Headless fiat onramps for your app

TL;DR Coinbase’s new Onramp API lets developers build a customized fiat-to-crypto experience into apps without pop-ups, redirects, or account logins. Now live on Moonshot.

Most onramps today take too long, interrupt the user journey with hosted pages or sign-up flows and are filled with user drop off. Even lightweight widgets can break the experience for a new user depositing money onchain. Coinbase’s Onramp API empowers builders to own their user experience by weaving the process of fiat funding natively into their app.

Now live on our launch partner Moonshot, Onramp API enables headless (no UI required) crypto purchases using Apple Pay for eligible U.S. users, with no need to create a Coinbase account. The result: a fiat onramping experience built for next generation consumer apps.

What it is and why it matters

Enabling users to bring money into crypto now is as simple as calling an API.  

The future of fiat onramps are headless and API-driven. Coinbase’s Onramp API removes major frictions from depositing money onchain by allowing apps to customize their UI.

Unlike widget-based or hosted flows, Coinbase Onramp API lets you curate a native experience for users, tailored to your app. The API works without needing to create or login to a Coinbase account. For fast-growing apps that prioritize simplicity in their onboarding UX, this gives teams more flexibility to reduce onramping steps, improve conversion, and get users onchain faster. It also leverages Coinbase’s backend infrastructure for authentication, payment processing, and onchain transactions.

“For too many users, depositing money is where their onchain journey ends. With our new Onramp API, apps like Moonshot are shrinking the time it takes and make it easier to bring funds onchain, giving builders the power to create seamless, magical experiences.” - Uddhav Marwaha, Product Manager, Coinbase Onramp & Offramp

How Moonshot is using it

Moonshot is a consumer crypto app to discover, create, and trade memecoins. Focused on making it easy for people new to crypto to buy or even create their first token, Moonshot uses Onramp API in their mobile app serving nearly 2 million users. Users can now buy crypto in just one tap, via Apple Pay.

“Every extra screen in onboarding is just an opportunity for users to bail. Coinbase Onramp API lets us build the deposit flow right into Moonshot - fast, simple, and exactly where it needs to be. Now people can buy crypto just like anything else. That’s the bar.” - The Moonshot Team

The Moonshot team chose Coinbase’s Onramp API because their users expect speed, simplicity, and low friction. Redirects were creating too much drop-off during onboarding. With this API, they’ve embedded the full deposit experience inline. And Moonshot’s team is already seeing meaningful improvements in onboarding speed and conversion.

Key Features 

Every part of Onramp API is designed to minimize friction and maximize conversion, giving developers the tools to offer a smooth app-native funding that just works. Some key features are:

• Headless experience – Your app owns the frontend. No hosted UI or modals.

• Quick integration – Create and execute an Onramp transaction from a single endpoint

• Increased conversion rate – Help your users get onboarded, faster

• Apple Pay – Fastest path from fiat to crypto, starting with debit card support.

• Guest checkout – No Coinbase account or login required. 

• Day 1 U.S Support – Users must have a U.S. phone number and pay in USD.

• Verbose error messages – Transparency throughout the user journey to make your CX team happy.

• Built on Coinbase – Use the same infra battle tested by Coinbase products.

Start building

• Request access to start building (Coinbase or CDP account required)

• Or schedule time with our team to learn more.

We’re excited to see what you build.