Every order on UK Peptide Marketplace is paid in cryptocurrency into escrow. If you have never bought crypto before, the steps are simple but unforgiving: a payment sent on the wrong network or for the wrong amount can be slow or impossible to recover. This guide covers the practical side for UK buyers. It is not investment advice, and nothing here suggests holding crypto as an investment.
Stablecoins or volatile coins
There are two broad kinds of coin you might pay with.
| Stablecoins (for example USDT, USDC) | Volatile coins (for example BTC, ETH) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Designed to track the US dollar | Moves freely, sometimes by several per cent in a day |
| Effect on your order | The amount you buy is close to the amount you pay | The value can shift between buying and paying |
| Things to watch | Pound to dollar exchange rate; which network the coin is on | Price movement, and often slower or dearer transfers |
Prices on this site are in GBP and converted at checkout. Because most stablecoins track the dollar, the sterling cost moves slightly with the pound to dollar rate, but much less than a volatile coin. Many buyers use a stablecoin for that reason. Use whichever coin the checkout accepts and you are comfortable with.
Buying crypto in the UK
UK firms that offer crypto exchange or wallet services must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for anti-money laundering purposes. Registration is not the same as full regulation: the FCA warns that most crypto is high risk and that you are unlikely to have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if something goes wrong.
At the time of writing, firms such as Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp and Revolut appear on the FCA’s register of cryptoasset businesses. These are examples, not recommendations, and registrations can change, so search the FCA Financial Services Register yourself before you sign up. Be wary of any platform that is not on the register or that appears on the FCA warning list.
What to expect when you first buy:
- Identity checks. Photo ID and often proof of address before you can deposit.
- A cooling-off period. Under FCA rules, first-time buyers on a UK platform are typically shown risk warnings, asked some appropriateness questions and given a 24-hour cooling-off period. Allow for this if you want to order on a particular day.
- Bank limits. Some UK banks limit or block payments to crypto platforms. If a transfer fails, check with your bank before trying again.
- Spreads and fees. The price you pay usually includes a spread or fee. Compare the total pounds spent with the amount of coin received.
Networks and fees
The same coin can exist on several blockchains. USDT, for example, is issued on Ethereum, Tron and others. A coin sent on one network cannot simply arrive at an address expecting another, even if the address looks similar.
- The checkout tells you which coin and which network to use. Match both exactly.
- Each network charges its own transaction fee, paid by the sender. Fees on some networks are a few pence; on others they can be several pounds when the network is busy.
- Exchanges add their own withdrawal fee on top, and some take it from the amount being sent, so the recipient receives less than you entered.
Before sending, check that the amount that will actually arrive covers the full total shown at checkout, including the 8% escrow fee.
Wallet basics
A wallet holds the keys that control your coins. There are two kinds:
- Custodial. The exchange holds the keys and you log in to an account. Convenient, but the exchange controls when and how funds move.
- Self-custody. An app or hardware device on which you hold the keys yourself, protected by a recovery phrase. Write the phrase down on paper and never type it into a website or share it with anyone, including anyone claiming to be support staff.
Many buyers buy on an exchange, withdraw to a self-custody wallet, then pay from there. When you withdraw, a UK exchange may ask whether the destination wallet belongs to you, because of the Travel Rule on crypto transfers. Answer accurately.
How the escrow checkout detects payment
When you place an order, the checkout shows a payment address, the coin, the network and the exact amount for that order, usually with a time limit. When you send, the transaction is broadcast to the network and the checkout watches for it. Once it has the required number of network confirmations, your payment is marked as received and the order moves to the brand for dispatch. Confirmations can take seconds or much longer depending on the network and how busy it is.
From there, funds stay in escrow. The brand is paid only after delivery, with a 7-day inspection window in which you can open a claim. The full sequence is on how escrow works.
Common mistakes
- Wrong network. Sending USDT on one chain to an address shown for another. Always copy the network from the checkout, not from memory.
- Paying directly from an exchange. Exchange withdrawals can be delayed for review, batched with other users’ transfers, or reduced by a fee taken from the amount. Any of these can leave a payment late or short. Paying from your own wallet avoids most of this.
- Underpaying. Forgetting that a fee was deducted, or rounding the amount down.
- Paying after the timer runs out. Start a fresh checkout instead of reusing an old address.
- Typing addresses by hand. Copy and paste, then check the first and last few characters match.
- Paying outside the checkout. If anyone asks you to pay a brand directly, the payment is not held in escrow.
Refunds and the Escrow Wallet
If a claim succeeds or an order is cancelled before release, refunds are credited to your Escrow Wallet on the marketplace rather than sent back to the address you paid from. This matters because exchange deposit addresses can change and may not accept an unexpected incoming transfer. From your Escrow Wallet you can put the balance towards another order or request a withdrawal to a wallet you control. The conditions are set out in the escrow refund policy.
Before you pay, compare listings on price per mg on our compound pages and check each brand’s stated dispatch details on the UK delivery page. Brands are listed in the brand directory; they are listed and compared, not endorsed.
Common questions
Can I pay for an order with a bank card?
Not directly. Orders are paid in crypto into escrow. You can buy crypto with a card or bank transfer on a UK exchange first.
Which crypto is best for paying online in the UK?
For payments, many people use a stablecoin because its value moves less between buying and sending. Use a coin and network that the checkout lists.
Is crypto regulated in the UK?
Crypto firms must register with the FCA for anti-money laundering, and promotions are regulated, but most crypto is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman or FSCS.
What happens if I send crypto on the wrong network?
The funds may not arrive and may be very hard to recover. Contact support at once with the transaction ID, but check the network every time before sending.
How long does a crypto payment take to show?
It depends on the network and how busy it is, from under a minute to longer at peak times. The checkout updates once enough confirmations arrive.