Paying with Crypto? Here is What You Need to Know About Wait Times

InterServer offers crypto payments as a choice over coinbase or btcpay depending on the checkout link used to pay. However, if you are used to the instant “ding” of a credit card, paying with Bitcoin or Litecoin can feel a little different. You might hit send and wonder, “Did they get it? Why is it still pending?”

Don’t worry—that is normal. Here is a breakdown of why crypto payments take a little longer and what is happening behind the scenes while you wait.

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How long will it take?

The honest answer is: It varies.

Unlike a Visa or Mastercard transaction that connects directly to a bank for an instant approval, crypto transactions have to be confirmed on the blockchain. This speed changes based on how busy the network is at that exact moment.

If you want to see the current traffic conditions for Bitcoin, you can check a tracker like YCharts Bitcoin Average Confirmation Time. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes; other times, during heavy traffic, it can take much longer.

Why is Bitcoin slower than a Credit Card?

When you send a payment to us, it doesn’t go straight into our wallet instantly. Instead, it enters a digital waiting room called the “mempool.”

Think of the Bitcoin network like a train station. The “blocks” are the trains. These trains only arrive roughly every 10 minutes. Your transaction is a passenger waiting to get on the next train. If the station is crowded (high network activity), you might miss the first train and have to wait for the second or third one.

The Confirmation Process

For us to mark your invoice as “Paid,” we generally require the transaction to be confirmed on the blockchain. Getting on the train isn’t enough; the train has to leave the station.

Usually, merchants require a certain number of “confirmations.” This means not only has your transaction been added to a block (1 confirmation), but several more blocks have been added on top of it. This ensures the money is truly yours and the transaction is irreversible. This security is why crypto is so safe, but also why it isn’t instant.

Bitcoin (BTC) vs. Litecoin (LTC)

You may have noticed that if you pay with Litecoin, things seem to move faster. This is by design.

• Bitcoin: The network is programmed to generate a block roughly every 10 minutes. It is the heavy mover of the crypto world—secure, massive, but slow.
• Litecoin: often called the “silver to Bitcoin’s gold,” is designed for speed. It generates a block every 2.5 minutes. Because the “trains” arrive four times as often, your payment usually gets picked up and confirmed much faster than with Bitcoin.

Speed Comparison Chart

Here is a quick look at how different payment methods compare when you are paying your invoice. Note that “Confirmations” refer to the network verifying the funds have moved.

Payment Method	Average Block/Process Time	What to Expect
Credit Card	Immediate	Instant authorization. Your service is active the fastest
PayPal	Minutes (IPN)	Verified by PayPal’s “Instant Payment Notification.” Slower than a credit card, but faster than crypto.
Dogecoin (DOGE)	~1-10 Minute	Usually Very fast. The network creates blocks quickly, leading to rapid confirmations.
Litecoin (LTC)	~2.5-20 Minutes	Usually Fast. A great middle-ground for payments that need to settle quickly.
Bitcoin (BTC)	~10 Minutes (per confirmation) can be over 60 minutes in cases	The slowest of the group. Requires patience, especially if the network is busy.

If you sent a crypto payment and it hasn’t shown up on your invoice yet, give it a little time for the blockchain to do its work. If it has been a while and you are still worried, or if you have any questions about which wallet address to use, just reach out.

Need help? Contact our support team directly—we are here to help you get your services running smoothly.