In This Article
MoonPay is one of the leading FinTech platforms that makes it easy to buy and sell various cryptocurrencies using traditional fiat payment methods, such as bank cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
In this MoonPay review, I delve into the platform, providing an in-depth look at its features, supported cryptocurrencies, safety measures, fees, and more. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about it, whether it’s worth your time and effort, and how to start using it.
Our Verdict on MoonPay
MoonPay is a FinTech company that offers centralized on-ramp and off-ramp services for crypto and NFTs. Both individuals and businesses can use it, with the latter often being wallets and exchanges that integrate this service into their platforms.
With MoonPay, users can buy and sell crypto for fiat, swap cryptocurrencies, and even stake USDC and SOL. To do that, you can use over 30 fiat currencies and around a dozen payment methods, including credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
The platform is a major player on the scene, boasting partnerships with renowned brands such as PayPal and Mastercard, and is also licensed by major regulators, including the FCA and FinCEN. It’s safe to use, with the only major downside being relatively high transaction fees.
This MoonPay review contains sponsored content. While MoonPay has compensated us for coverage, all opinions expressed remain our own and are based on independent research.
Pros
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User-friendly interface
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Easy to use, ideal for beginners
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Makes buying crypto with fiat convenient
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Fast transactions
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Availability in 180+ countries
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Crypto swapping included
Cons
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High fees of up to 4.5%
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Limited advanced features
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Customer support could be better
Key Takeaways From Our MoonPay Review
Here’s an overview of the main aspects of MoonPay, all of which I’ll cover in more detail in this MoonPay crypto review:
| Platform type | Centralized crypto on- and off-ramp |
| Best for | Beginners, casual crypto users, small to medium-sized purchases, convenience, and speed |
| Established in | 2019 |
| Licenses | FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, Central Bank of Ireland, OAM, AFM |
| Availability | 180+ countries |
| Custody | Non-custodial |
| KYC requirement | Required |
| Number of accounts | Over 35 million |
| Number of cryptocurrencies | 140+ (varies by region) |
| Number of fiat currencies | 30+ |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA, UK Faster Payments, PIX, Venmo, ACH Payment, Revolut, Interac |
| Features | Buy and sell crypto, crypto swapping, staking, withdraw fiat, NFTs |
| Privacy features | Hide your tag from others |
| Security | Biometrics, auto-lock |
What Is MoonPay?
MoonPay is a global FinTech company that offers a platform and payment infrastructure for crypto and NFTs. It’s a fiat-to-crypto on-ramp and off-ramp service, meaning it works as a bridge between traditional fiat money and digital assets.
If you’re still unclear on what MoonPay is and how it works, let’s put it simply. You use MoonPay to buy crypto and NFTs with fiat payment methods, and you can also sell them for fiat and withdraw the money in your preferred payment method. All of this is done within the MoonPay app. The exact available payment methods depend on your region, with credit card being one of the most widely available options.
MoonPay was launched in 2019 and has since grown into one of the leading platforms in the Web3 space, serving both regular users and businesses that want to integrate the on- and off-ramp service into their platforms. Many people use MoonPay to purchase or sell crypto for fiat in major wallets, exchanges, and other applications. For instance, it’s one of the main ways for buying crypto for fiat in Trust Wallet, which you can learn more about in our Trust Wallet review.
The platform is available in over 180 countries, with only a few regional restrictions, allowing it to have a truly global reach. It supports over 140 cryptocurrencies in total (although it varies by region), more than 30 fiat currencies, and over a dozen global payment methods. It features over 35 million accounts and has a daily trading volume of $9 billion.
MoonPay is non-custodial, meaning you retain ownership of the crypto assets. It’s also straightforward to use, making it ideal for beginners and casual crypto users.
Visit MoonPaySupported Markets and Assets
MoonPay supports a broad range of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, but you can buy directly with fiat only a select number. This includes over 140 cryptocurrencies, like:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Solana (SOL)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Tether (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- Axie Infinity (AXS)
- Tron (TRX)
However, supported cryptocurrencies vary by region (e.g., across America, Europe, and the UK), and you are best advised to visit MoonPay’s list of supported cryptocurrencies for the most up-to-date availability. At the time of writing, there are over 60 cryptocurrencies supported in most parts of the U.S. and more than 140 in the rest of the world.
Hundreds of other cryptocurrencies can also be found in the Discover tab, but you’ll need to swap other supported cryptocurrencies for them.
As for NFTs, you can buy a wide variety found on third-party marketplaces using the MoonPay Checkout service. That’s because MoonPay doesn’t have its own internal marketplace for NFTs.
However, the Checkout service simplifies the buying process by allowing people to use a fiat payment method, while MoonPay handles the necessary conversions. Once bought, the NFT will appear in the user’s designated wallet.
This feature is only available for businesses, while regular users can utilize it to purchase NFTs on platforms, including the best NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, which have adopted the feature.
MoonPay Features & Tools
To determine whether MoonPay is reliable, we need to look into the features and tools the platform offers. Let’s have a look at each one.
