New to Crypto? Start Here
Blockchain, The Public Database
Think of blockchain as a public database where everyone can see transactions, but no one can change them. Just like there are many banks, there are also many blockchains, each with its own network and native coin used to pay gas fees for recording transactions on-chain (in the blockchain).
In the context of crypto payments, your crypto address works like a bank account number, but without KYC which means it doesn't reveal your identity. So technically, nobody knows who owns which address.
However, once someone who knows you in real life pays you (or you pay them), they can view your on-chain crypto assets and transaction history. It’s like showing your entire bank statement every time you get paid. You could create a new address for each payment, but that quickly becomes complicated, especially if you’re active across multiple blockchains.
Bridge, The Central Bank
In traditional finance, banks are connected by a central bank that moves funds between them. In blockchain, that “central bank” role is played by bridges, which like the name said, connect one blockchain to another, letting you move or swap crypto across blockchain networks.
So when you hear about sending crypto “from another chain,” it’s basically like an inter-bank transfer, only this time, it’s global and decentralized.
On-Chain Privacy & Risks
Since the blockchains we use are public, anyone can trace a crypto account activity. That means your crypto transactions and crypto assets can be visible to others who knows your crypto accounts. This can: – make you a target for scams or phishing, – let people around you see more than you intend, – or even enable impersonation scams (someone pretending to be a friend or client).
Transparency is great for accountability, but not for personal privacy.
In fact, many crypto wallets have been scammed through targeted and sophisticated attacks. And since blockchain is decentralized, you’re your own bank. There’s no customer support to call when things go wrong.
That’s why PIVY wants to make crypto payments feel simple, easy, private — and a little fun too.
Pay with PIVY
PIVY makes crypto payments feel as simple as sending to a virtual account (VA). Each time you receive crypto, PIVY automatically generates a fresh address, similar to how a new VA number is created for every payment.
You can also think of it like a burner phone for crypto payments: every transaction uses a new “number,” keeping your main wallet private while still connecting securely to your PIVY account.
Behind the scenes, PIVY uses secure cryptography to handle these addresses safely. You don’t need to understand the technical details to use it, but if you’re curious, you can check the Technical Explanation.
PIVY also supports auto-bridging for USDC, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 with USD. This means you can receive payments from any supported chain without worrying about manual swaps or gas tokens.
All you need to share is your PIVY link, QR code, or username and you’re ready to get paid.
Convert Crypto to Fiat
At the moment, PIVY focuses on helping you receive crypto payments easily and privately. To turn your crypto into your local currency, you can use one of the following methods:
Centralized Exchange (CEX) Withdraw your crypto from PIVY to an exchange account address, convert it to USDC or USDT if needed, and then sell it for your preferred fiat currency. Most exchanges also support P2P (peer-to-peer) trading where you can sell directly to other users for local money.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) If you prefer staying off exchanges, you can use trusted P2P platforms or communities to trade your crypto directly for fiat.
In the future, PIVY aims to offer a native off-ramp feature to make this process even smoother so you can convert crypto to fiat directly within PIVY without leaving the app.
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