A freelancer who has never been paid in crypto needs four things: a wallet, an agreed coin and network, a deposit address, and a way to spend the money. This guide walks through each step in the order you would explain it.
Published September 30, 2026 · 3 min read
Only a wallet that can receive the coin you plan to send. The freelancer opens it, finds the deposit address for the chosen coin and network, and sends that address to you. Nexus Pay is one option: it is a crypto wallet with a Visa card that opens inside Telegram (bot @nexuspaymybot), and a Google login can be linked as a second way in. The wallet holds USDT, USDC, BTC and ETH. It is not a bank, so it helps to say that plainly when you explain it.
Agree on both before the freelancer shares an address, and put the decision in writing in your chat or contract. The coin is the asset, for example USDT or USDC. The network is the blockchain that carries it. In Nexus Pay, USDT and USDC can be deposited via TRC-20, ERC-20, BEP-20 and TON, while BTC and ETH use their own networks. Each deposit address belongs to one network, so the address, coin and network must match. If the freelancer wants to hold a different coin later, swaps inside the wallet cost 0% and use the exchange rate with no markup, and the amount received is shown before confirming.
The freelancer copies the address from the wallet for the agreed coin and network and sends it in a message, together with the name of the network. Copy and paste rather than retype, and ask the freelancer to confirm the network in the same message. Blockchain transfers are irreversible: nobody can bring back a transfer sent to the wrong address, and a coin sent through a different network than the address was issued for will not arrive. Each network also has a minimum deposit amount shown in the app, and deposits below it are not credited. Check that figure before you send, especially if you plan a small first payment.
The sequence is short, and each step has one owner. The table below shows who does what and what to confirm before moving on. Sending the checklist to the freelancer before the first invoice usually saves a round of questions later.
| Step | Who does it | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Open a wallet | Freelancer | The wallet supports the agreed coin |
| Agree coin and network | Both sides | The choice is written down in the chat or contract |
| Share the deposit address | Freelancer | The address was issued for that coin and network |
| Send the payment | Client | Network matches and the amount is above the minimum |
| Wait for confirmation | Both sides | The balance is credited after the network confirms |
| Spend or withdraw | Freelancer | Card issued after verification, or ATM withdrawal |
Deposits in Nexus Pay are credited automatically after the network confirms them. Depending on the blockchain, that takes from a few minutes to about an hour. Tell the freelancer this in advance, so a short wait does not look like a lost payment. If the payment has not appeared after the network has had time to confirm it, the first things to check are the network used and whether the amount was above the minimum shown in the app.
Once the balance is in the wallet, it can be spent by card or withdrawn as cash at an ATM. Issuing a card requires identity verification (a document and a photo), and the card is issued by a licensed partner organisation. The virtual card is issued right away and works online and contactless via Apple Pay and Google Pay. The physical card arrives by mail and works at tills and ATMs. The costs are listed below:
Since the ATM fee is charged per withdrawal, one larger withdrawal costs less than several small ones for the same total. For example, 1000 USDT moved to the card becomes $999.00, and withdrawn at an ATM it leaves $996.50 before any ATM-owner fee. This is general information about the mechanics, not tax or legal advice. How income received in crypto is treated depends on where the freelancer lives, so it is worth asking a qualified professional.
In Telegram, in a minute, with no paperwork.
Open Nexus Pay
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