Short answer
As of 2026-10-22, none of the three big model providers takes crypto for its API. OpenAI's and Anthropic's help centers only describe card payments, and the Gemini API is billed through a Google Cloud billing account that takes cards and bank accounts. To pay with crypto you need a third-party API platform: OpenRouter accepts USDC only, and TeamoRouter accepts USDT, USDC and ETH.
Official payment methods compared
| Platform | Payment methods it lists | Crypto | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI API | Prepaid credits or automatic credit-card charges for individuals and teams; monthly invoices for enterprise. First purchase at least $5; credits expire after one year | Not listed | API billing, Prepaid billing |
| Anthropic Claude API | Prepaid credits in the Claude Console, paid by card; organizations with an invoicing agreement pay monthly through Stripe. Credits expire after one year and aren't refundable | Not listed | How do I pay for my Claude API usage? |
| Google Gemini API | Link a Google Cloud billing account and prepay at least $5; self-serve billing accounts pay by credit card or bank account | Not listed | Gemini API billing, Cloud Billing payment methods |
| OpenRouter | Cards, AliPay and USDC. A platform fee applies when you buy credits (5.5% on Standard, 8% on Business). Crypto payments are never refundable | USDC only | FAQ, Pricing |
| TeamoRouter | Cards, Alipay and a crypto checkout; USDT already on X Layer can be paid by signing with OKX Wallet. Crypto payments are not refundable | USDT, USDC, ETH | Billing docs |
OpenAI and Anthropic also publish lists of supported countries. Outside those, a working card doesn't get you access.
Why the providers don't take crypto but gateways can
Model providers bill you directly through traditional channels such as cards and bank accounts. Platforms like OpenRouter and TeamoRouter pay the providers themselves and resell API usage by the token, so they choose which payment methods to accept. The trade-off is that you're trusting the platform: it sets its own prices, reliability and refund rules.
OpenRouter vs. TeamoRouter for crypto payments
| OpenRouter | TeamoRouter | |
|---|---|---|
| Coins | USDC | USDT, USDC, ETH |
| Minimum | See OpenRouter's site | $5 (networks open by amount: BEP20 from $5, ERC20 and Base from $10, TRC20 from $30) |
| Extra fees | Platform fee on credit purchases (5.5% on Standard) | No checkout fee; you pay your exchange's withdrawal fee |
| Model prices | Provider list price, no markup | Claude at roughly 30% of list price, GPT at 20–30%; see the pricing page |
| Refunds | Crypto payments never refundable | Crypto payments not refundable |
Which to pick:
- You hold USDT: TeamoRouter, with no need to swap to USDC first. See How to pay for the Claude API with USDT.
- You hold USDC and need niche models from OpenRouter's catalog: OpenRouter, whose catalog is much larger (500+ models, per its pricing page). See OpenRouter crypto payments.
- You mainly use Claude Code or Codex: either works. TeamoRouter serves Claude on the native Anthropic API, so Claude Code only needs
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL. See Claude Opus 5.5 API for Claude Code.
What about crypto debit cards?
Some people load a crypto debit card with USDT and add it to their OpenAI or Anthropic account. These cards usually need ID verification and fees, and the issuing bank's card range can still be declined at checkout. If you only need API access, topping up an API platform with USDT skips the card entirely. For card problems in general, see Claude card declined: payment fixes.
Things to know before paying for AI APIs with crypto
- No refunds: crypto payments are not refunded at either OpenRouter or TeamoRouter. Start small.
- Match coin and network: send exactly the coin and network the checkout shows; anything else doesn't count as payment.
- Compare withdrawal fees: at the same exchange, fees can differ more than a hundredfold between networks. Binance charged 0.01 USDT for USDT on BEP20 and 1.5 USDT on TRC20 on 2026-10-22. OKX has no BEP20 for USDT; see Paying for AI APIs from OKX.
- Holding USDC or ETH: see Paying for AI APIs with USDC or ETH.
FAQ
Can I pay OpenAI in USDT? Not directly. You can top up TeamoRouter with USDT and call GPT models there; see How to pay for the OpenAI API with USDT.
Can I pay for Claude Code in USDT? Anthropic's subscriptions and API credits don't take USDT. You can fund an API balance with USDT and point Claude Code at TeamoRouter; see Pay for Claude Code with USDT.
Does OpenRouter accept USDT? Its FAQ lists USDC as the only crypto.