Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about accepting Bitcoin with PayMohawk.
Getting Started
How long does it take to set up?
Most merchants are live within 24 hours. We create your store, generate your credentials, and help you integrate. If you're on WooCommerce, the plugin install takes 5 minutes.
Do I need technical knowledge?
No. If you can install a WordPress plugin, you can set up PayMohawk. For Shopify or custom sites, our team handles the integration for you.
What do I need to get started?
Just a business name, email address, and a website (or we can help you set one up). Fill out the application form and we'll handle the rest.
Is there a contract or commitment?
No contracts. Starter is $0/month with a 1% fee on settled volume. Pro is $35/month with a 0.5% fee. Cancel anytime. No lock-in.
How do you collect fees if you're non-custodial?
We never take a cut of customer payments as they settle to your wallet. Instead we invoice you periodically (usually monthly) for platform fees based on settled volume in your BTCPay store, payable in Bitcoin to PayMohawk. You'll receive a checkout link when a bill is ready.
Payments & Bitcoin
What cryptocurrencies do you accept?
Bitcoin (on-chain) today, for every merchant. Lightning is available if you run your own Lightning node — we'll point your store at it. We may add more currencies in the future.
Do my customers need a Bitcoin wallet?
Yes, customers need a Bitcoin wallet to pay. Popular options include Muun, Cash App, and any exchange wallet that can send on-chain. The checkout page shows a QR code they scan with their wallet.
Can I get paid in Canadian dollars instead of Bitcoin?
PayMohawk processes Bitcoin payments — we don't convert to fiat. Payments settle directly to your wallet. If you want CAD, you can route Bitcoin through a Canadian exchange (Bull Bitcoin, Bitcoin Well, or your preferred partner) and have them send Interac e-Transfer to your bank, usually same day. Many merchants choose to hold Bitcoin as treasury instead.
What about chargebacks?
There are none. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible by design. Once a customer pays, the money is yours. This eliminates the chargeback fraud that plagues traditional payment processors.
How fast do I receive payment?
On-chain Bitcoin payments confirm in 10-60 minutes depending on fee priority. Compare this to credit card processors that hold your money for 2-7 business days.
Security & Privacy
Who controls my Bitcoin?
You do. PayMohawk is non-custodial — we never hold, touch, or have access to your funds. Bitcoin goes directly from your customer's wallet to your wallet. Your keys, your coins.
Can PayMohawk be shut down?
The marketing site or hosted BTCPay instance could face downtime like any service. What cannot be seized by a card processor is settled Bitcoin already in your wallet — we never hold it. Our payment engine is open-source (BTCPay Server), so you can migrate or self-host if needed.
Is this legal?
Yes. Bitcoin is legal in Canada. Accepting Bitcoin as payment for goods and services is no different than accepting cash or e-Transfer. PayMohawk is Mohawk-owned and operates under Indigenous self-governance.
Do you require KYC (identity verification)?
We collect basic business information (name, email, industry, optional website) to set up your store. We do not require government ID, SIN, or bank documents. That is light onboarding, not bank-style KYC.
Industries
Why do tobacco and cannabis merchants need this?
Traditional payment processors (Stripe, Square, PayPal) routinely reject or freeze accounts for tobacco, cannabis, and gaming merchants based on merchant category codes. We don't have category restrictions because Bitcoin doesn't need permission from banks.
Do you serve businesses outside of tobacco, cannabis, and gaming?
Yes. While we specialize in serving industries that traditional processors reject, any Indigenous business can use PayMohawk. Retail, services, food, crafts — everyone is welcome.
Do I need to be Indigenous to use PayMohawk?
PayMohawk is built by and for Indigenous businesses, but we don't turn anyone away. If you've been rejected by traditional processors and need a reliable payment solution, we're here.
Technical
What platforms do you integrate with?
WooCommerce via the official BTCPay plugin, Shopify via manual/hosted checkout today (native app planned), and any custom website via the Greenfield REST API. If you use a platform we don't cover yet, contact us and we'll help wire it up.
What is BTCPay Server?
BTCPay Server is the open-source payment engine that powers PayMohawk. It's used by thousands of merchants worldwide including major conferences and companies. It's battle-tested, actively maintained, and has zero processing fees. We host and manage it so you don't have to.
What is the Lightning Network?
Lightning is a second layer on top of Bitcoin that enables instant, near-free payments. Think of it like the difference between sending a wire transfer (slow, expensive) vs. tapping your debit card (instant, cheap). PayMohawk processes on-chain Bitcoin for every merchant. For Lightning we ask you to run your own node and we route your store's invoices to it — deliberately, because a shared Lightning wallet would mean we hold your money. Your channels, your keys.