The Money Revolution: Fintech Handbook by Sergey Tsabolov

What is the difference between a payment processor and a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the software that securely captures and encrypts card data at checkout (like Stripe or Braintree). A payment processor handles the actual movement of funds between the customer's bank and your merchant account (like First Data or TSYS). Many modern providers like Stripe and Square combine both into a single service.

Shopify Payments vs Stripe: what is the difference?

Shopify Payments IS Stripe under the hood, integrated directly into Shopify with seamless dashboard unification and no Shopify transaction fees. If you're on Shopify, Payments is almost always the better choice — same Stripe infrastructure without the 0.5%-2% extra transaction fee. Use Stripe directly only if you need features Shopify Payments doesn't expose.

What is the cost of PCI non-compliance?

Card networks can fine acquiring banks $5,000-$100,000 per month for non-compliant merchants, and those fines get passed to you. If a breach occurs during non-compliance, you're liable for fraud losses, forensic investigation costs, and card reissuance fees — potentially millions. Most processors also charge a monthly non-compliance fee of $20-$50 until you certify.

What is the best payment processor for international sales?

Stripe leads for international e-commerce with support for 135+ currencies and 45+ countries. Adyen is preferred by larger enterprises processing in multiple regions. For Asia-Pacific markets, consider processors with native Alipay and WeChat Pay support. PayPal adds trust in markets where consumers are reluctant to enter card details with unfamiliar merchants.