Payments & currency
How you pay on MerkatoHQ, what the currency is, and how your card details are handled.
MerkatoHQ runs its payments on Stripe, a global payment processor. That means checkout works the way you’re used to on any reputable online store.
How you pay
You pay by credit or debit card at checkout. When you buy, your card is charged the item price plus a small processing surcharge (see Fees explained), and the funds go straight into escrow — not to the seller.
Currency
Orders are processed in MerkatoHQ’s settlement currency, US dollars (USD). Prices you see on listings are the prices you pay in that currency. If your card is denominated in another currency, your bank handles the conversion at their rate, exactly as with any international purchase.
Your card details are handled by Stripe
MerkatoHQ does not store your full card number. Card details are collected and processed by Stripe, our payment provider, over an encrypted connection. This is the same infrastructure trusted by millions of businesses worldwide.
MerkatoHQ will never ask for your card number by email or message. You only ever enter payment details in the secure checkout. If someone asks you to pay outside MerkatoHQ, that’s a red flag — see Reporting & moderation.
Paying outside MerkatoHQ isn’t protected
The escrow protection that makes MerkatoHQ safe only applies to payments made through the platform. If a seller asks you to pay by bank transfer, gift card, or any off-platform method, you lose all buyer protection — and it’s against our Terms of Service. Always pay through checkout.
Failed or pending payments
If a payment doesn’t go through, the order simply won’t be placed and the item stays available. Unpaid orders are released back to the marketplace after a short window, so if you meant to buy something and got interrupted, you may need to start again.