Who this is for
Cafés, bakeries, barbers, coworking spaces, tour operators, small shops in tourist areas: any place where some customers carry stablecoins on their phone. In parts of Latin America many people hold USDT as a dollar savings account, and visitors from abroad often prefer it to paying high card fees. Accepting it does not replace your card terminal; it adds one more way to say yes.
How point-of-sale mode works
Satqo's dashboard has a Point of sale screen built for the counter. It looks and behaves like a card-terminal keypad:
- Type the amount in USD or EUR, the way you would on a terminal.
- Choose the coin, for example USDT on TRON, or select "customer chooses" so the customer taps the coin and network they hold.
- Show the big QR code on your phone or tablet. Depending on the setting it holds the wallet address or the link to the payment page; a short link is shown too, for customers who prefer to type.
- Watch the status live. The screen follows the payment by itself and shows Paid, Partly paid (with a button to charge the rest) or Time ran out (try again).
- Tap New sale for the next customer.
Each sale is an ordinary invoice, so it appears in your history and statements with everything else. An open sale survives a page reload, and the screen stays awake while it waits, so the QR code does not disappear mid-payment.
You can open Satqo inside Telegram too, at t.me/satqo_bot/app, which is handy for checking incoming payments on the phone you already use for work chats.
Which networks work at a counter
At a counter, time matters more than anywhere else. A customer will not wait ten minutes for a coffee payment to confirm.
| Network | Typical time to your balance | At the counter |
|---|---|---|
| TRON (USDT) | About 10 seconds up to USD 1,000 | Good default; most exchanges and wallets support it |
| TON (USDT) | Seconds | Good for customers paying from Telegram; needs the memo |
| Arbitrum (USDC) | Seconds | Good for customers holding USDC |
| Ethereum (USDT, USDC) | A few minutes | Better for larger tickets than for a coffee |
Times are typical under normal load and not guaranteed. The customer pays the network fee of their transfer, which on Ethereum can be larger than a small purchase; another reason to steer counter payments to TRON, TON or Arbitrum. Our guide on TRC20 vs TON fees explains the details.
Set-up in five steps
- Open a free Satqo account.
- Add your logo and brand colour under Account → Payment page, so customers who open the payment page see your shop's name and colours.
- Open Point of sale on the phone or tablet that will live at the counter and add it to the home screen.
- Make one real test sale of a small amount from your own wallet, start to finish.
- Put a small "We accept USDT" sign by the register. For fixed-price items, a pay button's QR code (Pay buttons in the dashboard) can be printed on a menu or flyer.
What to tell your staff
- Only "Paid" means paid. A customer showing a "sent" screen in their wallet is not the same as the payment arriving. Wait for the status on your screen.
- Partly paid is common when customers pay from an exchange that deducts its fee. Use "charge the rest" for the difference rather than letting it go or asking for cash.
- Time ran out? Start the sale again; do not let the customer send to an old QR code.
- Refunds go back as a payout to an address the customer gives you, on the same network. Decide who on the team may do this.
- Never accept a "send it here instead" request or a screenshot as proof.
What it costs
As of October 2026: 0.5% of each incoming payment, no monthly fee, no hardware. On a USD 4.20 coffee that is about two cents. There is no chargeback on a confirmed crypto payment. Payouts to any wallet carry no Satqo fee, only the network fee shown before you confirm.
What to do with the takings
Keep them as dollar stablecoins, pay suppliers who accept USDT straight from the balance, or send them to an exchange to sell for local currency. You can also spend through the virtual Mastercard in Apple Pay, for example on stock bought online. Record crypto sales like any other sales for your accountant: the CSV statement lists each one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a card terminal or special hardware?
No. Point-of-sale mode runs in the browser of any phone or tablet. The customer scans a QR code from your screen with their own wallet.
Can I price in my local currency?
The keypad works in USD or EUR, which are converted to the coin at the current rate when the sale starts. If you price in local currency, convert to dollars at the counter.
How fast is a USDT payment at the counter?
On TRON a payment of up to USD 1,000 typically reaches your balance in about 10 seconds; on TON and Arbitrum in seconds; on Ethereum in a few minutes. Times are typical, not guaranteed.
What if the customer sends too little?
The screen shows Partly paid and offers to charge the rest. The part already received stays on your balance.
Is accepting USDT in a shop legal?
In many countries it is, but rules on accepting crypto, invoicing and taxes differ. Check local requirements and talk to your accountant. Satqo is available only where the law allows.