Stripe launched stablecoin payments in 2025, bringing crypto acceptance to the world's largest payment platform. For the first time, millions of Stripe merchants can accept USDC alongside credit cards. But Stripe's stablecoin offering comes with significant limitations: it is available to US merchants only, charges 1.5% per transaction, and supports just 4 blockchains.

Fivo is a dedicated stablecoin payment gateway with 0.5% fees, 9 EVM chains, and no geographic restrictions. This guide compares both platforms so you can decide which one fits your business.

The key difference

Stripe added stablecoins as a feature within its existing payment platform. Fivo was built from the ground up specifically for stablecoin payments. This fundamental difference shapes everything: pricing, chain support, cross-chain capability, and target audience.

If you already use Stripe and want to add stablecoins as one more payment option alongside cards, Stripe's integration is seamless. If stablecoin payments are your primary focus (or you are outside the US), Fivo offers more chains, lower fees, and no geographic restrictions.

Fee comparison

Fee structure

Stripe Stablecoins           Fivo
──────────────────────────────────────────────
Fee:        1.5% per tx       0.5% on withdrawal
Per-tx:     None              None
Monthly:    None              None
Setup:      None              None

On a $10,000 monthly volume, Stripe charges $150 in stablecoin processing fees. Fivo charges $50 on withdrawal. That is $100 less per month, or $1,200 per year.

It is worth noting that Stripe's 1.5% for stablecoins is still cheaper than their standard card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30. So for existing Stripe merchants, adding stablecoin payments reduces costs compared to cards, even if it is not the cheapest stablecoin option available.

Stripe's 1.5% fee has been debated because actual on-chain transaction costs on networks like Base are around $0.0002. The premium covers Stripe's abstraction layer, compliance infrastructure, and automatic USD conversion.

Geographic availability

This is the most important difference for many merchants.

Stripe: stablecoin payments are available to US merchants only (as of March 2026). Customers can pay from any non-sanctioned country, but the business receiving payments must be registered in the United States.
Fivo: available to merchants globally with no country restrictions. A merchant in Spain, Brazil, Nigeria, or Japan can accept payments from customers anywhere in the world.

If you are a non-US business, Stripe stablecoin payments are simply not an option right now. Stripe has indicated plans to expand availability, but no timeline has been announced.

Supported stablecoins

Stripe: USDC, USDP (Pax Dollar), and USDG (Global Dollar). No EURC, no USDT.
Fivo: USDC (on all 9 chains) and EURC (on Ethereum, Base, and Avalanche). No USDT.

The key difference here is EURC. Fivo supports Circle's euro stablecoin, which allows merchants to accept payments denominated in euros without currency conversion. 1 EURC = 1 EUR. Stripe does not support EURC.

Stripe supports USDP and USDG, which are less common stablecoins. In practice, USDC dominates stablecoin payments, so this difference is minor for most merchants.

Blockchain support

Stripe: Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Base (4 chains)
Fivo: Ethereum, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Linea, Unichain, Sonic (9 EVM chains)

Fivo supports more than twice as many chains. This matters because the crypto ecosystem is increasingly multi-chain. Customers on Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Linea, Unichain, or Sonic cannot pay through Stripe but can pay through Fivo.

Stripe does support Solana, which Fivo does not. Solana has a significant user base, so this is relevant if your customers primarily use Solana wallets.

Cross-chain payments

Fivo offers automatic cross-chain bridging via Circle CCTP. A customer on Arbitrum can pay a merchant on Polygon, and the USDC is automatically bridged between chains. No manual steps required.

Stripe does not offer cross-chain bridging. Each chain is independent. If a customer's wallet is on a chain that the merchant doesn't support, the payment fails.

Settlement

Stripe: stablecoin payments are automatically converted to USD and settled to your Stripe balance. You receive dollars, not crypto. This is seamless for merchants who want to avoid holding stablecoins.
Fivo: payments remain as USDC or EURC in your Circle wallet. You withdraw when you choose. There is no automatic conversion to fiat.

This is an important distinction. Stripe's automatic USD conversion is ideal for merchants who want fiat in their account without touching crypto. Fivo is ideal for merchants who want to hold stablecoins (1 USDC = $1) and convert on their own terms.

If you prefer receiving dollars in a bank account, Stripe handles that automatically. If you prefer holding stablecoins (which are always worth $1 or 1 EUR), Fivo gives you more control and lower fees.

Transaction limits

Stripe: $10,000 maximum per transaction for stablecoin payments.
Fivo: no per-transaction limit.

Stripe's $10K limit means it cannot handle large B2B invoices, high-value sales, or enterprise payments via stablecoins. Fivo has no such restriction.

Integration

If you already use Stripe, adding stablecoin payments is effortless. It integrates with Stripe Checkout, Elements, Billing, Invoicing, Payment Links, and Connect. No new SDK, no separate dashboard.

Fivo requires its own integration, but it is also simple. A single script tag adds a payment button to any website:

Fivo widget embed

<script async src="https://checkout.fivo.finance/v1/fivo.js"></script>

<fivo-button
  merchant-id="fivo_live_your-merchant-id"
  amount="50.00"
  currency="USDC">
</fivo-button>

For developers, Fivo also provides a full REST API, webhooks with HMAC-SHA256 signing, and hosted checkout links.

Chargebacks and refunds

Both platforms share the same advantage over credit cards: stablecoin payments have zero chargebacks. Once a customer sends USDC from their wallet, the payment is final and irreversible. No bank can reverse it.

For refunds, Stripe returns stablecoins to the customer's wallet. Fivo also supports refunds, processed directly on-chain to the customer's address.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Stripe if:

You are a US-based business
You already use Stripe for card processing and want to add stablecoins as an option
You want automatic conversion to USD (no crypto holding)
Your transactions are under $10,000 each
You value having one platform for cards + crypto

Choose Fivo if:

You are based outside the US (Stripe stablecoins are US only)
You want the lowest fees (0.5% vs 1.5%)
You need support for 9 EVM chains with cross-chain bridging
You want EURC support for euro-denominated payments
You process transactions over $10,000
You prefer holding stablecoins rather than automatic fiat conversion
Stablecoin payments are your primary checkout method, not an add-on

Can you use both?

Yes. Stripe for credit card processing and Fivo for stablecoin payments is a valid setup. You get Stripe's card infrastructure where customers expect it and Fivo's lower fees and wider chain support for stablecoin payments. The two platforms are independent and do not conflict.

The bottom line

Stripe and Fivo target different merchants. Stripe added stablecoins as a convenience for existing US Stripe users. Fivo was built as a dedicated stablecoin gateway for merchants worldwide. The fee difference is significant (0.5% vs 1.5%), the chain support gap is wide (9 vs 4), and the geographic restriction is the deciding factor for non-US businesses.

For US merchants already on Stripe, adding stablecoin support through Stripe is the path of least resistance. For everyone else, Fivo offers a purpose-built solution with lower costs and more flexibility.

Ready to compare firsthand? Create a free Fivo account and test a payment in minutes.

Stripe Stablecoin Payments vs Fivo: What Merchants Need to Know