Buy and Sell Crypto
The primary service MoonPay offers is buying and selling crypto using fiat currencies. As mentioned, over 140 cryptocurrencies are available for this, and you can use around a dozen payment methods, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
The buying and selling processes are simple. You choose the asset, pick the buy or sell option, choose the method, and complete the transaction. If it’s your first time, you’ll need to complete the crypto KYC process quickly, and then you’ll be able to proceed. Withdrawals are equally straightforward, but their availability varies across regions.
Crypto Swaps
MoonPay lets you swap hundreds of cryptocurrencies, meaning you can effectively trade on the platform. A larger number of cryptocurrencies is available for swapping through the Convert section of the app than for buying directly with fiat.
You’ll need to deposit crypto to the MoonPay app to use the Convert feature. Once you have a supported crypto, you can also find various new tokens and coins through the Discover tab.
Staking
MoonPay has recently started offering crypto staking through its MoonPay Pots service. You can stake Solana (SOL) or USDC that’s stored on Solana.
The selection is currently limited, but you can stake as little as $1 worth of SOL or USDC and earn up to 8.49%. Rewards are earned every 2 days, accrue automatically, and can be unstaked at any time.
MoonPay Balance
MoonPay Balance is a virtual account within the app that allows you to deposit fiat currency. It is available in the US, UK, and EU (except Germany) for USD, GBP, and EUR.
If you deposit funds into this account, you’ll get to make transactions with the balance without incurring the fees you otherwise would, which is the main benefit of this feature. Moreover, transactions here are instant.
Request Funds
MoonPay offers a convenient feature that allows people to send digital assets to one another. It’s based on MoonTags, the unique usernames assigned to each MoonPay user.
To request funds from someone, simply open the Request feature, enter their MoonTag, and specify the amount you wish to receive. The only thing left is for the person to respond by confirming the request, and the funds will be sent to you.
The feature simplifies the entire process of sending or receiving crypto, as it eliminates complex wallet addresses and chain limits, instead relying on a simple username or tag.
Products for Businesses
MoonPay offers a diverse range of products tailored for businesses, which is why you can find it on a broad spectrum of exchanges, wallets, and other online platforms. Here’s an overview of what’s available:
- Crypto on-ramps and off-ramps: MoonPay offers APIs and SDKs for developers to easily integrate MoonPay’s on-ramp, off-ramp, and swap functions into their solutions. They are ideal for wallets, NFT platforms, and various other businesses. Platforms such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Zengo, Ledger, Exodus, and Bitcoin.com utilize these features.
- NFT Checkout: As previously mentioned, this is a business service that streamlines the process of buying and selling NFTs using fiat solutions, such as credit and debit cards. In other words, users don’t have to have crypto to acquire NFTs. Renowned platforms like OpenSea, Nifty’s, Sweet, and ENS use this functionality.
- Virtual accounts: The service enables businesses to offer virtual bank accounts to their users, primarily FinTech companies and cryptocurrency wallets. This enables them to deposit major fiat currencies and have them instantly converted into stablecoins for use online on platforms that support crypto payments.
Is MoonPay Legitimate and Safe?
So, is MoonPay safe? Simply put, yes, it is. It’s a large, reputable, and secure platform operated by a credible business.
Despite being on the market since 2019, it’s not a startup, but an established business that maintains partnerships with major financial companies, including PayPal, Mastercard, and OpenSea. It’s a private company with total equity of $3.4 billion, backed by high-profile investors.
Moreover, it’s non-custodial, which is a massive security benefit, as it means users keep control of their private keys and thus their digital assets.
The platform utilizes AES-256 encryption for data storage and complies with the latest ISO 27001/27018 standards. It operates legally in over 180 countries and is licensed by major regulators like the FCA and FinCEN. Advanced traders can also access DeFi trading via MoonPay in the U.S through third parties.
Above all, MoonPay has millions of customers worldwide and is highly rated on TrustPilot by over 100,000 people. The latest rating is 4.1 out of 5.0.
Visit MoonPayMoonPay Fees
For a comprehensive MoonPay app review, we need to examine the fees. Besides the network fee you pay to the blockchain of a crypto every time you make a transaction with that crypto, MoonPay has its own fee.
The MoonPay fee depends on several factors, but it’s not above 4.5% for buying or selling an asset. The minimum amount is $3.99 or $4.50 if you’re using MoonPay through a third-party platform. Bear in mind that this fee drops to zero if you’re using MoonPay Balance.
You will also occasionally have to pay an ecosystem fee, which is a fee charged by a partner whose services you’re using through MoonPay. For instance, if you’re staking SOL or the USD Coin (USDC), you’ll be doing it with the help of a third-party provider, which will charge a fee for the service. MoonPay doesn’t charge a fee here, but it does have a 1% commission on staking rewards.
| Buy and sell fee | Up to 4.5%, minimum $3.99 |
| Buy and sell fee outside of MoonPay | Up to 4.5%, minimum $4.50 |
| Buy and sell fee with MoonPay Balance | 0% |
| Staking fee | 1% fee on staking rewards |
| Crypto swap | No MoonPay fee, but a spread is included |
How User-Friendly is the MoonPay App?
