As cryptocurrencies are becoming more and more popular, the idea of accepting Bitcoin (and other digital currencies) on your WordPress website as a way of payment is something that is worth considering. But how do you get started with cryptocurrency? And how do you process Bitcoin payments with WordPress?
In this article, we discuss what Bitcoin is, and consider the benefits of accepting this digital currency, and other altcoins, on your site. We then look at what tools you will need to start receiving Bitcoin as payment, including Bitcoin wallets, digital payment processor services, and cryptocurrency WordPress plugins (if you’re in the market for a theme, checkout our roundup of the best cryptocurrency WordPress themes).
By the end of reading, you will know how to set up the taking of Bitcoin payments with WordPress. And you will have a good understanding of the services and plugins available to help you do so.
An Introduction to Bitcoin
Due to the recent press attention is doubtful that you haven’t heard of this popular cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, that works without a central bank or single administrator. It was originally created by a person or group of people in 2009 and released under the name Satoshi Nakamato.
The value of Bitcoin has quickly grown in recent years and it is now the most well-known cryptocurrency of all. However, there are in fact over thousands cryptocurrencies currently in circulation. Other popular Cryptocurrencies include…
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Tether
- Binance
- Dogecoin
Mining and making direct purchases in Bitcoin are two methods widely used by investors to grow their Bitcoin stock. However, taking payments online in Bitcoin is becoming more and more common. So if you run an eCommerce store, or accept payments online for services or other reasons, then offering Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrency) payment options is a good idea.
What Are the Benefits to Accepting Bitcoin Payments?
There are numerous benefits to taking Bitcoin payments on your WordPress website. Let’s have a look at a few of them…
- Bitcoin can be accepted from anyone, anywhere in the whole world. So you aren’t excluding those who haven’t got credit cards, or a PayPal account, from making a purchase on your site.
- Bitcoin comes with a cloak of anonymity, as those making a payment don’t have to part with any personal information. This will appeal to many buyers who are unsure about sharing sensitive data online.
- Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer digital currency, so a third-party banking service is not necessary to complete a transaction. This keeps Bitcoin transaction fees low.
So now we know a bit about Bitcoin and why you should consider accepting it on your WordPress website. Let’s next look at what you need to get started…
What You Need to Get Started
Before you can accept Bitcoin payments with WordPress you will need to …
- Create a Bitcoin Wallet
- Sign Up with a Digital Payment Processor Service
- Install a Cryptocurrency WordPress Plugin
Let’s have a look at each of these in detail…
1. Create a Bitcoin Wallet
A Bitcoin walleta software program (or sometimes a physical hardware device) that contains your private Bitcoin data/keys. It’s where information regarding your coin addresses and transactions is stored. So before you can obtain and maintain Bitcoin, you’ll need a wallet.
Wallets can be stored on your desktop, on hardware, on your mobile or on the web. And for each platform there are numerous wallet options, so do your research before making a decision on which one is best for you.
It is worth bearing in mind that some digital payment processor services actually provide an online wallet service (Bitpay and CoinBase). Whereas other payment gateways simply deposit Bitcoin funds as equivalent currency into your bank (Mollie), resulting in you not needing a Bitcoin wallet at all.
2. Sign Up With a Digital Payment Processor Service
A digital payment processor service will enable you to take Bitcoin payments on your WordPress website. Although not crucial, it is the easiest way to accept Bitcoin, and other altcoins.
Once you have accepted a Bitcoin payment on your site, a payment processor will then automatically deposit the Bitcoin into your wallet. It also provides the option of transferring your Bitcoin into your local currency and depositing it into your bank account.
Here are just a few digital payment processor services that you can sign up with.
CoinGate
CoinGate is a digital payment processor service that accepts over 70+ cryptocurrencies across 70+ countries. In addition to it’s wide availability, the built-in email invoicing system, settings to keep or convert currencies, automatic exchange rate calculations, low fees and more make CoinGate an easy choice. And best of all the CoinGate WooCommerce plugin (which we cover below) quickly allows you to integrate your online store with CoinGate’s service.
Once set up, CoinGate allows you to receive cryptocurrency payments from customers but also has options to select a preferred payout currency when transferring funds from your website into your bank account or digital wallet. Although CoinGate doesn’t provide its own online wallet service, they recommend using the Electrum or Copay for Bitcoin. And if you choose to keep your coins, CoinGate has a curated directory of crypto-friendly online stores where you can use them.
Bitpay
Bitpay provides a popular Bitcoin wallet, card and payment processor service (and they even support NFTs). This solution works by enabling Bitcoin payments with WordPress to be sent directly to your Bitcoin wallet and/or bank account in the currency of your choice.
Bitpay can send funds to banks in over 200 countries, and in numerous currencies. It is also integrated with over 40 eCommerce platforms and solutions, supporting, WooCommerce, Gravity Forms, Shopify, and many more.
CoinBase
An alternative to Bitpay is CoinBase. This digital platform and online wallet service can deal with payments from your WordPress website in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. These cryptocurrencies can then be sent to your altcoin wallet or exchanged by CoinBase into your local currency and sent to your bank account.
