According to Alex Fine, the CEO of Fun, traditional standalone crypto payment methods are becoming outdated as platforms transition to more integrated systems that simplify blockchain interactions for users.
By Will Canny, AI Boost|Edited by Nikhilesh De Aug 2, 2026, 4:00 p.m. 3 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Fun CEO Alex Fine predicts a shift in crypto payment infrastructure. (Unsplash)SummaryShow- According to Fun CEO Alex Fine, traditional standalone crypto on-ramps and bridges will fade away as platforms embrace unified payment systems.
- Fine emphasized that users prioritize access to applications over the need to convert fiat to crypto, suggesting that seamless payment processes will define the future of Web3.
- Fun processes over $3 billion in transactions monthly and facilitates withdrawals for Polymarket and deposits into Aave's largest vaults.
Alex Fine, the CEO of Fun, believes that conventional crypto payment systems like standalone on-ramps and blockchain bridges are on the verge of obsolescence as digital asset platforms increasingly adopt unified payment mechanisms that obscure the complexities of blockchain transactions from users.
Rather than requiring users to navigate through distinct funding, bridging, and conversion processes, Fine envisions a future where crypto applications will seamlessly integrate payments into the user experience, simplifying the technology behind the scenes. He likens this transformation to the evolution of traditional Web2 payment systems, where consumers are largely unaware of the underlying infrastructure facilitating their transactions.
Fine remarked in a CoinDesk interview, "The age of on-ramps will be completely dead and the age of external bridging sites will be dead. Nobody wants to use a bridge for the purpose of using a bridge. They want to use an application."
Fun specializes in creating payment infrastructure that links conventional payment methods with blockchain technology. Instead of functioning as a consumer-facing exchange or wallet service, the company provides APIs that enable fintech and crypto applications to integrate deposits, withdrawals, settlements, and checkouts directly into their platforms, thus simplifying the process of managing funds across fiat currencies, stablecoins, and blockchains.
Developing the Foundation for Crypto Applications
Fine's insights come as prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, along with tokenized equity platforms, continue gaining traction among users and increasing trading volumes.
While these applications are becoming more visible, the underlying infrastructure that supports deposits, withdrawals, and settlements remains mostly out of sight.
Fun is at the forefront of building this essential infrastructure, claiming to handle all deposits and withdrawals for Polymarket and facilitate deposit flows into Aave's largest vaults, processing over $3 billion in transaction volume each month. The company has secured more than $75 million in funding to date.
Shifting from Payment Rails to Integrated Funding Flows
Currently, Fine notes that the crypto payments landscape is overly fragmented, with developers forced to piece together various card processors, banking partners, crypto assets, blockchains, and bridges to establish funding solutions. According to him, platforms should focus on optimizing the user experience to ensure quick and seamless funding.
"In Web2, payments are highly fungible," Fine explained. "In Web3, they're much more complex because every payment method behaves differently. Teams keep rebuilding the same infrastructure over and over again instead of building unified optimized funding flows."
This evolution may spell trouble for many existing crypto payment businesses, as Fine argues that companies focused on converting fiat to crypto or transferring assets between blockchains are addressing a step that users are not particularly concerned about.
"People don't care about converting fiat to crypto," he stated. "They care about taking an action inside an app. The conversion is just something that has to happen."
Fine also pointed out that standalone on-ramp providers and bridge interfaces are already losing relevance as more applications begin embedding payment functionalities directly into their services. This allows users to utilize saved payment information and finalize transactions with a single click instead of redirecting them to external services.
The shift also extends to fraud prevention and risk management, Fine noted. Payment systems should tailor their checks based on user behavior and history; for example, long-term customers with substantial balances should experience a different process compared to first-time users, which enables platforms to enhance funding while managing risk effectively.
Prediction Markets in Early Stages of Growth
Looking beyond payment systems, Fine believes that prediction markets and tokenized equities are among the most promising sectors in the crypto space, asserting that both areas are still in their infancy.
He estimates that prediction markets currently represent only "perhaps 10%" of their ultimate potential, with increased liquidity likely to unlock markets for more niche events and enhance their utility as hedging tools.
"As liquidity expands, you'll see millions of potential event contracts," Fine concluded. "That's what ultimately makes these platforms more valuable."
Prediction MarketsExclusiveAI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.Latest Crypto News- 1The reverse bridge: Crypto meets Wall Street using perps4 hours ago
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