If your company operates in or with China and you’re thinking about payments, you’re likely dealing with two things: local currency (CNY) and crypto. While Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate locally, global businesses are now looking for regulated payment gateways that can handle both crypto and fiat transactions with ease. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss the best crypto and fiat payment gateways in China, how they work, why they matter for businesses going global, and much more.   

Understanding payment gateways in China’s context

Let's get down to it.

• A fiat payment gateway in China refers to a system that allows merchants to accept Chinese yuan (CNY) from customers - via local bank transfer, local digital wallets, or other local payments. 
• A crypto payment gateway in China, conceptually, refers to a platform that enables digital-asset payments (stablecoins, tokens) and perhaps convert them to fiat or settle globally if needed. 

When you run a global business with presence in China & beyond, you want both crypto-and-fiat integration so you can reach the local Chinese customers as well as international customers paying in crypto.

Why China needs crypto payment solutions

At first glance, it seems contradictory: a country with heavy crypto restrictions might not need a “crypto payment gateway in China.” But the reality for international businesses is more complex, and here is why:

• Many businesses operate cross-border with China (suppliers, customers, international clients). Accepting crypto can simplify global settlement, currency conversion, and speed.
  
• While domestic Chinese retail may primarily use CNY and local wallets, your global customers might prefer stablecoins or tokens. If your gateway supports both, then you capture more payment volume.
  
• China is exploring digital currency evolution, with recent signals that stablecoins or yuan-pegged digital assets are under discussion in places like Shanghai. So when you look ahead, digital currency payments in China could open more possibilities.
  
• Even if domestic crypto-to-fiat rails are limited, bringing in global flows and integrating them into your Chinese settlement system (or your corporate treasury connected to China) via a regulated intermediary like TransFi gives you a competitive edge. 

Basically, you must integrate with a solution that supports both fiat payment gateway in China (for CNY or receipts in yuan) and crypto payment gateway in China (for global customers, stablecoins, etc.). This ensures more conversions, reduced card abandonments, increased basket size, and access to an estimated 560M+ cryptocurrency owners worldwide (2024 data).

Things to look out for while choosing a Web3 payment gateway in China

When you pick a gateway (for crypto + fiat in China or global business with China exposure), here are key factors:

1. Compliance: Always integrate with regulated payment gateways in China because China’s rules around crypto payments are very strict.
   
2. Fiat settlement in CNY and global currencies: You must integrate with a gateway that supports CNY and other major currencies, plus digital assets.
   
3. Hybrid payment solutions in China: Ability to mix fiat and crypto, so you handle local Chinese payments (CNY, local wallets) and global crypto payments (stablecoins) under one platform.
   
4. Security: Look for crypto merchant solutions with strong fraud detection, smart rails, custody of digital assets, and in-built conversion tools.
   
5. Integration and UX: For Chinese customers you may need local methods (QR wallet, Chinese bank cards), while for global customers you need crypto rails. So the gateway should have easy integration with developer-friendly documentation.

Why is TransFi Checkout the best crypto & fiat gateway in China?

Here’s why TransFi Checkout stands out for a global business operating in or with China:

• Hybrid Approach: Offers both fiat-and-crypto integration. That means you don’t need separate systems for your Chinese-currency payments and crypto payments from global clients.
  
• Global Coverage & Local Reach: Supports transactions in 100+ countries, 40+ currencies, 130+ digital assets/tokens and 300+ local payment methods.
  
• Low Fee & Instant Settlement: Offers highly competitive fees (~0.5%-1%), built-in conversion tools (crypto → fiat) and instant settlements.
  
• Secure & Compliant: Emphasis on enterprise-grade security, fraud monitoring, charge-back-free model for crypto/stablecoin payments. Using TransFi means you pick a compliant gateway, even if domestic Chinese crypto payments are constrained.
  
• Integrations & Developer-Friendly: One-click plugins for popular e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Wix). Full API documentation support for creating a customized crypto checkout for businesses, connecting Chinese and global customer flows.

If you’re a global business with Chinese operations or Chinese-market exposure, sign-up at TransFi Checkout today to experience frictionless, compliant payments across China and beyond.

Also read about: How Businesses Reduce Payment Friction Across Sectors Using TransFi Checkout

How to accept crypto and CNY payments in China via TransFi

Here’s a step-by-step of how you might operate:

1. Sign-up as a merchant with TransFi Checkout. Set your business currency (for example CNY or another preferred fiat) and activate crypto payments (stablecoins/tokens).
   
