DonateAnyCrypto

DonateAnyCrypto switched to a new payments provider – Apirone

2023-06-16T19:40:28.595Z

DonateAnyCrypto x Apirone

On June 1st, we switched to a new payments provider - Apirone. In this article, we will explain all the new features, benefits for our users, and more.

DonateAnyCrypto's first payment provider

Cryptocloud

Our first payment provider was Cryptocloud. We liked this service for its features:

Good payment page design, which is important for conversions.
Support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies for payments, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins like ERC20, TRC20, BSC, and MATIC. It's a comprehensive list, isn't it?
Ability to accept worldwide bank cards for some projects.
Automatic conversion of USD to cryptocurrency. To create an invoice, we simply provided the amount in USD, and the service converted it automatically.

However, from the beginning, we wanted to switch to a different service as quickly as possible. Why?

High commission. We'll include a picture below to illustrate. Moreover, there are additional commissions on checkout for Ethereum ($3) and USDT ERC20 ($1.4). It's worth noting that these additional commissions are not mentioned on their fees page. So, if your customer wants to pay an invoice in Ethereum, for example, with a value of $10, you would receive $6.79 without network fees after deducting the 3% commission ($3 USD). Let's approximate it to $6 USD, including the network fee. 40% in fees? No, thanks. We'll pass.
Lack of trust in the automatic USD to cryptocurrency conversion. While it may be convenient to have it done automatically, we prefer to handle the conversion ourselves.
Uncertainty about card acceptance. On one hand, they mention that some projects can apply for the opportunity to enable customers to pay with bank cards. On the other hand, we are unsure about how well this feature works, given that crypto and banks don't always have a smooth relationship. We did not try this feature, so we cannot judge its effectiveness firsthand.
Centralization. Cryptocloud only allows payments to be made to your merchant's account. Firstly, there is always a chance that the funds might be blocked. Secondly, it doesn't provide an option for auto payouts to our customers.
Located in Russia. We mention this as a negative factor due to the instability of the region. The ongoing war in Ukraine is just one of several similar factors. While Russia has many talented individuals who work well, the government's actions can disrupt everything.

Cryptocloud commission

DonateAnyCrypto's second payment provider

Litepay

The second payment provider we used was Litepay, and we found this service much more favorable than the previous one. We particularly liked it for the following reasons:

Acceptance of Bitcoin, Litecoin, ZCash, and Monero.
Moderate commission rate of 2%.
Functionality for forwarding transactions, which enabled us to implement auto payouts.

However, we encountered some problems along the way:

Lack of email support. Despite attempting to contact them via email, we did not receive any responses. Only after discovering their Telegram group were we able to reach them.
There is no social media activity. While we hope that Litepay is functioning properly, it would be even better to see regular updates or news from them on social media or in a blog.

Discontinuation of Monero without notification. One day, we received feedback from our users stating that the Monero payment method was not functioning. We checked our service and everything seemed fine. We then consulted Litepay's documentation, which still indicated support for Monero. It was only when we contacted them through Telegram that they confirmed they had stopped accepting Monero. We requested that they update their documentation, but as we write this article, it has been more than a month and the documentation remains outdated.

Litepay FAQ

Our new payment provider – Apirone

Apirone

Let's talk about the benefits of Apirone.

Low fees: We utilize the forwarding transactions API, and the fee is only 1% + network fee. This is the lowest fee we've come across.
Always online: If we ever need to contact the Apirone team, we know it won't be a problem. They respond promptly via email. Additionally, the founder of the service is easily reachable online, and he even offered to create a free advertisement for DonateAnyCrypto, which we greatly appreciate!
Rich documentation & examples: Apirone provides not only comprehensive documentation but also examples of how to use the API for various services, such as file sharing and Telegram bots.
Activity on social media: You can find articles and updates about the service on their active social media channels. This is important as it demonstrates that the service is actively maintained and continuously improving.
Unique fees policy: For merchants, Apirone offers two options: a 1% fee for every transaction or a fixed fee for transactions above a certain amount. This is a highly interesting approach that we have not seen elsewhere.

