Support / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers, with a link to the longer version of each.
The basics
What does riverArk do?
riverArk lets your business accept Bitcoin payments over the Lightning network and settle in USD. Your customer scans a code and pays, and the sale settles into your own Strike business account.
Does riverArk hold my money?
No. riverArk is non-custodial and never takes possession of your funds at any point. Payments go from your customer to your own settlement account, with riverArk acting as an agent of the payee.
What do I need before I can take a payment?
A riverArk account and a connected Strike business account, which is what your sales settle into. Strike approval usually takes a day or two once your documentation is complete.
Setting up your Strike business account → Create an account →
Why would I accept Bitcoin at all?
Acceptance costs less than card processing and the payments cannot be charged back. Every sale that moves off cards is money you keep.
Money and settlement
How quickly does a payment confirm?
Lightning payments confirm in seconds, so your customer is done at the counter or the machine before they put their phone away.
Is there a minimum or maximum payment?
riverArk accepts up to 0.05 BTC per payment. Customers paying with Cash App can pay from $1 up to their Cash App weekly limit, which Cash App shows in the app.
Do I get dollars or bitcoin?
Sales settle in USD to your Strike business account by default. You can choose to keep bitcoin instead.
Can a customer charge back a payment?
No. A confirmed Lightning payment is final and cannot be reversed by the payer, their wallet, or riverArk.
How do I refund somebody?
Because payments are final, a refund is a separate payment you make to the customer rather than a reversal of the original sale.
What does it cost?
Pricing is a percentage of what you process through riverArk, and the rate steps down as your monthly riverArk volume grows. Ask us and we will tell you the tier your volume lands in.
Setting it up
Can I put this on my website or in my app?
Yes. The riverArk API is public and documented, so a developer can build checkout against it today.
How do I get an API key?
Create one in your riverArk account under API Keys. Use a separate key per machine or per integration so you can rotate one without disturbing the rest.
I run vending machines or kiosks. How does that work?
Machine integrators build against the same API, and each operator runs their own riverArk account with their own Strike account, so sales settle to the operator.
Can I see it working before I commit?
Yes. The live demo runs a real Lightning payment through a virtual vending machine in your browser.
At the counter
What does my customer actually do?
They pick Bitcoin at checkout, scan the code with any Lightning wallet, and confirm. Strike, Cash App, Phoenix and Wallet of Satoshi all work.
My customer has never paid with Bitcoin before.
Point them at our guide for shoppers. It walks through installing a wallet and paying, and it is written for somebody who has never done it.
Can I get signage telling customers I accept Bitcoin?
Yes, and verified riverArk accounts get the material for their channel at no charge. Clings, machine decals, counter cards and badges are all in the store.
Where do I see my sales?
In your riverArk dashboard, which lists transactions as they happen alongside your API keys and account settings.
When something goes wrong
A customer says they paid and I did not get it.
Check your transaction list first, since a payment that confirmed will be there. If it is not, get the payment hash from their wallet and send it to us with the invoice ID.
Is riverArk down?
The status page shows each part of the platform and whether it is responding right now.
What should I include when I contact support?
The invoice or transaction ID, the date and amount, and what you expected to happen. With those three we can usually answer on the first reply.