MoonPay is a payment gateway that also offers an app available on both Android and iOS. The former has over 1 million downloads and 4.5 stars from over 8,800 reviews, while the latter also has 4.5 stars from over 5,200 ratings.
Users like the app, and the reviews are generally positive on both operating systems, especially among beginners and casual crypto fans. The main advantage is its user-friendly and minimalist interface, which is precisely why beginners love it.
I found the Android app to be very easy to use, consistently bug-free, and fast. I haven’t used the iOS version as I only have an Android phone, but I’ve seen that the users largely praise the same things across the board, meaning that both apps are broadly similar in design and functionality.
How to Get Started With MoonPay
You can start using MoonPay on any platform that uses the service, or you can do so directly on MoonPay. Here’s how the process looks on an Android phone, with the MoonPay app:
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Download and install the MoonPay app
Find the app on the Google Play Store. Download and install it just as you would any other app to get started.
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Create an account
Create an account or connect an existing wallet to continue. You’ll also need to accept the Terms of Use to proceed.
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Create your MoonTag
MoonPay will prompt you to create your MoonTag. You can create one, as long as it’s not taken, and it will help people to find you. You can also choose not to be found, and MoonPay will hide you from others.
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Complete the KYC process
As you’ll need to complete it to use the service, it’s best to do so immediately. You can initiate KYC by starting the buying process. Everything is done within the app, and you’ll be able to complete it within a few minutes at the most. You need to provide a valid ID and snap a selfie. After that, you will be asked to complete a simple questionnaire.
Customer Support
Users primarily get support through MoonPay’s Help Center, to which the app redirects when you ask for help. The Center covers a wide range of topics related to the overall MoonPay service, featuring FAQ, guides, and other informative content.
The Help Center includes live chat with a chatbot that first asks for your email and a code that’s automatically sent to it. The chatbot will display your latest payments, and then you’ll be able to request a solution to your problem or ask a question like “How long does MoonPay take to deliver crypto?”, which largely depends on the payment method, by the way. You can also request human assistance if the chatbot isn’t helpful or if you prefer not to use it.
The site features a helpful Status page, where you can check for ongoing issues with MoonPay. There’s also a section for developers, where they can find all the necessary developer documentation.
Being also business-oriented, MoonPay has a corporate phone number companies can use to enquire about MoonPay’s services. The number is (833) 610 -0735, and it can be found on the Contact Us page.
Verdict
MoonPay is one of the leading crypto on-ramp and off-ramp services for both individuals and businesses. It makes it incredibly easy to buy and sell crypto for fiat, all while using widely available payment methods.
It comes with fees, but the convenience and the quality of services it provides are more than enough to make it worthwhile. If you’re interested, all you need to do is create an account on MoonPay to get started, whether directly through MoonPay or via a wallet or exchange that partners with the brand.
Visit MoonPay
FAQ
Is MoonPay safe to use?
Yes, of course. MoonPay is a renowned service that boasts partnerships with major companies like PayPal and Mastercard. It complies with all the latest security standards and holds proper licenses to operate in the 180+ countries where it’s available.
How does MoonPay work?
MoonPay allows you to convert fiat currency into cryptocurrency using regular payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. This works like an on-ramp or non-custodial service, meaning the crypto remains yours throughout and after the process, while the transactions occur directly in your connected crypto wallet. Businesses can also integrate this service into their platforms to facilitate the same functionality in their app.
Is MoonPay trustworthy?
Yes, according to the millions of people who use MoonPay worldwide, as well as MoonPay reviews from thousands of users. The service is available in more than 180 countries, and according to the information provided, there are over 35 million accounts on the platform.
How much does MoonPay charge per transaction?
The exact charge depends on several factors, including the type of payment method used, but the fee is typically up to 4.5%, with a minimum amount of $3.99. In the EEA region, the cost remains the same, while bank transfers incur a 1% charge.
How do I get my money out of MoonPay?
MoonPay lets you transfer crypto out of MoonPay, but you first need to sell it since crypto isn’t stored on MoonPay, but on your own wallet. In other words, you use the Sell option to sell the crypto for cash and then choose a payment method to which you’ll transfer the money.
What are common MoonPay issues?
Transactions may fail due to bank or card declines or insufficient funds. Delayed transactions are also a common issue, particularly for new users, as the system performs additional security checks. Verification issues are also fairly frequent, typically due to blurry images or other user-made errors.
References
- MoonPay: Buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other crypto (MoonPay)
- Purchase* crypto with MoonPay through Ledger (Ledger)
- What Is Moonpay and How Does It Work? A Beginner’s Guide (Changelly)
- Mastercard and MoonPay team up to mainstream stablecoin payments (Mastercard)
- MoonPay (UK) Limited (Financial Conduct Authority)
- MoonPay Now Lets Users Buy & Sell Crypto funded by PayPal (PayPal)
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