We absolutely love Apirone, but there are a few points we would like to mention:

Concerns about the Russia-based domain registrant: We believe Reg.ru is an unreliable domain registrant and using their services is not advisable. It is not just based in Russia but is also known for blocking domains without valid reasons. It would be beneficial for Apirone to consider switching to an excellent US-based domain registrar like Namecheap, which accepts cryptocurrencies. Alternatively, they could explore the best Russia-based provider, Timeweb.
We would love to see support for new cryptocurrencies, especially Ethereum.

Although we wish we had known about Apirone since the inception of DonateAnyCrypto, it's better to discover something late than never, right?

We extend our gratitude to the Apirone team for providing this exceptional service!

Conclusion

Thanks to Apirone, our customers can now enjoy DonateAnyCrypto with the confidence of using a reliable payment provider we trust. Trust is a fundamental aspect that everyone desires, and we believe it is one of the most important elements in our life.

Somebody may be wondering: How does DonateAnyCrypto earn money and generate profit if they don't charge their customers? It's a good question, and we'll delve into it further. In short, DonateAnyCrypto does not charge its customers at all. Instead, we have devised a new monetization model that sets us apart from other similar services.

Rather than charging our customers, we offer an opportunity for donors to highlight their donations for a small fee. Let's say you want to send a donation to your favorite streamer who uses DonateAnyCrypto. A regular donation includes text, image, and sound. However, for a small additional payment, you can add a voice message, video, sound, or even a unique animation to your donation. This concept was inspired by the game PUBG Mobile, where you can't buy superpowers to always win against your opponents. Instead, you can purchase customizations for your guns, cars, skins, and more. We admire this business model and draw inspiration from it.

Thank you for reading this article and using DonateAnyCrypto!

Always yours, the DonateAnyCrypto team.

How to Calculate Bitcoin Transaction Fees?

2023-03-09T17:41:42.784Z

Bitcoin

Calculating the appropriate transaction fee for a Bitcoin transaction can depend on several factors, such as the current network congestion, the transaction size, and the urgency of the transaction. Here are the general steps you can follow to estimate a reasonable transaction fee:

Check the current Bitcoin network congestion: The first step in calculating the recommended Bitcoin transaction fee is to check the current network congestion. The more congested the network, the higher the transaction fee you should pay to ensure your transaction is processed in a timely manner. You can check the current congestion level by using a website such as https://mempool.space/ or https://jochen-hoenicke.de/queue/#BTC.
Choose the desired confirmation time: The second step is to choose your desired confirmation time. The faster you want your transaction to be confirmed, the higher the transaction fee you should pay. Bitcoin transaction confirmation times can vary based on the network congestion and the fee you pay. Typically, the higher the fee you pay, the faster your transaction will be confirmed. You can choose your desired confirmation time based on how urgent your transaction is. For example, if you are sending Bitcoin to pay for a coffee, you may not mind waiting for 10-15 minutes for your transaction to confirm. However, if you are sending a large amount of Bitcoin to purchase a car, you may want to ensure that your transaction is confirmed as quickly as possible.
Calculate the fee per byte: Bitcoin fees are usually calculated in satoshis per byte (sats/byte). The fee per byte is the amount of Bitcoin you are willing to pay per byte of transaction data. You can use a Bitcoin fee calculator such as https://mempool.space/tx/fee to determine the appropriate fee per byte based on the current network congestion and your desired confirmation time. The fee per byte can vary based on the current network congestion, with higher fees being required during periods of high demand for block space.
Estimate the size of your transaction: The size of your transaction is determined by the number of inputs and outputs it contains. Inputs are the Bitcoin addresses that you are sending Bitcoin from, and outputs are the Bitcoin addresses that you are sending Bitcoin to. Each input and output adds a certain amount of data to the transaction, which determines its size. You can use a Bitcoin fee calculator to estimate the size of your transaction based on the number of inputs and outputs.
Multiply the fee per byte by the size of your transaction: Once you have determined the appropriate fee per byte and estimated the size of your transaction, you can calculate the recommended transaction fee by multiplying the fee per byte by the size of your transaction. For example, if the fee per byte is 20 sats/byte and your transaction is estimated to be 250 bytes in size, the recommended transaction fee would be 20 x 250 = 5000 sats.
Pay the recommended fee: Once you have calculated the recommended fee, you can enter it into your Bitcoin wallet when sending the transaction. It's important to note that some Bitcoin wallets may automatically calculate the recommended fee based on the current network congestion and your desired confirmation time, while others may allow you to set the fee manually. It's always a good idea to double-check the recommended fee before sending your transaction to ensure that it is sufficient to ensure timely confirmation.

