How to Buy Bitcoin & Crypto via Checkout.com on CEX.IO

Checkout.com is a global payment processor that works behind the scenes on CEX.IO — it does not appear as a button at checkout. When you enter Visa or Mastercard details at CEX.IO Instant Buy, Checkout.com routes the authorization to your issuing bank, runs 3D Secure, and confirms the transaction back to CEX.IO.

This page explains what Checkout.com does on CEX.IO, which payment methods it supports, and how it handles card payments for crypto purchases.

For CEX.IO users, the experience runs the same as any other card payment. Checkout.com sits between the card network and CEX.IO in the background.

Disclaimer: Checkout.com is a payment processor that operates in the background on CEX.IO. You do not select “Checkout.com” at checkout — the cards and wallets it supports appear under standard card and wallet options at CEX.IO.

What is Checkout.com?

Checkout.com is a payment processing company headquartered in London. Guillaume Pousaz founded it in 2012 in Singapore before relocating the headquarters to London. Checkout.com runs a direct-acquirer model, connecting merchants to card networks — Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and JCB — and to local alternative payment methods through its own infrastructure.

The company processes payments for Netflix, Sony, Pizza Hut, Deliveroo, Klarna, Wise, Revolut, and several major crypto exchanges. It holds regulatory authorizations in the European Union (through Lithuania), Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, the UAE, and the US, and is supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

Checkout.com supports 150+ currencies and 90+ local payment methods, primarily serving enterprise merchants that need direct acquiring, advanced fraud tools, and high authorization rates on cross-border traffic.

How does Checkout.com work on CEX.IO?

Checkout.com sits between you and the card network during the CEX.IO Instant Buy flow. When you enter card details on CEX.IO, they are sent to Checkout.com over a tokenized API. Checkout.com then authorizes the transaction with your issuing bank, triggers 3D Secure 2 if required, and returns the result to CEX.IO.

If the authorization succeeds, CEX.IO credits Bitcoin or your chosen asset to your CEX.IO Wallet. If your issuing bank declines, CEX.IO shows the decline reason and gives you a retry option. Checkout.com handles PCI DSS Level 1 card-data tokenization on its own systems.

You never visit Checkout.com directly. On some markets, it may appear on your bank statement as “CKO” or “Checkout Ltd,” although CEX.IO requests its own merchant descriptor in most regions.

Which payment methods does Checkout.com support on CEX.IO?

Checkout.com handles several payment routes on CEX.IO. You see them at Instant Buy under standard card and wallet options:

• Visa debit and credit cards
• Mastercard debit and credit cards
• Apple Pay through tokenized card credentials
• Google Pay through tokenized card credentials
• PayPal funded by card (in US markets that support PayPal on CEX.IO)

Bank transfers — ACH, SEPA, Faster Payments, and SWIFT — do not run through Checkout.com. CEX.IO handles these through its own banking partners. Crypto deposits also do not run through Checkout.com.

How to Buy Bitcoin at CEX.IO: a Step-by-Step Guide

The four steps below cover Instant Buy with any card processed through Checkout.com.

Step 1: Create and verify your account

Sign up on CEX.IO with your email address and a secure password. After confirming your email, complete identity verification in your account dashboard or through the mobile app.

You will need to:

• Provide basic personal information
• Upload a valid ID document (national ID, driver’s license, or passport)
• Complete any additional checks if prompted

Step 2: Open the Instant Buy section

Log in to CEX.IO and go to the Buy Cryptocurrency tab. Select your fiat currency, enter the amount you want to spend, choose your asset, and click Buy Crypto Instantly to move to the Add Funds page.

Step 3: Enter your card details or select a wallet

On the Add Funds page, choose the card option and enter your Visa or Mastercard details. Checkout.com tokenizes your card data on its own infrastructure. If required, a 3D Secure 2 prompt will open inside your bank’s app or as a one-time SMS passcode.

If you use Apple Pay or Google Pay, you skip card entry entirely. Your wallet passes tokenized card credentials to Checkout.com, and you confirm the transaction with biometrics.

Step 4: Receive Bitcoin in your CEX.IO Wallet

After Checkout.com clears the authorization, CEX.IO credits your chosen asset to your CEX.IO Wallet. Most transactions complete within seconds. Larger orders may go through additional risk checks at Checkout.com or at your issuing bank.

Checkout.com transfer fees and limits

Checkout.com charges CEX.IO at the merchant level, not you directly. For card purchases, you see the CEX.IO Instant Buy fee schedule: 0.49% to 4.99% plus a service charge, with a minimum deposit of $20. The full cost breakdown appears before you confirm.

Withdrawal limits depend on the card network. Visa supports withdrawals up to $50,000 per day, while Mastercard withdrawals are capped at $2,500 per day. Apple Pay and Google Pay deposits are capped at $1,000 per transaction on CEX.IO, and withdrawals are not available through these methods.

Checkout.com runs adaptive authentication. Cards from issuing banks with strong 3D Secure 2 support reach higher authorization rates. Those with weaker fraud signals may require an additional step-up challenge before approval.

What payment methods are available at CEX.IO?

Checkout.com covers the card and wallet routes. CEX.IO supports several additional direct funding methods through other partners:

• ACH bank transfer for US users at $5 flat
• SEPA Credit Transfer for EU users at €2.99
• Faster Payments for UK users at £2.99
• SWIFT wire transfer for international users
• Bitcoin ATM cash-in route
• MoneyGram USDC funding route

Once funds land in your CEX.IO account, you can convert them into Bitcoin or another asset using Spot Trading or CEX.IO Convert.