How to Accept Payments in a Telegram Bot: An Overview of Methods

Payment is what turns a bot from a storefront into an actual store. There are several ways to accept payments, and each has its own requirements: some require you to be a sole proprietor or self-employed, while others only require a digital wallet. Let’s take a look at the main options.

Telegram’s Built-in Payments

Telegram has its own payment system: the bot issues an invoice, the buyer pays without leaving the chat, and the bot receives confirmation.

Card payments via a payment provider. The provider is connected via @BotFather (Payments section), after which the bot can issue invoices in rubles or another currency. To set this up, the provider will require the seller’s details—typically an individual entrepreneur, a legal entity, or a self-employed person.

Telegram Stars. This is Telegram’s internal currency. For digital goods and services within Telegram, the platform’s rules require that payments be accepted specifically in Stars. The buyer purchases Stars directly in Telegram, and the seller receives them in the bot’s balance.

Cryptocurrency

Crypto payments are popular with bots because they’re quick to set up and work for buyers from different countries.

Payment bots on Telegram—for example, @CryptoBot (its Crypto Pay API) and xRocket. You create an app within the bot, obtain an API key, and your bot issues invoices via the API. The buyer pays from their Telegram wallet, and your bot receives a notification (webhook) about the payment.

Payment to Your Wallet — USDT on the TRON (TRC-20) or BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20) networks, or TON. The bot displays the address and exact amount, then locates the transaction on the blockchain itself. There is no intermediary or intermediary fees involved, but it’s important to correctly identify payments—usually by the unique amount or the transaction comment.

Online Payment Processing and Payment Aggregators

Traditional payment services (such as YUKassa, Robokassa, and others) accept cards and payment cards on their secure pages. The bot sends the buyer a payment link, and after payment is made, the service notifies the bot.

Pros: Customers are familiar with credit cards and payment systems. Cons: You need to register as a merchant (many services work with self-employed individuals), pass a verification process, and post your offer, contact information, and return policy on your website or in the bot.

In-Bot Balance

A convenient system for stores with frequent purchases: the buyer tops up their balance once using any method and then makes purchases with a single click. This reduces the number of transfer fees and allows you to offer bonuses—cashback, referral commissions, and promo codes.

How to Choose

• If you mainly sell to a Russian audience—you’ll need cards and a payment system: an acquirer or aggregator, which means you must have sole proprietor or self-employed status.
• International audience or need a quick start—use cryptocurrency via payment bots or to your own wallet.
• Digital goods within Telegram—check Telegram’s payment requirements for Stars.

It’s best to set up two or three payment methods: this way, fewer buyers will drop off at the checkout stage.

Payment Security

• Don’t blindly trust payment notifications: after receiving a webhook, verify the payment status with the payment system.
• Verify the webhook’s signature—this prevents an attacker from “confirming” a payment with a fake request.
• Credit the funds exactly once: a duplicate notification for the same payment should not double the balance.
• Keep a payment log—you’ll need it in case of disputes with customers.

If you don’t want to build all of this from scratch, check out ready-made bots with integrated payment and an article on launching a store bot.