaking the automation.
Use the Exact Network Shown: Sending an approved token over an unapproved network (e.g., sending USDC via Arbitrum when Stripe requested USDC via Solana) will result in a permanent loss of funds.
Pay Within the Session Window: Stripe locks exchange rates for a strict, time-limited window. You must broadcast your transaction and receive blockchain confirmation before this internal session timer expires.
Do Not Reuse Addresses: Dynamic deposit addresses and QR codes are unique to individual invoice sessions. Do not send multiple invoice payments to a single address, and do not reuse an address from a previous or expired invoice attempt.

Wallet Options vs. Accepted Currencies

Stripe Crypto displays various native wallet integration options (e.g., Coinbase Wallet, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Phantom, OKX Wallet, Ledger, or Blockchain.com). These names refer strictly to the software applications compatible with Stripe's user interface.

Selecting a specific wallet app does not mean that every cryptocurrency held within that app is accepted. For example, selecting the Blockchain.com wallet option does not mean native Bitcoin is accepted for your specific invoice. The accepted payment token and network are strictly limited to the stablecoin options displayed on the final payment gateway screen.

How to Pay an Invoice with Cryptocurrency

To pay an unpaid invoice with cryptocurrency:

Log in to the Hostwinds Client Area.
Navigate to Billing > My Invoices.
Open the unpaid invoice you wish to resolve.
Select Stripe Crypto or Cryptocurrency as your preferred payment method.
Select Pay Now to be securely redirected to Stripe's hosted crypto checkout page.
Choose an automated connected wallet option, or select the Direct Deposit option to display the manual transfer parameters.
Verify the token, network, and exact dollar amount displayed by Stripe.
Submit your transaction, ensuring all exchange processing and withdrawal fees are fully accounted for.
Save your Transaction Hash (TXID) / Signature string until your invoice is marked as paid.

Connected Wallet Payments

Stripe Crypto may allow you to connect a compatible browser extension or mobile wallet app to approve payments.

Scan the connection QR code or accept the authorization request.
Carefully review the transaction breakdown inside your personal wallet app before hitting sign/confirm.
Approve the payment only if the token, network, and final settlement amount perfectly match Stripe's checkout requirements.

Direct Deposit via QR Code / Address

If you select the manual deposit option, Stripe will provide a raw destination string or scannable address QR code.

Copy the string or scan the QR code exactly into your sending wallet's destination field.
Verify that your sending wallet is operating on the exact network Stripe requested before broadcasting.
Do not broadcast funds after the checkout session's visible on-screen timer runs out.

Processing Time and Verification Delays

Most valid cryptocurrency payments settle automatically within minutes once the required confirmations are reached on the blockchain. However, blockchain finality alone does not guarantee that your invoice has been automatically credited. Your invoice is officially marked paid only after Stripe's system validates the asset properties and sends a successful web notification to the Hostwinds billing database.

If you sent a cryptocurrency payment but your invoice remains unpaid after the session window closes, it is typically due to an amount mismatch (overpayment or underpayment) or an expired timeout.

If Your Crypto Payment Does Not Automatically Apply

If your blockchain network explorer shows a successful status but your Hostwinds invoice remains unpaid, please open a Billing Ticket immediately. You must provide the following transaction details to initiate a manual audit:

Invoice Number:
Transaction Hash / TXID / Signature:
Token Sent: (e.g., USDC)
Network Used: (e.g., Solana, Base)
Exact Amount Sent: (e.g., 84.70)
Stripe Destination Address Used:
Date and Time Sent:
Screenshots: A screenshot of your wallet's withdrawal receipt page showing completion details.

What to Expect During an Invoice Audit

Resolving an automated gateway mismatch requires manual reconciliation of the accounting ledger. Our team must escalate the raw logs and your transaction signature directly to Stripe's engineering support team to locate your funds inside Stripe's escrow accounts.

Because this audit requires cross-referencing public blockchain layers with proprietary payment systems, resolution is not instant and can take several business days. Hostwinds reserves the right to withhold automatic service provisioning or activation until Stripe manually verifies, validates, and clears the captured asset funds to our merchant balance.

Failed, Expired, or Incomplete Crypto Payments

A Stripe Crypto checkout attempt will fail or expire without automatically updating your invoice if:

The transaction did not clear the blockchain network before the checkout session timed out.
The wallet connection was initialized, but the final transfer was never signed or approved.
The incorrect token or network interface was utilized.
The amount received did not exactly match the invoice requirement to the penny.
Funds were routed to an old, cached, or previously expired deposit address.

If you encounter an error or a timed-out session, do not submit duplicate payments unless explicitly directed to do so by Hostwinds Billing Support. Providing duplicate transfers to an expired session compounds the verification delay.

Refunds and Account Credits

Cryptocurrency payments are governed strictly by the Hostwinds Terms of Service and Refund Policy. If a cryptocurrency payment issue is approved for an adjustment or refund, Hostwinds will issue the approved value as an Account Credit to your billing profile.

Refund or credit availability depends solely on whether Stripe's infrastructure successfully captured and held the asset funds. Payments transmitted incorrectly, including unsupported tokens, invalid networks, or transfers sent to unmapped third-party addresses, may be permanently unrecoverable on the blockchain.