Why we picked NOWPayments over Stripe for creator payouts
Stripe is the reflex pick. We weighed it against NOWPayments and chose crypto. Here is the math, the constraints, and what it means if you publish a paid MCP on Unyly.
The constraints
We're a small team with creators in 50+ countries. Stripe Connect is excellent in the US/EU and rough everywhere else: business KYC, $25 minimum payout, weeks for first transfer, country gates.
Most of our top contributors are in regions where Stripe either doesn't operate or requires LLC formation we can't justify for a $50/month MCP.
The numbers
| Stripe | NOWPayments | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee per transaction | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~1% (USDT TRC-20 = ~0%) |
| Minimum payout | $25 | $5 |
| Time to first payout | 7-14 days | minutes |
| Countries | 40 | global |
| Chargeback risk | yes | no |
| Tax handling | Stripe Tax | seller responsibility |
For a creator earning $500/month: Stripe nets ~$470, NOWPayments nets ~$495. The bigger win is the absence of payout delays and KYC friction.
What changes for you
If you publish a paid MCP on Unyly, you give us a crypto wallet address (USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH, or any of 100+ tokens supported by NOWPayments). We collect from buyers in their preferred crypto, send you 80% in your token of choice. You keep your tax obligation in your home jurisdiction.
What stays the same
Pricing in USD, not crypto. Buyers pay $9.99/month and we figure out the crypto math behind the scenes. Refunds within 7 days at the original USD rate. Cancellation any time.