This guide covers how to run payroll in crypto using Hanko, from funding your account to sending a single batch of stablecoin payouts. Crypto payroll usually means paying people in stablecoins like USDC, which hold a steady value, rather than volatile assets. Recipients who don't hold crypto can still be paid in fiat, so no one is forced into a wallet.
Step 1: Fund your payroll balance
Start by funding your Hanko account with the stablecoin you plan to pay in, such as USDC. You can hold a balance ready for payday or top up before each run. Choose the network you'll pay on from the supported chains: Base, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, or Optimism.
- Fund with USDC, USDT, or DAI
- Pick a network based on fees and where recipients want funds
- Keep a standing balance or top up per run
Step 2: Add your recipients
Add each person you're paying and the wallet address where they want to receive funds. For anyone who doesn't use crypto, you can pay by fiat instead, so a single run can mix rails. If you've paid this group before, clone a past run or template instead of re-entering everyone.
- Enter recipients and their wallet addresses
- Set each person's amount for the period
- Clone a previous run or template to save time
Step 3: Send the batch payout
Review the run, then send everyone in a single batch transaction. Sending as one batch is more gas-efficient than paying each person individually. Once submitted, the transaction goes on-chain for the whole group at once.
- Mass payouts go out in one transaction
- More gas-efficient than one-by-one transfers
- Review totals before you confirm
Step 4: Confirm and share receipts
Payments are considered complete only once the blockchain confirms them, so you have on-chain proof rather than a screenshot. Every recipient automatically gets an email receipt with a block explorer link. When you or your team need funds in local currency, stablecoins can be off-ramped to a bank account from the same screen.
- On-chain confirmation marks each payout complete
- Recipients get an email receipt with an explorer link
- Off-ramp stablecoins to a bank when needed
Frequently asked questions
How do I run payroll in crypto?
Fund your account with a stablecoin, add recipients and their wallet addresses, set amounts, and send everyone in a single batch transaction. Each payout is marked complete once the blockchain confirms it.
What crypto should I use for payroll?
Most crypto payroll uses stablecoins like USDC, USDT, or DAI because they hold a steady value. Hanko supports these across Base, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, and Optimism.
Can I pay some people in fiat and others in crypto?
Yes. Recipients who don't use crypto can be paid by card, ACH, or SEPA wire, so a single payroll run can combine stablecoin and fiat payments.
Is batch crypto payroll cheaper than individual payments?
Sending a mass payout as one batch transaction is more gas-efficient than sending each payment separately, which is why Hanko groups them into a single transaction.
How do recipients know they were paid?
Every recipient gets an email receipt that includes a block explorer link. Because payouts are confirmed on-chain, both sides can verify the exact amount and timestamp.
Can employees convert their crypto pay to cash?
Stablecoins can be off-ramped to a bank account from the same screen, so funds can be moved into local currency when preferred.