Crypto Payment Links for Telegram and Instagram Sellers
Sell on Telegram or Instagram? Use a crypto payment link to collect USDT and TRX without a website. Setup steps, message templates and safety tips inside.
A crypto payment link is the simplest way for Telegram and Instagram sellers to collect USDT or TRX without building a website. You agree on the order in DMs, create an invoice in the panel and send the customer the payment page link. They scan the QR code and pay, and you see the payment arrive in the panel.
The problem with crypto in social selling
Many social sellers take crypto like this: paste a wallet address into the chat, wait for the customer to send, ask for a screenshot, then check a block explorer. It works at tiny volume, but it breaks down fast:
- Matching is hard. When dozens of people pay the same address, working out which payment belongs to which order gets messy.
- Screenshots prove nothing. They're trivial to edit.
- Amount mistakes. Under- and overpayments make your books a mess.
- Address risk. An address posted in chats is a target for scammers. See address poisoning attacks.
A separate invoice and payment link per order fixes all of that.
How a crypto payment link works
Every invoice you create on MercanPay comes with its own hosted payment page. On it the customer sees:
- The amount and coin to pay
- The payment address and a QR code
- A countdown showing how long the invoice stays open
- A "payment detected · confirming" notice as soon as the payment is seen on-chain
You send that page's link in a Telegram or Instagram message. The customer opens it and pays from their wallet or exchange. After 20 block confirmations, usually about a minute, the payment is credited to your balance. More on that in what are block confirmations.
One important point: each link belongs to one invoice. Create a new invoice in the panel for every order, so payments never get mixed up.
Step by step: getting paid from a DM
1. Open a merchant account
Apply as a merchant by filling in a short business questionnaire. Once approved, you get access to the panel, available in English and Turkish.
2. Confirm the order with the customer
Agree on product, quantity and price in the DM. The minimum invoice is 10 USD, so consider bundling lower-priced items.
3. Create an invoice in the panel
You can price it two ways:
- In USD: say 35 USD, and the customer picks TRX or USDT on the payment page. The rate is locked once they pick, so price swings don't change the amount.
- In a coin: a fixed amount such as 35 USDT.
USD pricing is usually the more flexible choice for social selling, since customers can pay with whichever coin they hold. We cover rate risk in crypto payment exchange rate risk.
Add a short description, such as "Instagram order - 2 handmade necklaces". It's shown to the customer on the payment page.
4. Send the link
Copy the invoice's payment page link and send it. A short, clear message is enough.
5. Track the payment
The payment shows up on the page and in the panel as soon as it hits the chain. Once confirmations finish, the invoice is marked paid. Only then prepare the order. Trust the panel status, not a screenshot.
Message templates
A sample message:
Your order is ready. You can pay with USDT or TRX using the link below. Scan the QR code or copy the address. Please choose the TRON (TRC20) network. The link is valid for a limited time, and I'll message you as soon as the payment confirms.
An extra reminder for customers paying from an exchange:
When withdrawing from your exchange, make sure to select TRC20 as the network. If you pick another network the payment won't reach us.
Don't skip this. Choosing the wrong network is one of the most common problems. See crypto sent to the wrong network and USDT on TRC20 vs ERC20 vs BEP20.
Fees and details to know
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Commission | From 0.4%, varies per merchant |
| Minimum invoice | 10 USD |
| Network fees | Included in the amount on the payment page |
| Invoice lifetime | Up to 24 hours |
| Withdrawal fee | 1–3 USD |
| Minimum withdrawal | 10 USD worth |
The payment page shows one all-inclusive amount, so there are no "why is the amount different?" questions.
If a customer underpays, the invoice goes to partial and they can send the rest to the same address. Payments that arrive after expiry are still credited to your balance. Details in handling underpayments, overpayments and late payments.
When volume grows: move to the API
Once orders pile up, creating each invoice by hand gets tedious. You can automate it. For example, a Telegram bot written in Python can create the invoice and send the link as soon as the customer confirms:
import os
from mercanpay import MercanPay
zp = MercanPay("https://mercanpay.com", os.environ["MERCANPAY_API_KEY"])
invoice = zp.create_invoice(
price_usd="35",
order_id="tg-10452",
description="Telegram order #10452",
)
print(invoice["payment_url"]) # send this link to the customer
Repeating the call with the same order_id returns the existing invoice instead of creating a new one, so the bot never double-bills an order. See Python crypto payment integration.
FAQ
Can I accept crypto without a website?
Yes. Create an invoice in the panel and send its payment page link by message. No website or code needed.
Can I send the same link to every customer?
No. Each link belongs to a single invoice, which stays open for up to 24 hours. Create a new invoice per order, so it's always clear who paid what.
The customer sent a screenshot. Should I ship?
A screenshot isn't proof. Wait until the invoice shows as paid in the panel.
Which coins can customers pay with?
TRX and USDT on the TRON network (TRC20).
Get started with MercanPay
Bring order to your Telegram and Instagram sales with crypto payment links. Apply for a merchant account, then read how to accept USDT TRC20 payments for the full flow.
