To accept Ethereum payments on your website, connect your ETH wallet's xPub to a non-custodial gateway like CryptoGate, enable ETH, and create a transaction (or redirect to a hosted page) when a customer chooses to pay in ETH. The gateway derives a unique Ethereum address, locks the live rate, and the ETH settles straight to your own wallet - no KYC, 0% per-transaction fees, and confirmation in seconds to minutes. Here is the full setup.
Why accept Ethereum specifically?
Ethereum (ETH) is one of the most actively used blockchains in the world. Its user base skews younger and tech-forward - exactly the demographic most comfortable paying with crypto. Accepting ETH specifically makes sense because:
- ETH is held by millions of DeFi, NFT, and Web3 participants who actively want to spend it
- ETH transactions are faster than Bitcoin - typically confirming in seconds to a few minutes
- ETH is the gateway currency for the ERC-20 token ecosystem (USDT, USDC, DAI)
- Customers in the Ethereum ecosystem are high-value, frequent online spenders
Ethereum vs Bitcoin for merchant payments
| Ethereum (ETH) | Bitcoin (BTC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Block time | ~12 seconds | ~10 minutes |
| Confirmation speed | Seconds to minutes | 10-60 minutes |
| Network fee | $1-20 (gas, fluctuates) | $1-8 |
| Fee predictability | Low - gas spikes during congestion | Moderate |
| Best for | Tech-forward buyers, Web3 users | Broadest crypto audience |
The main caveat with Ethereum: gas fees spike during periods of network congestion. A transaction that costs $2 normally can cost far more during a popular NFT mint or market event. For small purchases, this can make ETH impractical. Offer Litecoin or DOGE as a low-fee alternative for purchases under $50.
How to set up Ethereum payments with CryptoGate
Step 1: Get your Ethereum wallet xPub
CryptoGate uses your wallet's xPub to derive unique Ethereum addresses per transaction. Supported wallets:
- Ledger: Connect to Ledger Live -> Ethereum account -> Settings -> Advanced -> Extended public key
- Trezor: Trezor Suite -> Ethereum account -> Public key tab
- MetaMask: MetaMask does not export a standard xPub compatible with CryptoGate's derivation by default. Use a hardware wallet instead for a clean xPub.
Step 2: Create your CryptoGate account
Sign up at cryptogate.live - no KYC required. Enter your Ethereum xPub when configuring your wallet and enable ETH as an accepted currency in your settings.
Step 3: Create an ETH transaction at checkout
POST https://api.cryptogate.live/v1/transactions
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
{
"amount": "75.00",
"currency": "USD",
"crypto": "ETH",
"metadata": { "order_id": "ORD-5512" }
}
CryptoGate calculates the ETH amount from the live exchange rate, locks it for the payment window, and returns a unique Ethereum address and a hosted payment URL. Prefer no code? Use a payment link or hosted checkout instead.
Step 4: Display and monitor
Show the customer their ETH payment address and amount, or redirect to the CryptoGate hosted page. ETH transactions confirm in seconds to a few minutes. CryptoGate sends webhook events at each stage:
payment.pending- transaction in the Ethereum mempoolpayment.awaiting_confirmation- first block confirmationpayment.completed- sufficient confirmations, payment final
How many confirmations should you require for ETH?
Ethereum's Proof of Stake consensus makes early finality more reliable than Bitcoin's. General guidance:
- Low-value orders (under $200): 1-3 confirmations (~12-36 seconds)
- Medium orders ($200-$2,000): 6-12 confirmations (~1-2 minutes)
- High-value orders ($2,000+): 30+ confirmations (~6 minutes) for extra assurance
What about ERC-20 tokens (USDT, USDC)?
ERC-20 tokens run on the Ethereum network and require ETH to pay gas fees for each transaction. USDT and USDC stablecoins are the most commonly used ERC-20 tokens for payments and are great when you want price-stable settlement instead of volatile ETH. See how to accept USDT payments for the stablecoin setup.
The gas fee problem and how to handle it
Gas fees are paid by the customer, not you - but a high gas fee on a small purchase is a bad experience. Be transparent:
- Display current estimated gas fees at checkout before the customer commits
- For small purchases, offer Litecoin or DOGE as lower-fee alternatives
- Consider setting a minimum order value for ETH payments (e.g., $50) to keep gas fees proportional
Who should prioritise ETH support?
ETH is the right choice to prioritise if your customers are:
- Active in the NFT, DeFi, or Web3 ecosystem
- Developers and technical users (ETH is the developer-preferred chain)
- Buyers of digital goods, memberships, or software licences
- International users in markets where ETH is more accessible than BTC
For general e-commerce targeting a broad audience, lead with Bitcoin and add ETH as a secondary option. See how to accept Bitcoin payments.
Related guides
Setting up on a platform? See accept crypto on Shopify or accept crypto on WooCommerce. Want the general flow? Read the accept crypto on your website guide and how crypto payment gateways work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I accept Ethereum payments on my website?
Connect your Ethereum wallet xPub to CryptoGate, enable ETH, then create a transaction (or use a hosted page / payment link) when a customer chooses ETH. The gateway derives a unique address, locks the live rate, and the ETH settles straight to your wallet on confirmation.
Do I need KYC to accept ETH?
No. CryptoGate is non-custodial - the ETH goes from your customer straight to your wallet - so there is no identity verification. You sign up with an email and your wallet xPub.
How fast do Ethereum payments confirm?
Ethereum blocks are about 12 seconds, so payments typically confirm in seconds to a few minutes - much faster than Bitcoin. For high-value orders you can require more confirmations for extra assurance.
Who pays the gas fee?
The customer pays the Ethereum gas (network) fee, not the merchant. To keep the experience good on small purchases, show estimated gas at checkout and offer a low-fee coin like Litecoin or DOGE as an alternative.
Can I accept stablecoins like USDT instead of ETH?
Yes. USDT and USDC give you price-stable settlement instead of volatile ETH - useful if you do not want exchange-rate exposure. See the dedicated USDT guide for setup.
What does it cost to accept Ethereum?
CryptoGate charges 0% per transaction on a flat monthly plan, with a free tier to start. The only variable cost is the customer-paid gas fee, which never goes to the gateway.
Get started accepting Ethereum
Add Ethereum checkout to your website with CryptoGate - free account, no KYC, direct-to-wallet settlement. Your ETH goes to your wallet the moment the transaction confirms. No gateway holds your funds, ever.