Stellar vs Solana vs Monad for accepting payments
With Cosmos Pay, a payment on Stellar, Solana or Monad reaches your address and pays the same plan rate. What changes is the link the wallet reads (SEP-7 on Stellar, Solana Pay on Solana, EIP-681 to a deposit address on Monad), how a payment is matched to its link and which assets have a preset. The table compares them as Cosmos Pay supports them.
The three networks, side by side
| Topic | Stellar | Solana | Monad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment link | SEP-7 (web+stellar:pay) and its QR code | Solana Pay transfer request (solana:) and its QR code | EIP-681 (ethereum:) and its QR code, to a deposit address made for that payment |
| How a payment is matched | A numeric memo on the link | A Solana Pay reference key on the link | Its own deposit address |
| Where the money goes | Straight to your address | Straight to your address | A deposit address that can only forward it to your address |
| Network fee | Paid by the payer’s wallet | Paid by the payer’s wallet | The payer’s wallet pays its transfer; the relay’s fee for forwarding is deducted from the payment |
| Assets with a preset | XLM, USDC, USDT0, EURC | SOL, USDC | MON, USDC |
| Test network | Testnet (XLM, USDC, USDB) | Devnet (SOL, USDC) | Testnet (MON) |
| Amount | Fixed, or chosen by the payer | Fixed, or chosen by the payer | Required |
| Message in the wallet | Yes | Yes | No |
| Your own fee on a payment | The payer gives their account and pays both in one transaction | A Solana Pay transaction request with both transfers | The deposit address splits the payment |
| Wallets that pay | Any wallet that opens SEP-7 links, such as Cosmos Pay Wallet, Freighter, LOBSTR, xBull, Albedo, or Rabet | Any wallet that reads Solana Pay links, such as Phantom or Solflare | Any EVM wallet that reads EIP-681 links |
| Private payments | Yes, on Testnet for now | No | No |
| Cosmos Pay rate | Your plan’s rate (1.5% + 18¢ on Starter) | Your plan’s rate (1.5% + 18¢ on Starter) | Your plan’s rate (1.5% + 18¢ on Starter) |
The assets with a preset are the ones the dashboard offers by name; each network’s page lists their addresses. Any other token goes by its issuer, mint or contract.
How to choose
One account takes payments on all three networks, and each link names the one it settles on. These differences decide where a payment fits:
- Charge where your customers already hold the stablecoin. The same API keys and webhook endpoints serve all three networks.
- To let the customer choose the amount, as for donations, use Stellar or Solana: a Monad link needs an amount.
- To show a message in the customer’s wallet, such as an order number, use Stellar or Solana.
- To keep the amount private on-chain, use private payments: they run on Stellar, on Testnet for now.
What it costs on each network
Cosmos Pay charges your plan’s rate per payment, the same on Stellar, Solana and Monad: 1.5% + 18¢ on Starter, with no monthly fee. The payer’s wallet pays the network fee on all three. On Monad, the relay’s fee for forwarding the payment to you is deducted from the payment, and the checkout shows it.
Can I accept payments on all three networks?
Yes. Each payment link settles on one network, which you choose when you create it. The same account, API keys and webhooks work for all three.
Can I test on all three?
Yes. Sandbox and test keys (dv_) create links on Stellar Testnet, Solana Devnet and Monad Testnet. Monad Testnet has no USDC preset: charge in MON there, or name a token by its contract.
Is Cosmos Pay cheaper on one network?
No. Your plan’s rate is the same on all three. The payer’s wallet pays the network fee, and on Monad the relay’s fee for forwarding a payment is deducted from the payment.
