Fees & Payments
Complete transparency on marketplace fees, payment processing costs, Lightning Network payments, payout schedules, and how pricing works for buyers and sellers.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We believe in complete fee transparency. All fees are shown upfront before purchase, with no hidden charges. This guide explains exactly how fees are calculated and what you'll pay or receive.
Fee Overview
Kingpin charges three types of fees depending on your payment method: platform service fees, payment processing fees, and (for Lightning payments) network fees.
Platform Fee
Our commission that supports marketplace operations, support, and development.
Stripe Processing
Charged by Stripe for secure card payment handling, fraud protection, and fund transfers.
Lightning Network
Bitcoin Lightning payments via OpenNode. Lower platform fee, no fixed charge.
Important: All fees are calculated and displayed at checkout before you complete your purchase. The total you see is the total you pay — no surprises.
Platform Service Fees
Platform fees vary by item price to reward higher-value listings with lower rates. Fees are also adjusted by country based on purchasing power parity.
Global Tiered Structure (Fallback)
When no country-specific rate applies, the global tier structure is used:
| Item Price (USD equiv.) | Platform Fee | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $50.00 | 7% | $30 item → $2.10 fee |
| $50 – $250 | 6% | $75 item → $4.50 fee |
| $250 – $1,000 | 5% | $500 item → $25.00 fee |
| $1,000+ | 4% | $1,200 item → $48.00 fee |
Why tiered pricing? Higher-value listings receive lower percentage fees because the absolute amount is already substantial. This rewards both premium sellers and budget listings fairly.
PPP-Adjusted Country Rates
Platform fees are adjusted based on purchasing power parity (PPP) to ensure fair pricing across different economic regions:
| Tier | Countries (examples) | Platform Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — High Income | 🇺🇸 US, 🇨🇦 CA, 🇯🇵 JP, 🇦🇺 AU, 🇸🇪 Nordic | 4–7% (tiered) |
| Tier 2 — Upper Middle | 🇬🇧 GB, 🇩🇪 DE, 🇫🇷 FR, 🇰🇷 KR, 🇸🇬 SG | 4–6% (tiered or fixed) |
| Tier 3 — Middle Income | 🇵🇱 PL, 🇨🇿 CZ, 🇲🇽 MX, 🇲🇾 MY, 🇹🇭 TH | 3–5% (tiered) |
| Tier 4 — Emerging | 🇧🇷 BR | 3–4% (tiered) |
What Platform Fees Cover
- Secure infrastructure — Hosting, servers, database management, and technical maintenance
- Customer support — Dedicated support team for buyers and sellers
- Dispute resolution — Mediation services and payment protection systems
- Platform development — New features, security updates, and continuous improvements
- Trust & safety — Fraud prevention, content moderation, and verification systems
Payment Processing Fees (Stripe)
Card payment processing fees are charged by Stripe for secure transaction handling. They are separate from and in addition to the platform fee.
How Processing Fees Work
Processing fees consist of a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee. Both components vary by your country.
Processing Fee Formula
($55) × 2.9% + $0.30 = $1.595 + $0.30 = $1.90
(€55) × 1.45% + €0.25 = €0.80 + €0.25 = €1.05
Standard Rates by Region
| Region | Rate | Fixed Fee | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 2.9% | $0.30 | Standard US card network |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 3.4% | ₩250 | Asia Pacific rate |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1.45% | £0.20 | EEA regulation |
| 🇪🇺 Europe (most) | 1.45% | €0.25 | EEA regulation |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1.75% | A$0.30 | Australian network |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 3.4% | — | Asia Pacific rate |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 3.99% | R$0.39 | Higher risk market |
Verify Current Stripe Pricing
Processing fees are set by Stripe and may change. Always verify current rates:
What Processing Fees Cover
- Secure payment processing — PCI-compliant infrastructure and end-to-end encryption
- Fraud prevention — Advanced fraud detection and chargeback protection
- Payment method support — Credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets
- Currency conversion — Automatic conversion when buyer and seller currencies differ (+1%)
- Compliance — Regulatory compliance and financial reporting
Processing Fees by Country
Exact Stripe processing rates for every supported country, sourced directly from our payment configuration.
These rates are current as of early 2026 and pulled directly from your platform configuration. Always verify at stripe.com/pricing.
