Why is the choice of network important?

Suppose you decided to accept payments in cryptocurrency. It could be an NFT marketplace, a SaaS service, or a Telegram bot with premium access. The obvious step is to connect cryptocurrency acceptance through a wallet or payment gateway, but the question arises sharply: which network to choose — Ethereum or Tron? The answer affects not only the fees but also your client's UX: will they wait 2 minutes or 5 seconds, will they pay $20 in fees or $0.01. For business, this is the difference between profit and loss.

Comparison of popular cryptocurrency networks in 2025

1. Ethereum (ETH)

• Average fee: $4–$12 for a standard transfer

• Confirmation speed: ~15 seconds (after transitioning to PoS)

• Support: high (decentralization, compatibility with DeFi)

• Reliability: maximum, second in capitalization after Bitcoin

Ethereum remains the "gold standard" for crypto payments in Web3, DeFi, NFT. But for mass payment acceptance in online stores, where low transaction fees are important, ETH is not the best choice. However, if you are targeting B2B or expensive digital assets, it is justified.

Suitable for: large transactions, premium digital services, contracts with legal formalities.

2. BNB Smart Chain (BSC)

• Average fee: $0.10–$0.30

• Speed: 3–5 seconds

• Support: high, integration with MetaMask, Trust Wallet

• Reliability: high, but centralization causes disputes

Binance Smart Chain (BSC) is the optimal choice for mass micropayments. Integration into any platforms is simple: from Shopify to custom CMS. Fees are low, and the network is stable. The only downside is high centralization (21 validators).

Suitable for: online stores, gaming, mass e-commerce.

3. Tron (TRX)

• Average fee: $0.01 and below (often zero for TRC20)

• Speed: ~3 seconds

• Support: TRC20 is widely used in South Asian and CIS markets

• Reliability: high, but often associated with gray markets

Tron is a leader in speed and fees. However, due to its popularity in gambling and gray transactions, it raises distrust among some clients. Nevertheless, for marketplaces, Telegram bots, and online casinos — it is a leader.

Suitable for: microtransactions, Telegram bots, high-risk projects where speed and anonymity are important.

4. Solana (SOL)

• Average fee: less than $0.01

• Speed: up to 65,000 TPS, confirmation — ~2 seconds

• Support: growing, especially among Web3 startups

• Reliability: there were failures, but the infrastructure has strengthened

Solana is the star of Web3. Very cheap and fast transactions, but the infrastructure is not yet as stable as Ethereum’s. Suitable for projects targeting mobile payments, NFTs, and high-load applications.

Suitable for: Web3 projects, mobile dApps, crypto games, NFTs.

5. Bitcoin (BTC)

• Average fee: $1–$30 (depending on network load)

• Speed: 10 minutes (sometimes more than an hour)

• Support: maximum, "trust guarantee"

• Reliability: absolute

Bitcoin is more of a "digital gold" than a medium of exchange. But for large transfers (B2B), especially in international trade, it remains relevant. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is increasingly used via Lightning Network, which provides instant and cheap transactions.

Which cryptocurrencies to choose for your business?

For e-commerce and SaaS:

It is optimal to use BNB, Tron, or Solana. These networks allow:

• to confirm payments quickly;

• not to burden the client with high fees;

• to easily integrate through popular payment gateways or cryptocurrency APIs.

Example: a digital course store in Telegram accepts USDT on TRC20 — the client pays 100 rubles and does not lose on fees.

For B2B and international contracts:

Bitcoin, Ethereum, sometimes — USDT on Ethereum. Despite the fees, this is a signal of seriousness. Clients trust these networks, especially in Europe and the USA.

For gaming, Web3, NFTs:

Certainly — Solana. Lightning speed, micro fees, and a rich dApp ecosystem.

For invoices and billing:

Choose TRC20 or BEP20. These networks support smart contracts for invoices, easily integrate through platforms like Nord Pay, and allow invoicing in a few clicks — without a programmer.

Common mistakes when choosing cryptocurrency:

1. Choosing Ethereum as a "default" — without considering gas costs.

2. Unverified bridges between networks — may freeze funds.

3. Lack of support for mobile wallets — clients will not be able to pay quickly.

4. Ignoring audience specifics — in the CIS, payments are often made through Tron, in Europe — through ETH/USDT.
   
   

What cryptocurrency to accept?
In short:

• Micropayments? — Tron or BNB

• Web3 and speed? — Solana

• Serious contract? — Ethereum or BTC

• Mass clients? — BEP20 or TRC20

• Invoices in crypto? — through Nord Pay in the required network

How to start?

A reliable way to start accepting cryptocurrency with minimal fees is to use a platform like Nord Pay. We already support popular networks, work with legal entities, provide simple API, and a "turnkey" solution.

Ready to accept cryptocurrency without risk and difficulties? Try Nord Pay today.