Woman smiling while working on her laptop

What is a crypto on-ramp? How people swap pounds for crypto, and back again

By SendPay Business · · 2 min read

Your numbers, worked out
  1. Type in your own numbers
  2. The tool works it out
  3. See the answer clearly

An on-ramp is the way someone turns ordinary money, like pounds or euros, into crypto. An off-ramp is the reverse: selling crypto and getting the money back into a bank account. Every crypto app needs both, and they're where most of the rules and checks sit.

How an on-ramp works

  • The customer passes identity checks.
  • They pay in by bank transfer or card.
  • The provider buys the crypto and puts it in the customer's wallet.
Smiling man in a suit in a modern office

How an off-ramp works

The customer sells crypto in the app, the provider converts it to their currency, and pays it out to their bank account or balance. Checks can apply here too, especially on large amounts.

Try it

Name your platform and watch it come to life

Type a name, tap a colour and pick what it does. The phone changes as you go.

Colour

What it does

Build mine

Design and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.

What it costs

Most on-ramps charge a fee plus a spread on the price, and card top-ups usually cost more than bank transfers. Always compare the total amount of crypto you get for the same money.

Developers at work

The rules

Firms that exchange money for crypto usually need a licence or registration. In the UK, that means registering with the FCA for anti-money laundering. That's why identity checks come first, and why most new crypto apps launch with a licensed partner.

Man beside a laptop and a cup of tea

How it works

Your own money app
  1. Name it and pick your colours
  2. Choose what it does
  3. Launch when you are ready

Why sign up

Create your free SendPay account

It's all about creating your own financial platform with ease. Start with a free account today.

  • A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
  • Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
  • A free business websiteFree to build, free to publish and free to keep, with unlimited visits.
  • Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.

SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.

Questions people ask

What does the spread cost me?

See the gap between buy and sell prices.

Crypto spread calculator →
What is a stablecoin?

A crypto token that aims to hold a steady value, such as one dollar.

What is a stablecoin? →
Why do crypto apps check my identity?

Anti-money laundering rules require it. The guide explains KYC and AML.

What is KYC and AML? →
Can I launch my own crypto app?

Yes. SendPay crypto exchange platforms, powered by licensed partners, are free to design and preview, and you launch when you are ready.

Start a crypto wallet app →

Read next

Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.