North America
| Country | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
🇺🇸 United States | 2.9% | $0.30 |
🇨🇦 Canada | 2.9% | CA$0.30/$0.30 |
🇲🇽 Mexico | 3.6% | MX$3.00/$0.30 |
Europe
Most EU/EEA countries share the same low rate thanks to the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and increased competition.
| Country | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1.45% | £0.20/€0.25 |
🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇫🇷 France + 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇲🇹 Malta | 1.45% | €0.25 |
🇩🇰 Denmark | 1.45% | kr 1.80/€0.25 |
🇸🇪 Sweden | 1.45% | kr 1.80/€0.25 |
🇳🇴 Norway | 1.45% | kr 2.00/€0.25 |
🇨🇭 Switzerland | 2.9% | CHF 0.30/€0.25 |
🇵🇱 Poland | 1.45% | zł 1.00/€0.25 |
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 1.45% | Kč 7.00/€0.25 |
🇷🇴 Romania | 1.45% | lei 1.00/€0.25 |
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 1.45% | лв 0.50/€0.25 |
Asia Pacific
| Country | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
🇦🇺 Australia | 1.75% | A$0.30 |
🇳🇿 New Zealand | 2.9% | NZ$0.30 |
🇯🇵 Japan | 3.4% | — |
🇸🇬 Singapore | 3.4% | S$0.50 |
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 3.4% | HK$2.35 |
🇲🇾 Malaysia | 3.4% | RM 2.00 |
🇹🇭 Thailand | 3.4% | ฿11.00 |
🇰🇷 South Korea | 3.4% | ₩250 |
Middle East
| Country | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 2.9% | د.إ 1.00 |
Latin America
| Country | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
🇧🇷 Brazil | 4% | R$0.39 |
⚡ Lightning Network Payments
Kingpin supports Bitcoin Lightning Network payments via OpenNode, offering lower fees and instant settlement with no chargebacks.
Card Payments
- Platform fee:3–7%
- Stripe processing:~1.45–3.99% + fixed
- Typical total:~8–11%
Lightning Payments
- Platform fee:5% (vs 7%)
- OpenNode processing:1% flat, no fixed fee
- Total:6% flat
Why lower fees? Lightning payments have no chargebacks and dramatically lower processing overhead than card networks. We pass those savings directly to sellers.
How Lightning Payments Work
Buyer selects Lightning at checkout
A BOLT11 Lightning invoice is generated by OpenNode with the exact amount in satoshis (sats), priced at the current BTC/fiat rate.
Invoice expires in 15 minutes
Lightning invoices are time-sensitive. The buyer must pay within 15 minutes using any Lightning-compatible wallet.
Instant payment confirmation
Payment confirms in seconds — no waiting for block confirmations. The order is immediately placed and the seller is notified.
Settlement & payout
Funds are held during the normal order protection period, then paid out to the seller's Lightning address or bank account.
Transaction Limits
| Limit | Sats | Approx. USD (at $95k BTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | 1,000 sats | ~$0.95 |
| Recommended max | 1,000,000 sats | ~$950 |
| Absolute max | 10,000,000 sats | ~$9,500 |
Recommended Wallets
You'll need a Lightning-compatible wallet to pay Lightning invoices on Kingpin.
Country-Specific Platform Fee Rates
Platform fees are determined by the seller's country. Country-specific rates always override the global tier structure.
How Country Rates Work
- 1
Country category-specific fixed rate
e.g. A specific product category in Korea has a custom rate
- 2
Country category-specific tiered rate
e.g. Category tiers within a specific country
- 3
Country fixed rate
e.g. Korea = 6% flat on all transactions
- 4
Country tiered rate
e.g. US tiered by item price ($0-50 → 7%, etc.)
- 5
Global currency rate
A rate set for a specific currency globally
- 6
Global tiered rate
The standard global tier structure
- 7
Default fallback
7% if nothing else applies
South Korea
Tiered Rate Model
Korean sellers use a tiered platform fee adjusted for local purchasing power.
United States
Tiered Rate Model
US sellers benefit from our full tiered pricing structure with four tiers.
Other countries: Sellers in countries without specific configuration use the global tiered structure (4–7%). We're continuously refining country-specific rates as we grow into new markets.
How Fees Are Calculated
Understanding the complete fee calculation helps you price items effectively and know exactly what you'll receive.
Card Payment Breakdown
Lightning Payment Breakdown
Currency conversion: When the buyer pays in a different currency than the seller's payout currency, Stripe charges an additional 1% conversion fee on top of standard processing. This is shown separately at checkout.
