Why P2P merchants started splitting payments when exchanging cryptocurrency
Ray Youssef, CEO and founder of the NoOnes cryptocurrency exchange, noted in a comment to BeInCrypto that many sellers split payments into smaller amounts due to tightened bank oversight and close attention to transactions.
"Market participants conduct several small transactions instead of one large one to avoid attracting the attention of banks or automated fraud detection systems," the expert noted.
The HTX cryptocurrency exchange team joined the discussion. Experts from the platform also believe that the practice of splitting payments is used to circumvent daily or monthly transaction limits set by banks.
5 main risks of splitting payments on P2P platforms
Ray Youssef noted that P2P cryptocurrency trading itself is not illegal, but warned that splitting payments significantly increases risks for users.
HTX experts explained the dangers of such practices and the consequences they may lead to:
Account checks and freezes. Due to small transactions from different or unusual sources, banking fraud detection systems may trigger: then the bank will start an investigation or even freeze the user's account. This practice is quite common in Russia.
Money laundering accusations. If the received money is linked to illegal activities, the recipient may become involved in investigations related to money laundering, even if they were unaware of the criminal origin of the funds.
Chargeback risks. When using traditional payment methods (e.g., bank transfers) in the context of P2P, there is a risk of payment reversal, where the sender can dispute the transaction after receiving cryptocurrency, leaving the seller at a loss. Multiple transactions increase this risk. This is not the most common risk, but it should still be kept in mind.
Complexity and management costs. Managing numerous small transactions is more complicated; you may miss an error or fraudulent activity.
Reputational damage. Association with accounts noted for suspicious activity can negatively impact the financial standing and reputation of the user.
Experts from the Bitget cryptocurrency exchange drew the attention of the BeInCrypto editorial team to another risk. When splitting payments, funds may not arrive in full, causing the buyer to risk being left without money and without the crypto asset, as the coin will not be unlocked when the money has been partially sent.
The BeInCrypto editorial team has compiled a review of 'red flags' when cashing out crypto in Russia.
How to safely conduct P2P cryptocurrency transactions in 2025
The safest approach to conducting P2P operations, according to Ray Youssef, is to work on platforms with a reliable escrow mechanism, clear communication between participants, a transparent payment history, and a verified reputation.
Here are some other recommendations from Ray Youssef and the HTX team:
Make sure you know who you are dealing with in the transaction.
Avoid suspicious schemes and payment splitting offers whenever possible.
Only work on regulated cryptocurrency exchanges.
According to MEXC's development director in the CIS, Alexey Ten, under current conditions, the safest option is to work with a verified merchant and cash.
The Bitget cryptocurrency exchange team also advises users to reject transactions that involve splitting payments. This practice, according to their observations, creates both logistical and legal risks for buyers.
Michael Jerlis, CEO of EMCD, recommended conducting OTC transactions with verified counterparties or working through foreign exchanges where P2P is integrated and follows KYC. A similar recommendation was shared by CoinEx development manager Adil Aliev.