How Your Payments Work
A simple system with strong guarantees.
When you pay to support a creator, a payment record is written to your ATProtocol repository. This isn't just a receipt — it's a cryptographic proof that independent parties can verify.
The creator and a payment servicer (called a broker) both write their own confirmation records. The broker facilitates and witnesses the exchange—whether that’s a credit card transaction, a cash payment, or any other mechanism. Together, these three records form an unbreakable chain of proof.
Because all three records are independently signed and stored, no single party can falsify or revoke your payment history. Your proof stands on its own.
The Payment Experience
What you actually see when you make a payment.
- You find a creator you want to support.
- Your app shows you the available payment methods — these are the creator's preferred servicers.
- You choose a servicer and select your payment type: a one-time tip, a recurring subscription, or a scheduled series of payments.
- You're directed to a payment page where you enter your details and confirm.
- Once complete, the proof appears in your account — a verified record you own forever.
Payment Types
Three ways to support the people you care about.
One-time
A single tip or donation in any amount. Perfect for saying thanks, supporting a specific piece of work, or trying out a creator before committing to ongoing support.
Recurring
An ongoing subscription that renews automatically. Choose monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or yearly. Recurring payments are immutable — to change the amount, cancel the current one and start fresh.
Scheduled
A fixed number of payments spread over time — for example, 6 monthly payments. The series ends automatically when all payments are complete. No need to remember to cancel.
Your Data, Your Records
You own your payment history. Always.
Payment records live in your repository, not in a company's database. You own them. They're signed with your identity and stored under your control.
If you switch apps or platforms, your payment history comes with you. No export needed, no data request forms, no waiting. Your records are already yours.
No platform can lock you out of your own payment records. Even if a service shuts down, your proof of payment remains intact and verifiable.
Privacy Options
You decide who sees your payment activity.
Public payments are visible in your repository for anyone to verify. This is great for transparency — creators can showcase their supporters, and you can show your support publicly.
Private payments are stored in a Permissioned Data Space where only authorized parties can see them. The creator and broker can still verify the payment, but it won't appear in your public repository.
Both options use the same verification mechanics. Private payments aren't less trustworthy — they're just less visible. Choose whichever feels right for you.
Cancellation & Changes
Simple, predictable rules for managing your payments.
When you cancel a recurring or scheduled payment, the cancellation is immediate and intentional. There's no ambiguity — a cancellation record is written to confirm it.
Active recurring payments complete the current period before ending. If you've already paid for this month, you keep your access through the end of that period.
Payment records are immutable — you can't edit one after it's created. If you want different terms, cancel the existing payment and start a new one. This keeps your payment history clean and auditable.
Pre-paid support (like a scheduled series you've already funded) continues through the funded period even after cancellation. You've already paid for it, so you keep it.