Skip to main content
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
Regulations and processes designed to prevent illegal funds from moving through the financial system. NowRamp automatically handles AML compliance checks on your behalf, so you can focus on your business.
API Key
A unique identifier that authenticates your application with NowRamp. You’ll have two types: a Secret Key (keep this private, use only on your server) and a Public Key (safe to use in your frontend or widget). Think of the secret key like a password and the public key like a username.
Cancelled
An order state indicating the transaction was stopped before completion, either by the customer or due to a timeout. No funds were exchanged.
Completed
An order state indicating the transaction finished successfully. For on-ramp orders, the customer received their crypto. For off-ramp orders, the customer received their fiat currency.
Customer
The end user of your application who is buying or selling cryptocurrency. This is your user, not you as the partner.
External User ID
Your own identifier for your users. When you create customers in NowRamp, you provide your internal user ID so you can easily match NowRamp customers to users in your system. This keeps your data synchronized across platforms.
Failed
An order state indicating the transaction could not be completed due to an error, such as a declined payment or compliance issue. The customer is notified and may retry.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The identity verification process required by financial regulations. Customers provide documents like a passport or driver’s license to prove who they are. NowRamp handles the verification process, making it seamless for your users.
KYC Tier
The level of identity verification a customer has completed. Higher tiers unlock higher transaction limits. For example, Tier 1 might allow purchases up to 500,whileTier2mightallowupto10,000. Tiers are configured based on your compliance requirements.
Network Fee
The cost charged by the blockchain network to process a crypto transaction. This fee goes to the network validators, not to NowRamp or partners. Network fees vary based on blockchain congestion.
Off-Ramp
The process of converting cryptocurrency into traditional currency (fiat). When your customers want to “cash out” their crypto, they use off-ramp services. For example, selling Bitcoin to receive dollars in their bank account.
On-Ramp
The process of converting traditional currency (fiat) into cryptocurrency. When your customers want to buy crypto using their credit card or bank account, they use on-ramp services. For example, using a debit card to purchase Ethereum.
Order
A confirmed transaction created from an accepted quote. Once a customer accepts a quote and proceeds, an order is created and moves through various states until completion. Orders track the full lifecycle of a transaction.
Partner
A company using NowRamp to offer crypto buying and selling to their users. That’s you! Partners integrate NowRamp via API or the embeddable widget.
Partner Markup
An optional fee you can add on top of NowRamp’s platform fee. This is your revenue from each transaction. You control the markup percentage in your project settings.
Payment Method
How the customer pays for their purchase. Common options include credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers (ACH), and wire transfers. Available methods depend on the customer’s region and verification level.
Pending
An order state indicating the transaction has been created but is waiting for the next step, such as payment confirmation or compliance checks.
NowRamp’s fee for processing the transaction. This covers payment processing, compliance checks, and infrastructure costs. Platform fees are transparent and shown to customers before they confirm.
Processing
An order state indicating the transaction is actively being worked on. This could mean payment is being verified, crypto is being transferred, or compliance checks are running.
Project
A separate app or environment under your partner account. Many partners create multiple projects, such as one for their mobile app and one for their web app, or separate projects for staging and production environments. Each project has its own API keys and settings.
Quote
A price snapshot showing exactly what a customer will pay and receive for a transaction. Quotes include all fees and the current exchange rate. Think of it like a price tag that expires after 60 seconds. If the customer doesn’t confirm within that window, they’ll need to request a fresh quote to ensure accurate pricing.
Refund
The return of funds to a customer when an order cannot be completed. Refunds are processed automatically when transactions fail after payment has been received.
Risk Flags
Specific concerns identified during compliance screening, such as a wallet associated with known fraudulent activity. Risk flags help explain why a transaction might require additional review or be declined.
Risk Score
A numerical rating assigned to wallets or transactions based on compliance analysis. Higher scores indicate greater potential risk. NowRamp uses risk scores to help you meet regulatory requirements and protect your business.
Sandbox
A test environment that mirrors production but uses fake data and test payment methods. Use sandbox to build and test your integration without processing real money or affecting real users. Every partner gets sandbox access automatically.
Wallet Screening
An automated compliance check performed on cryptocurrency addresses before transactions are processed. This identifies wallets associated with illicit activity, helping you stay compliant with regulations. Screening happens automatically in the background.
Webhook
A real-time notification sent to your server when something important happens, like an order completing or a KYC verification finishing. Instead of constantly checking for updates, webhooks push updates to you instantly. You configure a URL where NowRamp sends these notifications.
A pre-built, embeddable checkout experience you can add to your website or app. The widget handles the entire purchase flow including amount selection, payment, and KYC, so you don’t have to build it yourself. It’s customizable to match your brand. 