3. Install a WordPress Plugin
Once you have chosen a digital wallet and signed up with a payment processor service, it’s time to add Bitcoin payment integration to your WordPress website. There are a number of plugins available that provide this function. Let’s have a look at a few of the best.
CoinGate for WooCommerce
CoinGate is a natural for WooCommerce sites, as it enables you to receive payment for products in numerous cryptocurrencies. To receive Bitcoin payments with WordPress on your online store via CoinGate, you will need to install the CoinGate for WooCommerce plugin.
Next, you need to sign up for a CoinGate Account. In this case you’ll want to select the Business option, then enter your country and other required information.
Then follow the CoinGate installation instructions by creating API credentials to connect the two solutions. This is a quick and easy process and once completed you will be able to accept Bitcoin and other altcoin payments on your WooCommerce site.
Plus with CoinGate you’ll receive automated notifications for payments, and you can specify what cryptocurrency you want to receive payouts as (or if you want to convert coins to receive traditional currency sent to your bank). Overall it’s an extremely convenient and affordable solution.
Blockonomics
Blockonomics enables you to accept Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) payments. And with their WordPress Bitcoin Payments plugin you can accept these as forms of payment via WooCommerce. But that’s not even the best part – Blockonomics send payments to your wallet rather than a payment gateway. So you get your money faster, safer and you even save on fees when withdrawing. Note – you do need a Blockonomics account, but for merchants that’s just a 1% fee (with the first 20 payments free) – so it’s super affordable.
Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway for WooCommerce
Another great option is the TripleA Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway for WooCommerce. With this plugin you can accept payments via Bitcoin directly, with no fee and no custom account needed. Customers just need to scan the QR code to pay. But TripleA doesn’t just make things easier for the customer – as the seller you’ll also benefit from transaction email notifications, save money since there are no chargebacks, and you’ll be able to withdraw your money in your local currency (19 currently supported) using real time exchange rates (with a low 0.8% withdrawal fee).
Bitpay Checkout for WooCommerce
If use WooCommerce on your site, and Bitpay sounds like the right payment processor service for you, then the Bitpay Checkout for WooCommerce plugin is a great option. To get started with Bitpay, simply sign into your account and add a new API token for your WooCommerce Store.
Next, install the Bitpay Checkout plugin on your WordPress website. The plugin will add options to connect to your Bitpay account with your API token under a ‘Payments’ tab in your main WooCommerce settings. Once completed your online shop will be able to take payments in Bitcoin.
Mollie Payments for WooCommerce
Mollie is a payment gateway solution that is committed to making online payments easier. One of their many payment options is Bitcoin. The Mollie Payments for WooCommerce is one of their free plugins that will enable you to quickly integrate all major payment systems, including Bitcoin, with your WooCommerce site.
To get started, sign up with Mollie and install the Mollie Payments for WooCommerce plugin on your website. Once a customer has paid in Bitcoin, you will receive the corresponding amount in Euros. And as Mollie processes all your Bitcoin payments with WordPress and sends it directly to your bank, you won’t even need a Bitcoin wallet.
GoUrl – Bitcoin Payment Gateway, Paid Downloads and Membership
GoUrl is a cryptocurrency payment gateway. The GoUrl WordPress plugin, GoUrl – Bitcoin Payment Gateway, Paid Downloads and Membership, will enable you to accept Bitcoin payments with WordPress. However, GoUrl will not transfer Bitcoin into cash, it will only forward payments to your Bitcoin wallet. This plugin will also accept other cryptocurrencies on your WordPress website including Litecoin, Dash, BitcoinCash, and many more.
The GoUrl plugin will enable your visitors to pay altcoin for products, digital downloads, page views, and membership subscriptions. GoUrl also provides a number of other extension plugins, including GoUrl for WooCommerce and GoUrl Bitcoin Donations.
Digital Paybox
Digital Paybox is a premium plugin that will enable you to accept Bitcoin, but in this case in exchange digital downloads. This solution integrates with numerous payment gateways, but uses Bitpay to accept Bitcoin.
Easy to install and setup, Digital Paybox enables customers to decide how much they would like to pay for a digital product. You can set a minimum payment (or a fixed price if you prefer) so this plugin is a good option if you are looking to receive donations for your digital downloads. Once a payment has been made, Digital Paybox automatically sends a temporary encrypted link to the buyer via email, allowing them to receive the digital product.
Note: This item has not been updated in a while, but it is actively supported. So if you’re interested we recommend reaching out to the developer first.
Final Thoughts on How to Accept Bitcoin Payments with WordPress
As you can see, there are a variety of plugins and methods available to enable you to process and accept Bitcoin payments with WordPress. The tools you choose should depend solely on your site, and the needs of your audience.And remember, you can always trial a few different solutions to see what works, and ensure you find the best-fit Bitcoin solution for your site.
Which Cryptocurrency plugin will you select to help you accept Bitcoin payments with WordPress? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