Real-World Pricing Examples
See exactly how fees work with concrete examples across different scenarios and payment methods.
Example 1: Budget Listing — US Seller, Card Payment
Used fingerboard deck, US domestic shipping
Transaction Details
- Item Price:$30.00
- Shipping:$5.00
- Buyer Pays:$35.00
Fee Breakdown
- Platform Fee (7%):−$2.10
- Stripe (2.9% + $0.30):−$1.32
- Seller Receives:$31.58
Example 2: Premium Listing — US Seller, Card Payment
High-end complete setup, US domestic shipping
Transaction Details
- Item Price:$150.00
- Shipping:$8.00
- Buyer Pays:$158.00
Fee Breakdown
- Platform Fee (4%):−$6.00
- Stripe (2.9% + $0.30):−$4.88
- Seller Receives:$147.12
Example 3: Korean Market — Card Payment
Fingerboard deck, Korean domestic shipping
Transaction Details
- Item Price:₩80,000
- Shipping:₩3,500
- Buyer Pays:₩83,500
Fee Breakdown
- Platform Fee (6%):−₩4,800
- Stripe (3.4% + ₩250):−₩3,089
- Seller Receives:₩75,611
Example 4: US Seller — Lightning Payment
Same $30 deck as Example 1, paid with Bitcoin Lightning
Transaction Details
- Item Price:$30 / ~31,578 sats
- Shipping:$5 / ~5,263 sats
- Buyer Pays:~36,842 sats
Fee Breakdown
- Platform Fee (5%):−1,842 sats
- OpenNode (1%, no fixed):−368 sats
- Seller Receives:~34,632 sats
Seller Payout Process
Understanding when and how you receive payment as a seller.
Payout Timeline
Order Placed
Buyer completes purchase. Payment is authorized and held by the payment processor.
Ship Item
You ship the item and provide tracking information within your handling window.
Delivery Confirmed
Item delivered. A hold period begins to give the buyer time to inspect the item.
Hold Period Complete
Auto-confirmed delivery: 14-day hold. Buyer-confirmed delivery: 7-day hold (faster payout reward).
Funds Received
Money arrives in your bank account 2–5 business days after payout is initiated.
Payout Methods
Standard Bank Transfer
Stripe pays out directly to your local bank account. Available in all supported countries. Typically 2–5 business days after release.
Lightning Payout
Receive sats directly to your Lightning address. Available when Lightning payments are enabled. Near-instant after hold period.
Hold Period Details
| Delivery Confirmation | Hold Period | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-confirmed (carrier webhook) | 14 days | Standard buyer protection window |
| Buyer manually confirms delivery | 7 days | Shorter hold rewards good service; buyer confirmation = documented receipt |
Our Commitment to Fee Transparency
We believe sellers and buyers deserve complete visibility into all costs, before and after every transaction.
Upfront Display
All fees shown before checkout completion — no surprises after payment
Detailed Breakdowns
Clear separation of platform fees, processing fees, and shipping costs
Helpful Tooltips
Hover explanations for every fee with links to verify current rates
No Hidden Charges
The price you see is the price you pay — always
How We Compare
See how Kingpin's fee structure compares to other popular marketplaces.
| Feature | Kingpin | eBay | Etsy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | Free | Free (first 250/mo) | $0.20 per listing |
| Platform Fee | 3–7% (tiered) | 13.25% (most items) | 6.5% |
| Payment Processing | 1.45–3.99% + fixed | ~3.5% included | 3% + $0.25 |
| Lightning Network | ✓ 6% total | ✗ Not supported | ✗ Not supported |
| Country-Specific Rates | ✓ Yes | Limited | Limited |
| PPP-Adjusted Pricing | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Fee Transparency | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Why Kingpin's Fees Make Sense
- Lower than eBay: Our 3–7% platform fee beats eBay's 13.25% on most items
- No listing fees: Unlike Etsy, you never pay just to list an item
- Rewards premium sellers: 4% rate for high-value listings
- Lightning discount: 6% total for Bitcoin Lightning — the lowest fee option
- PPP fairness: Lower fees in markets where purchasing power is lower
- Complete transparency: All fees shown before checkout, no hidden charges
Questions About Fees?
If you have questions about how fees work or need help calculating costs for a specific listing, our support team is here to help.