OpenNode

OpenNode: Merchant Overview Of A Bitcoin Payment Processor

OpenNode is a Bitcoin and Lightning Network payment processor for merchants that want to accept bitcoin online and in person, issue invoices, automate payouts, and settle either in BTC, local currency, or a split of both. It combines hosted checkout, payment links and buttons, conversion tools, settlement controls, and a REST API.

OpenNode Capabilities For Merchants

OpenNode focuses on bitcoin-powered payments and payouts. Merchants can:

• Accept bitcoin with Lightning settlement (instant) or on-chain settlement (near-instant).

• Convert bitcoin to supported local currencies automatically at the time of payment with locked exchange rates, or convert on demand.

• Transfer funds to an external bitcoin wallet or a bank account, on a schedule or on demand.

• Initiate one-off or mass payouts from the dashboard or via API.

Because the platform is bitcoin-only, it is not positioned as a card or bank payment gateway.

Payment Acceptance Channels And Checkout Flows

Online Payments

OpenNode supports multiple online acceptance patterns:

• Hosted checkout: a pre-built hosted payment page optimized for bitcoin payments.

• Payment links and payment buttons: lightweight checkout entry points that can be embedded or shared.

For API-driven implementations, merchants create a charge and redirect the payer to the hosted checkout URL. The hosted checkout supports both on-chain and Lightning payment options, and includes options such as defaulting to Lightning or hiding fiat value display.

In-Person Payments

For physical retail and events, OpenNode supports in-person payment requests displayed on a connected device. Customers pay by scanning a QR code with a Bitcoin wallet, and the activity is recorded in the merchant dashboard.

Invoicing And Billing

OpenNode supports invoicing for B2B and customer billing. Merchants can create itemized invoices, then send them as a link or PDF from the dashboard. Invoice settlements follow the same Lightning or on-chain model.

Settlement, Conversion, And Payouts

Settlement Options And Split Settlement

Merchants can settle in bitcoin, local currency, or a mix. Split settlement allows a defined percentage to remain in BTC while the remainder is converted to local currency.

Currency Conversion And Currencies

OpenNode supports automatic conversion at the time of the transaction and on-demand conversion from the dashboard. Locked rates are available for automatic conversion.

For creating payment requests, OpenNode states support for 190+ source currencies. Settlement and conversion are described for a defined list of major currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, BRL, MXN, AUD, HKD, and CAD.

Transfers, Withdrawals, And Payouts

OpenNode differentiates withdrawal and transfer paths:

• Bitcoin wallet transfers: scheduled on-chain withdrawals processed weekly, plus on-demand withdrawals via Lightning (free) or on-chain (fee-based).

• Bank withdrawals: scheduled withdrawals processed daily with next-business-day transfers, plus on-demand withdrawals that may take 1 to 2 business days.

OpenNode Fees And Pricing

OpenNode describes a 1% transaction fee for payments and payouts, with no hidden charges, no conversion fees, and no sign-up costs. It also states:

• Lightning withdrawals are free.

• On-demand on-chain bitcoin wallet withdrawals incur a 1% fee.

• Scheduled on-chain wallet withdrawals are free.

OpenNode also references volume discounts in certain partner contexts and supports custom quotes for higher-volume or specialized requirements.

APIs, Webhooks, And Developer Tooling

OpenNode provides a REST API for on-chain and Lightning operations, including charges and hosted checkout flows, webhooks for charge and withdrawal status updates, and endpoints for rates and supported currencies. It also documents static Lightning addresses using LNURL-Pay.

Developer documentation is publicly accessible, with API access controlled through credentials. The webhook model supports event-driven payment handling, and OpenNode also provides a webhook simulator to help developers test webhook parsing and status logic without running live transactions during integration and QA cycles.

Ecommerce Plugins And Integrations

OpenNode lists ecommerce plugins for Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and OpenCart. For code-first builds, OpenNode highlights official libraries for Node.js and PHP.

Security, Privacy, And Compliance

OpenNode describes security controls such as monitoring for irregular activity, multisig support, standard withdrawal limits, and IP whitelisting. It positions bitcoin payments as payer-initiated and final, with no chargebacks and reduced fraud exposure relative to reversible payment types.

OpenNode states that personal payer data is not required to initiate a payment and that merchants do not need to worry about PCI compliance costs because the platform transfers value rather than payer card data. OpenNode also references compliance with AML and ATF regulations and includes privacy-rights disclosures referencing GDPR and CCPA.

Reporting, Support, And Operations

OpenNode describes downloadable transaction data for accounting, payout tracking and reporting in the dashboard, and API endpoints that can support reconciliation. It also describes 24/7 support in the context of payouts and provides a Help Center for implementation and operational guidance.

Who OpenNode Fits Best

OpenNode tends to fit merchants that want Bitcoin and Lightning Network acceptance without adding card acquiring, and that need flexible settlement controls plus API or plugin integrations for automation.

Conclusion

OpenNode is a bitcoin-focused merchant payments platform that combines online checkout, payment links and buttons, invoicing, in-person QR payments, conversion with locked rates, settlement options including split settlement, and payout automation. For merchants that specifically want Bitcoin and Lightning Network support, it offers both plugin-based integrations and API tooling to embed acceptance, settlement, and reporting into commerce and finance workflows.