Fiat on and off-ramps: What are they? And how do they matter for NFTs?

On-ramps, off-ramps and long winding asphalt roads… What do cryptocurrency and the Rascal Flatts’ hit single, “Life Is a Highway,” popularized by the Disney Pixar movie, Cars have in common? We delve into the conspiracy behind the 90s and early 00s US pop-country band’s attempt to take the NFT market by storm. 

Just kidding.

Jokes aside, the primary commonality between the Flatts and crypto is the central metaphor both use about access, freedom and connection — 3 themes that are essential tenets in the Web3 evolution of the digital experience. But how does any of this matter to the NFT storefront I’m looking to open, you ask? Let’s explore.

Creating an access driven ecosystem

The purpose of a highway is to create freedom of access and connection at scale. A key feature that enables access and connection in a highway is a system of off and on-ramps. In ideal execution, a highway is an access driven ecosystem that’s both easy to enter and exit for a large volume of users. 

As adoption of crypto and NFTs continues to grow creating better, more seamless access will be critically important to scaling the Web3 economy. Integral to achieving this are fiat and crypto on and off-ramps. 

On-ramps for better access and ease of transaction

At its base, an on-ramp in cryptocurrency performs the same function as one in the real world by acting as an entry point. But where one services cars, the other services the exchange of currency, specifically fiat (any government-backed currency, like the US Dollar) to crypto. Now, as much as we probably fall on the hardcore fanatacism end of the crypto spectrum, we’re just like you: accustomed to transacting our everyday payments in our own respective fiat. It is, after all, what the vast majority of people have on hand, which makes it the easiest way for people to access cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Because fiat on-ramps create ease of transaction for users they are also important to crypto business and apps. Fiat on-ramps make onboarding a user into a brand experience, service or product easier and also enable businesses to monetize their user base. 

Next exit on your right

Now, unless you’ve yet to attend grade school, you’re probably fairly familiar with on and off, and enter and exit as concepts. It probably isn’t the greatest surprise to you then that the complementary service to a fiat on-ramp, is a crypto-fiat off-ramp. Where an on-ramp facilitates the exchange of fiat into cryptocurrency, an off-ramp performs the equally important function of converting crypto back into fiat. Why is this important? Together, on-ramps and off-ramps help to create a permeable membrane enabling easier entry and exit into the crypto-sphere, providing an important bridge between fiat-dominated finance and the cryptocurrency marketplace.

On-ramp to the Refinable highway

Congratulations, you’ve officially mastered crypto-highway 101 and are ready to cruise. But what are you cruising in? There are lots of great on and off-ramp services out there, each with their own features, fees and service terms. While we certainly see the growing profusion of choice and options as a big positive for the Web3 space, we get it – too many choices can feel a bit like being caught in the rinse cycle of a high speed washing machine. As a platform whose mission it is to bridge Web2 and 3 by empowering creators and brands to storytell through NFTs, we’ve done plenty of leg work on our own time to find a partner we believe in and trust: Moonpay.

Moonpay is one of the best and most prominent on and off-ramp service providers in operation today. With a mission that’s driven entirely around simplicity, access and ease-of-use, the user experience they offer is second to none for both individuals and businesses. Currently, our partnership with Moonpay extends to any projects with us in the primary sales phase, but, true to our name, we’re always refining our experience and will be expanding this service in the near future.

Whether it’s your very own storefront or NFT experience idea, a potent on and off-ramp feature will be pivotal to building retail gravity. Hit us up at partnerships@refinable.com and let’s talk NFTs, ramps and how we can help you cruise the cryptomarket highway.

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