2. Integrate into your online store or payments flow: install the TransFi plugin (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc) or use its API for custom integration.
   
3. Configure your payment methods: for Chinese customers you enable CNY payment methods (bank transfers, Chinese wallets). For global/crypto-friendly customers you enable digital asset payments (crypto, stablecoins).
   
4. When a transaction comes in:
   
   
   • A Chinese customer pays in CNY via a local method. The gateway processes, you receive settlement in your chosen currency (CNY or converted fiat).
     
   • A global customer pays in crypto or stablecoin. The gateway processes the crypto payment, optionally converts to fiat (your choice), and settles to your account.
     
5. You monitor via dashboard: compare & track both and compare CNY methods and crypto payments, view conversions, settlement fees, and metrics.

With TransFi Checkout, your business can cover both Chinese payment flows and global crypto flows via one gateway, minimize friction, reduce engineering cost and give more payment options to your customers.

Which companies can integrate hybrid payment solutions in China

If your business has global ambitions and touches China, then companies in these segments gain the most from hybrid payment solutions in China:

• International e-commerce stores selling to Chinese customers who pay in CNY and international buyers who might pay in crypto.
  
• Luxury or high-ticket stores with both Chinese buyers and international clients; accepting crypto gives optionality and draws in tech-inclined buyers.
  
• Travel, hospitality or global booking sites with Chinese inbound/outbound customers; taking CNY + crypto increases flexibility for all segments of customers.
  
• Export/import businesses or B2B enterprises that settle cross-border; hybrid models enable you to manage global currencies, crypto rails, and Chinese payment flows.

The Current regulatory environment

Let's dissect what you need to know.

• China has a highly strict regime on crypto for domestic payment and financial institutions.
  
• New foreign-exchange regulations which arrived in Dec 2024, mandate banks to report cross-border crypto-related transactions, flag known scams, as well as verify identities and fund sources.
  
• At the same time, China is exploring digital currency development (the digital yuan, e-CNY) and stablecoin strategy.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead:

• As China accelerates broader deployment of the digital yuan (e-CNY) and probes yuan-pegged stablecoins, Chinese digital currency payments could unlock more regulated alternatives for international business.
  
• Web3 payment gateways in China will increasingly be constructed around hybrid payment designs: fiat for domestic Chinese flows and crypto for international flows, all in one place.
  
• Regulatory clarity may evolve: while domestic cryptocurrency payment in China is full of complications, the position of stablecoins, yuan-denominated digital assets, and regulated blockchain payment platforms can increase.

Although you have to be considerate of China's rigid regulatory position regarding crypto payments within its jurisdiction, you may still operate global crypto flows and integrate with Chinese settlement flows. If you’re ready to ditch cart abandonments and increase your sales, sign-up at TransFi Checkout right away.

FAQs

1. What are the things to look for while integrating crypto payments in Chinese e-commerce?
   Look for: gateway support for CNY settlement (if Chinese customers), support for crypto payments (stablecoins/tokens) for global clients, strong compliance and security, integration support for local payment methods in China and global crypto wallets, plus the ability to convert crypto to fiat and manage conversion risk.
   
2. What are the benefits of integrating hybrid crypto-fiat gateways for Chinese enterprises?
   Benefits include: reaching both Chinese-local and global customers, handling payments in CNY and crypto under one system, reducing conversion/FX complexity, and being future-ready for digital currency developments in China.
   
3. What is the guide to accepting digital and fiat payments in China?
   Here are some simple steps:

• Signup on a gateway like TransFi that supports both CNY + crypto payments 
• Integrate with your e-commerce or payments platform
• Enable local methods (CNY) and crypto rails (stablecoins etc)
• Start accepting payments
• Decide whether to convert crypto into fiat (e.g., CNY or another currency)
• Ensure you comply with regulatory rules (especially around crypto flows)
• Monitor settlement and reporting
  

4. Which are the best solutions for cross-border crypto transactions in China?
   TransFi Checkout is the best solution for cross-border crypto transactions in China. It offers global reach alongside Chinese-market compatibility, support for crypto rails (including stablecoins), support for CNY settlement, and strong security/compliance.
   

      5.Why is it important to integrate only secure and compliant payment gateways for global trade?
Because in China the regulatory risk around crypto is high, banking and payment service providers cannot facilitate domestic crypto transactions, and cross-border flows attract scrutiny. Using a secure, compliant gateway reduces risk of regulatory breach, ensures your payments operate globally, helps maintain trust with customers and banks, and supports your growth without litigation or sanctions.