On October 7 and 8, the NOWPayments team joined TOKEN2049 Singapore at Marina Bay Sands. We spent two days catching up with partners, meeting teams from across the industry, and talking about what businesses need from crypto payments beyond checkout.
One collaboration had already been tested before we arrived. Our travel programme with Staynex covered 21 bookings and 151 room nights, with every crypto checkout completed. In Singapore, we also heard plenty of interest in AI-powered transactions, recurring billing, and simpler integrations.
Conversations at the NOWPayments Booth
We shared a space with ChangeNOW PRO, giving visitors a chance to learn about the wider NOWPayments business ecosystem and speak directly with our team. The most useful discussions quickly got practical: how a service fits into an existing workflow, what an integration involves, and what happens after the first payment.
NOWPayments at TOKEN2049 Singapore
ChangeNOW PRO and NOWPayments booth at TOKEN2049 Singapore
Elena, our account manager, was there to hear those questions in person. Conversations like these help us understand the everyday challenges businesses face after they start using a payment service, not just during setup.
Elena, NOWPayments Account Manager, at TOKEN2049 Singapore
Staynex: A Partnership Already in Use
Before the conference, we worked with Staynex to arrange accommodation for the NOWPayments team, paying in crypto through our own gateway. The collaboration also introduced a dedicated booking experience for travelers who wanted to reserve accommodation and pay in digital assets.
The published results from our team travel programme were:
- 21 completed bookings covering 151 room nights.
- 100% payment completion with no failed crypto checkouts.
- Estimated savings of around 10% compared with similar mainstream booking prices.
The booking experience was made available to our network of more than 20,000 partners. That number describes the network offered access, not the number of people who booked accommodation. The Staynex and NOWPayments partnership announcement and the corporate travel case study share more detail.
For us, it was a useful example of crypto handling a real business expense. During TOKEN2049, Sofia from our business development team also met Staynex CEO Yuen Wong. It was an opportunity to catch up in person after putting the collaboration to work.
Sofia with Staynex CEO Yuen Wong
The Meetings That Made the Trip Worthwhile
Some of the most valuable conversations happened outside the formal programme. Kate Lifshits met Fritz Sprueth from Dune and spoke with representatives from AWS and SUMM.
These teams work in different areas, including blockchain data, cloud infrastructure, and crypto reporting. Hearing their perspectives gave us new questions to explore when we got home.
Kate Lifshits with Fritz Sprueth from Dune
Kate Lifshits meeting with AWS representatives
Kate Lifshits in conversation with SUMM
What Stood Out in Singapore
Two topics came up repeatedly: AI-powered payments and recurring crypto payments. The interest was not just in adding another way to pay. People were thinking about how to reduce repeated manual work while keeping transactions easy to track.
With AI-powered workflows, the basics still matter. Businesses need to know when a transaction was requested, whether it succeeded, and what to do if something goes wrong. Automation only helps when that information is clear.
Recurring billing brings its own questions. The first successful charge is only the beginning. Renewals, customer approvals, and failed transactions all need a reliable process. Our guide to recurring crypto payments explains the available subscription options with NOWPayments and ChangeNOW.
A Few Lessons We Are Taking Home
The meetings gave us a few reminders about what makes a partnership worth pursuing:
- Keep implementation manageable. A promising idea will not get far if it is too difficult for a partner to put into practice.
- Ask why someone would say no. Objections often reveal more than a polite expression of interest.
- Make time for the right conversations. A thoughtful discussion can be more useful than dozens of quick introductions.
- Meet in person when possible. It is easier to ask another question and understand what the other team actually needs.
The Conversation Goes Beyond Accepting Crypto
Checkout is only one part of moving money. Businesses also need to pay partners, handle refunds, collect subscriptions, and keep track of funds across their operations. Those jobs need just as much attention as the first transaction.
NOWPayments is already working on these workflows. For example, ChangeNOW PRO payouts support eligible transfers to recipients using email addresses, while our subscriptions offering helps businesses manage recurring billing. The conversations in Singapore gave us more feedback on where these tools need to be practical and easy to use.
Back to Work After TOKEN2049
Now comes the practical part: following up with people we met, comparing notes, and seeing which ideas are realistic enough to pursue. Kate, Sofia, and Elena each brought a different perspective, from business development to everyday account management.
Kate, Sofia, and Elena at TOKEN2049 Singapore
We came back with useful conversations and plenty to work on. The next step is making those conversations count for the businesses that use NOWPayments.