The popular AI image generation model sharing platform Civitai recently announced it would accept cryptocurrency payments after its credit card processing partner halted cooperation due to adult content generated by AI.


When cards are no longer an option


On May 23, #Civitai – the world's largest NSFW AI image generation model repository – was stopped from receiving support from a credit card processing partner due to "user-generated content violating new policies," despite implementing censorship. This forced the platform to seek alternative solutions for users to continue purchasing Buzz – an internal token used within the Civitai ecosystem.


Shortly thereafter, Civitai began accepting payments in 8 types of cryptocurrency including: $USDC , USDT, $ETH , Litecoin, $DOGE , Shiba Inu, TRON, and Solana through NowPayments. Bitcoin was excluded due to high transaction fees.


Reasons for choosing crypto


Civitai states that accepting crypto helps them:



  • Maintaining cash flow in a situation where credit cards cannot be used;



  • Reduce transaction fees (only $1 fixed fee compared to high fees from traditional platforms);



  • Protect user privacy, as wallets are not stored on Civitai's servers.




In particular, Civitai encourages users to use USDC on the Base network for fast transactions (15-25 seconds) and no gas fees. However, users can still pay with any supported cryptocurrency without going through Coinbase.


The story is not just about Civitai


Civitai is not the first victim of financial control in NSFW platforms. Previously:



  • #Pornhub lost support from Visa and Mastercard in 2020 and switched to accepting Bitcoin along with 29 other cryptocurrencies;


  • LiveJasmin began using Bitcoin in 2015;


  • SpankChain once developed the SpankPay payment platform specifically for the adult content industry.




These platforms all choose crypto to overcome barriers from the traditional financial system, which often associates adult content with legal and reputational risks.


In Civitai's case, the rapid development of AI-generated content is also seen by financial service providers as "high risk," especially if the platform allows users to create adult content, even if it's legal and censored.



Not only is Civitai pressured by payment providers, but they also face a wave of new regulations globally. To comply with the U.S. Take It Down Act and the EU AI Act, the platform has banned content that impersonates real people, deepfakes of celebrities, and sensitive fan art.


The Take It Down Act imposes penalties of up to 3 years in prison for disseminating non-consensual sensitive images, requiring platforms to remove content within 48 hours of notification.


Divided community


The reaction from the Civitai user community after switching to crypto payments has been quite diverse:



  • A segment supports it for convenience and privacy;



  • Some othersdoubt the stability of the new system


  • Many have even turned to content storage groups like r/CivitaiArchives or sought alternative platforms.




However, most loyal users continue to stick with Civitai, at least until the platform finds a new credit card processing partner.



Contacting the crypto market:

Civitai's shift to accepting crypto is a prime example of the powerful applicability of cryptocurrency in areas barred by traditional financial systems. Especially in the context of increasing censorship, crypto is becoming an efficient, decentralized, and hard-to-control payment tool – something that Web3 developers and Binance users can leverage for privacy-focused products.



Risk warning:

Investing in and using cryptocurrency can carry high risks, including significant price volatility, changes in legal policy, and the risk of fraud. This is not a suitable form for everyone. Please consider carefully before participating.#anhbacong