Catenaa, Saturday, June 31, 2025-Civitai, the world’s largest repository of generative AI models, has introduced cryptocurrency payments after losing support from its credit card processor due to AI-generated explicit content on its platform.
The move allows users to buy Buzz tokens -virtual, non-Web3 credits- with digital currencies including USDC, USDT, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and others, but notably excludes Bitcoin because of its high transaction fees.
The company now processes crypto payments via NowPayments, recommending USDC on the Base network for fast, fee-free transactions.
Civitai charges a $1 flat fee for crypto purchases, significantly less than traditional payment processing costs. Wallet information is not stored on Civitai’s servers, ensuring user privacy.
The credit card processor severed ties on May 23, citing policy concerns despite recent content moderation updates by Civitai.
The platform continues to negotiate with other providers willing to support NSFW content under specific guidelines.
Civitai’s shift reflects a broader trend among adult and NSFW platforms embracing crypto to bypass restrictions from traditional payment services. Similar moves were seen when Pornhub lost Visa and MasterCard support in 2020, turning to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for payments.
The platform recently tightened content policies to comply with laws such as the U.S. Take It Down Act, banning non-consensual or real-person likeness content. Despite regulatory pressures, Civitai’s 3.2 million users can now transact using crypto while the company seeks new credit card solutions.
This pivot underscores ongoing challenges faced by AI and NSFW platforms navigating financial services and evolving global regulations.