Why should you start to use cryptocurrencies?

2023-02-17T16:37:25.897Z

Cryptocurrencies have been around for over a decade now, and they are becoming increasingly popular. Many people believe that cryptocurrencies are the future of money and that everyone should try to use them. In this article, we will explore some of the advantages of cryptocurrencies and why they are worth considering.

Bitcoin

Decentralization and Security

One of the primary advantages of cryptocurrencies is that they are decentralized. This means that they are not controlled by any central authority or government. Instead, transactions are recorded on a public ledger called a blockchain, which is distributed across a network of computers. This makes it difficult for anyone to manipulate the system or commit fraud.

Additionally, cryptocurrencies use advanced cryptography to secure transactions and wallets. This makes it nearly impossible for hackers to steal your money or personal information. As long as you keep your private keys safe, your cryptocurrencies are safe and secure.

Privacy and Anonymity

Another advantage of cryptocurrencies is privacy and anonymity. Many cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, allow users to transact without revealing their identity. This can be especially useful for people who value their privacy or who live in countries with strict financial regulations.

Fast and Cheap Transactions

Cryptocurrencies are also known for their fast and cheap transactions. Because cryptocurrencies are not subject to the same regulations and fees as traditional financial systems, transactions can be processed much more quickly and at a lower cost. This makes them a great option for cross-border transactions or for sending money to friends and family around the world.

No Intermediaries

Another benefit of cryptocurrencies is that they eliminate intermediaries, such as banks or payment processors. This can be especially beneficial for businesses that want to avoid high transaction fees or for individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services.

Investment Opportunities

Finally, cryptocurrencies offer investment opportunities. Many cryptocurrencies have seen significant price increases over the years, and some people have become millionaires by investing in them. Of course, investing in cryptocurrencies is not without risk, but it can be a way to diversify your portfolio and potentially earn significant returns.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrencies offer many advantages over traditional financial systems. They are decentralized, secure, private, and fast, and they offer investment opportunities. While there are still some challenges and risks associated with cryptocurrencies, many believe that they are the future of money and that everyone should consider using them. If you are interested in getting started with cryptocurrencies, there are many resources available online to help you get started.

Crypto

Do crypto!

Donation alerts widget integration | DonateAnyCrypto

2023-02-16T21:28:45.846Z

Dashboard actions

Go to https://donateanycrypto.com/dashboard/widget

Click on "show link for embedding"
Copy the link

DonateAnyCrypto widget page

OBS actions

Open your OBS Studio. If you don't have it you can download it from the official site - https://obsproject.com/download. OBS Studio is free and open source.

In OBS Studio:

Click on the plus button
Click on "Browser"

OBS Studio screenshot 1

Then:

Type the name of adding source. For example: "Donation alerts widget", "Donations widget"
Click on "OK"

Make sure the checkbox "Make source visible" is checked

OBS Studio screenshot 2

Then:

Paste your copied embedding link from DonateAnyCrypto dashboard to the URL input
Click on "OK"

OBS Studio screenshot 3

Then:

You're in. Now the donation alerts widget has been added to your OBS Studio.

OBS Studio screenshot 4

If you want you can move and scale this widget on your screen.

OBS Studio screenshot 5

DonateAnyCrypto

DonateAnyCrypto switched to a new payments provider – Apirone

DonateAnyCrypto's first payment provider

DonateAnyCrypto's second payment provider

Our new payment provider – Apirone

Conclusion

Next

How to Calculate Bitcoin Transaction Fees?

Why should you start to use cryptocurrencies?

Donation alerts widget integration | DonateAnyCrypto