Overview and History
Foundation and growth:
CoinPayments is a cryptocurrency payment gateway founded in 2013 in Vancouver, Canada, by Alex Alexandrov. It initially launched as one of the first merchant processors to support multiple cryptocurrencies and has since grown into one of the largest crypto payment providers. Independent reviews report that the platform serves nearly 2.5 million vendors across 182 countries and can process payments for Bitcoin and over 1,340 altcoins. Another source notes that it began as the “first and largest payment processor of over 55 cryptocurrencies” and later expanded to support more than 1,300 tokens.
Business model:
CoinPayments provides merchants with a suite of tools to accept cryptocurrency payments and manage digital assets. Its services include:
- A multi-coin wallet and payment processing system allowing businesses to accept crypto from customers with optional automatic conversion to preferred assets or fiat.
- Shopping cart plugins and APIs for platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and POS interfaces for in-store payments.
- Auto-conversion of incoming coins using partners such as ShapeShift/ChangeNOW, allowing merchants to receive a preferred currency while customers pay in any supported coin.
- The PayByName feature enables merchants to create human-readable tags so customers can send payments without copying long wallet addresses.
- Vault services for cold storage, credited airdrops, mobile apps for Android/iOS, and a $CPS token offering fee rebates and doubled affiliate commissions.
Since 2019, CoinPayments has focused on regulatory compliance and corporate restructuring. The European business operates under UAB Star Ventures, a Lithuanian authorised Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) supervised by the Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS). In June 2025, CoinPayments appointed Ali Rafi as CEO to expand global operations and align the company with regulations such as Europe’s MiCA.
Regulatory Status and Licensing
Operating Entities
UAB Star Ventures (Lithuania – EU Operator)
- Operates CoinPayments services in the European Union.
- Provides custodial wallet services and virtual-asset operations.
- Authorised VASP under Lithuania’s FCIS.
- Holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security certification.
Registered addresses:
- Lvivo St. 25-104, Vilnius LT-09320, Lithuania
- Kalvarijų g. 125, Vilnius, Lithuania
PaidInSatoshi Inc. (Panama – Non-EU Clients)
- Provides custodial wallets and virtual-asset services for clients outside the EU.
- Acts as a core service and support entity.
- Address: Bloc Office Hub, Fifth Floor, Santa Maria Business District, Panama City, Panama
CoinPayments Inc. (Canada – Corporate HQ)
- Corporate holding company.
- Manages head office functions and product development.
- Location: 1904-808 Nelson St., Vancouver, Canada
UAB Star Ventures – EU Domain (EEA Businesses)
- Manages multi-currency wallets, payment processing, crypto conversions, and off-ramp services.
- Focused on regulatory compliance and security.
- Address: Kalvarijų g. 125, Vilnius, Lithuania

