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How to Use Kinesis Pay as a Customer: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use Kinesis Pay as a Customer

Kinesis Pay lets you pay for goods or services using allocated gold (KAU), allocated silver (KAG), certain cryptocurrencies, or other supported digital assets. Once your account is set up, the payment itself is usually quick.

1. Set up and verify your account

Register for a Kinesis account with basic personal details and a login. You then complete the required identity checks. This typically means uploading a government-issued ID, taking a selfie or facial scan, and providing proof of address if asked. Because the system moves real-value digital gold or silver, unverified accounts cannot send or spend. Full verification is needed before any payments can be made.

2. Add funds to your wallet

Payments settle mainly in KAU or KAG rather than regular currency. You can fund the wallet in several ways:

• Deposit fiat (USD, EUR, GBP and others) by bank wire or SEPA and exchange it for KAU or KAG on the Kinesis exchange.
• Deposit supported cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, USDC or USDT and convert them.
• Receive KAU or KAG from another Kinesis user.
• Mint KAU or KAG by depositing physical bullion where that option is available.

Make sure the balance covers the full purchase amount plus any network or transaction fees (normally around 0.22 %). There is no credit facility; the system works strictly as a debit.

3. Locate a merchant that accepts Kinesis Pay

Look for a “Pay with Kinesis” badge, button or QR code on an online checkout page, at a store counter, or on an invoice or payment request. There is no central public directory of merchants at present, so you may need to check the list of payment options on the site or simply ask the merchant whether they accept it.

4. Start a payment online

Add items to the cart and proceed to checkout as usual. Select “Pay with Kinesis” from the payment methods. The merchant site will display either a QR code (which you scan with the Kinesis mobile app) or a payment link or button that opens the Kinesis wallet interface. On a desktop you can copy the Payment ID shown on the page or click the “Continue in Browser” option under the QR code to open the payment screen in your account.

5. Start a payment in a physical store

Tell the cashier you wish to pay with Kinesis Pay. They generate a dynamic QR code on their terminal or tablet that shows the exact amount in KAU or KAG, converted from the local currency price at the current gold or silver rate. Open the Kinesis mobile app, tap the Scan icon and point the camera at the code. The app automatically reads the merchant’s wallet address and the amount.

6. Choose the asset to spend

In the payment screen select the balance you want to use—allocated gold (KAU), allocated silver (KAG), a supported cryptocurrency or another accepted digital asset. A preview of the precise quantity of that asset required appears at once, calculated to match the fiat value of the purchase at that moment.

7. Review and confirm the payment

Check the details: merchant name or wallet address, total amount in the chosen asset, and the separate transaction fee. Confirm that your balance is sufficient; the app will notify you if it is not. Authorise the payment with your usual security method—a one-time code from an authenticator app, biometric confirmation on the mobile app, or a hardware security key if you have set one up. Once confirmed, the selected asset is transferred to the merchant’s Kinesis account. No card details are involved.

8. Wait for confirmation

After authorisation the transaction is sent to the Kinesis blockchain (built on the Stellar network) and normally settles in 3–5 seconds. You will see a short “Pending” status followed by a “Confirmed” notice that includes a transaction ID. The merchant’s system receives the same confirmation through a webhook or API callback and updates the order status. In a physical store the cashier’s terminal shows success and they can hand over the receipt and goods immediately.

9. Check the deduction and history

After the payment, open your Kinesis wallet dashboard or the mobile app homepage. Confirm that the balance has decreased by the exact amount plus fees and that the transaction appears in the history with the merchant’s name, date, time and amount. You can click the transaction ID to view it on the public blockchain explorer. From the same account you can also review full payment history, remaining balances, download records and check your metal and digital-asset holdings.

10. Handle refunds or disputes

If a refund is needed, contact the merchant directly. They can initiate a reverse transaction from their own dashboard. Refunds are returned in the same metal or asset you originally paid (for example KAU or KAG), not in fiat. The merchant sends the agreed amount to your wallet address. These usually appear within 1–2 business days and are labelled as refunds in your history. Kinesis does not mediate disputes; it only provides the payment system. Any issues with the goods or service must be resolved with the merchant’s customer service first.

11. Track spending and any Metalback credits

After a Kinesis Pay purchase you can check whether it qualifies for a Metalback credit (up to 10 % back in gold). Eligibility depends on the merchant’s participation level and the purchase category. If it qualifies, a separate credit entry for the bonus KAU or KAG appears in your wallet within 24–72 hours. The dashboard’s spending view shows total monthly outgoings made through Kinesis Pay. For larger or recurring payments you can ask the merchant about a custom Kinesis Pay invoice, which keeps the transaction off third-party card networks.