**Last updated**: 01 September 2026 | [**Change log**](/products/payments/changelog/)

# Crypto ramp providers

Crypto ramp providers facilitate the conversion from fiat currencies (e.g. USD) to non-fiat currencies (e.g. cryptocurrency), or vice versa. Card networks require ramp provider merchants to include special transaction indicators in their authorization requests to identify the type of ramp transaction. Merchants who have contracted third-party conversion affiliates for conversion services must also submit relevant [affiliate data](#conversion-affiliate-data) in their authorization request.

## How to enable

Use the `merchant.rampProvider` object to identify your ramp provider and, where applicable, include conversion affiliate details.

### Special transaction indicator

From **October 2024**, Visa introduced a mandate to include special transaction indicators to increase transparency and clarify dispute rules for digital currency and NFT transactions. Send the relevant `purpose` value inside `instruction.fundsTransfer`:

```json
{
  "instruction": {
    "fundsTransfer": {
      "type": "purchase",
      "purpose": "stablecoin"
    }
  }
}
```

Supported `purpose` values:

* `blockchainNativeToken`
* `crypto`
* `stablecoin`
* `nft`
* `cbdc`


You must always send the above `purpose` values with `fundsTransfer.type` of `purchase` or `walletLoad`. Sending any other type may lead to increased decline rates from card networks.

### Ramp provider reference

Card networks mandate that crypto ramp merchants submit their unique identifier in every authorization:

```json
{
  "merchant": {
    "rampProvider": {
      "reference": "12345677898"
    }
  }
}
```

You can't send `rampProvider` data together with `paymentFacilitator` data.

### Conversion affiliate data

If the ramp provider uses conversion affiliates, submit the affiliate details inside `merchant.rampProvider`:

```json
{
  "merchant": {
    "rampProvider": {
      "reference": "12345677898",
      "conversionAffiliate": {
        "reference": "1234567890",
        "name": "Name",
        "url": "http://some-url-here.com",
        "taxReference": "987-654-4321",
        "address": {
          "countryCode": "US"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Schema

```json
{
  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/PaymentsRampProvider",
  "components": {
    "schemas": {
      "PaymentsConversionAffiliateAddress": {
        "type": "object",
        "description": "Address of the conversion affiliate.",
        "properties": {
          "countryCode": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Country code of the conversion affiliate in [ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 format].",
            "example": "US",
            "maxLength": 2,
            "minLength": 2
          }
        },
        "required": [
          "countryCode"
        ]
      },
      "PaymentsConversionAffiliate": {
        "type": "object",
        "description": "An object containing conversion affiliate information.",
        "properties": {
          "reference": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Unique identifier for the conversion affiliate.",
            "example": "1234567890",
            "maxLength": 15,
            "minLength": 1,
            "pattern": "^[a-zA-Z0-9]*$"
          },
          "name": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Legal or trading name of the conversion affiliate.",
            "example": "Name",
            "maxLength": 22,
            "minLength": 1,
            "pattern": "^(?!\\s*$)[A-Za-z0-9 @!£*#$)(+\\-_=.,/;:'\"]*$"
          },
          "address": {
            "$ref": "#/components/schemas/PaymentsConversionAffiliateAddress"
          },
          "url": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Public website URL of the conversion affiliate.",
            "example": "http://some-url-here.com",
            "maxLength": 255,
            "minLength": 1
          },
          "taxReference": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Tax identifier of the conversion affiliate.",
            "example": "987-654-4321",
            "maxLength": 20,
            "minLength": 1,
            "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9@!£*#$)(+\\-_=.,/;:'\"]*$"
          }
        },
        "required": [
          "address",
          "name",
          "reference"
        ]
      },
      "PaymentsRampProvider": {
        "type": "object",
        "description": "An object containing ramp provider information.",
        "properties": {
          "reference": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Unique identifier assigned to the ramp provider.",
            "example": "12345677898",
            "maxLength": 11,
            "minLength": 1,
            "pattern": "^[a-zA-Z0-9]*$"
          },
          "conversionAffiliate": {
            "$ref": "#/components/schemas/PaymentsConversionAffiliate"
          }
        },
        "required": [
          "conversionAffiliate",
          "reference"
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Outcome details

The payment response does not include any `rampProvider` specific information.