NOWPayments MCP server

About

The NOWPayments MCP Server is a lightweight wrapper around the NOWPayments API that enables seamless interaction with cryptocurrency payments through LLM-powered interfaces such as chatbots and AI agents.

It abstracts away direct API integration, allowing you to create payments, generate invoices, and track transactions using simple tool calls.

Link:

http://mcp.nowpayments.io/mcp

Key Features

• Support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies
• Create hosted invoices and direct payments
• Real-time payment status tracking
• Minimum amount calculation for currency pairs
• Simple API key–based authentication

Use Cases

• Crypto payments in AI agents and chat interfaces
• Automated billing and payment workflows
• E-commerce checkout with crypto support
• No-code / low-code payment integrations

Features

• Retrieve a full list of supported cryptocurrencies
• Calculate minimum payment amounts for currency pairs
• Create hosted payment invoices
• Create direct crypto payments
• Track payment status in real time

Authentication

All methods require a NOWPayments API key.

The API key is used internally by the MCP server to authenticate requests to the NOWPayments API.

Methods

`get_full_currencies`

Get the list of cryptocurrencies supported by NOWPayments, including detailed metadata for each currency.

Use cases:

• Display available payment options
• Validate supported currencies before creating payments

`get_min_amount`

Get the minimum payment amount required for a specific pay-in / payout currency pair, including both:

• Fixed-rate option
• Standard (floating-rate) option

Use cases:

• Validate payment amounts before creating a transaction
• Show minimum thresholds to users

`create_invoice`

Create a hosted invoice and return a payment URL.

The payer is redirected to a NOWPayments-hosted payment page to complete the transaction.

Use cases:

• E-commerce checkout flows

`create_payment`

Create a direct payment with predefined parameters.

Returns all required details for the payer to manually send funds (e.g., wallet address, amount).

Use cases:

• Custom payment flows
• Backend-controlled transactions
• Advanced integrations

`get_payment_status`

Retrieve the current status and details of a payment using its `payment_id`.

Use cases:

• Monitor payment lifecycle
• Update order status
• Handle confirmations and failures

How It Works

The MCP server acts as a bridge between LLM-based interfaces and the NOWPayments API.

Instead of writing API integrations manually, you can:

• Ask a chatbot to create a payment
• Generate invoices dynamically
• Check transaction statuses in real time

All requests are securely handled using your NOWPayments API key.

Example Use Cases

• Crypto payment processing in AI agents
• Automated billing workflows
• Chat-based checkout experiences
• Internal tools for finance teams
• Web3-friendly SaaS integrations

How to Start

1\. Get your API key

Sign up at NOWPayments and generate your API key from the dashboard.

2\. Configure the MCP Server

Provide your API key in the MCP server configuration:

3\. Connect to your MCP client

Add the NOWPayments MCP server to your MCP-compatible client (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, or other agent frameworks).

4\. Start using it

Once connected, you can call methods directly through your LLM:

Examples:

• “Get available cryptocurrencies” → `get_full_currencies`
• “Create a $50 BTC invoice” → `create_invoice`
• “Check payment status” → `get_payment_status`

FAQ

What is the NOWPayments MCP Server?

This tool is an MCP server for interacting with the NOWPayments API, enabling programmatic creation of crypto payments, invoices, and payment tracking through LLM-powered interfaces.

What key features does it offer?

It provides essential features for crypto payment workflows, including:

• Retrieving supported cryptocurrencies
• Calculating minimum payment amounts
• Creating hosted invoices and direct payments
• Tracking payment status in real time

Can I create invoices and payments using this tool?

Yes, the server includes dedicated methods for both hosted invoices (`create_invoice`) and direct payments (`create_payment`), allowing flexible integration depending on your use case.

What do I need to get started?

You need an active NOWPayments account and an API key.

The API key must be configured (e.g., as `NOWPAYMENTS_API_KEY`) and is used to authenticate all requests.

How are payment amounts handled?

Payment amounts depend on the selected cryptocurrency and currency pair.

You can use the `get_min_amount` method to retrieve the minimum required amount for both fixed-rate and floating-rate transactions before creating a payment.

What is the difference between fixed-rate and standard (floating-rate) payments?

• Fixed-rate payments lock the exchange rate for a limited time (10 minutes), ensuring the payer sends an exact amount and the recipient receives a predictable payout. This is useful for price stability and avoiding volatility.
• Standard (floating-rate) payments use the current market rate at the time the transaction is processed. The final received amount may vary depending on market fluctuations.

You can use the `get_min_amount` method to compare minimum amounts for both options before choosing the preferred flow.