tl;dr
Civitai, the largest generative AI model repository, introduced crypto payments after losing its credit card processor due to AI-generated explicit content. The platform now accepts various cryptocurrencies, excluding Bitcoin due to high fees, through NowPayments and recommends USDC on the Base netw...
Civitai, the world’s largest generative AI model repository, recently introduced cryptocurrency payments after losing its credit card processing services due to AI-generated explicit content. The platform now accepts multiple cryptocurrencies—excluding Bitcoin because of high fees—via the payment processor NowPayments. Users are encouraged to use USDC on the Base network for fast, fee-free transactions, with Civitai charging a flat $1 fee for crypto purchases. Importantly, wallet information is never stored on Civitai's servers, enhancing user privacy and security.
The credit card processor terminated service on May 23 owing to concerns about NSFW content policies. Despite recent policy updates, the processor deemed them insufficient, prompting Civitai to seek new providers willing to operate under strict guidelines. This move mirrors a broader trend among NSFW and adult entertainment platforms like Pornhub, LiveJasmin, and SpankChain that have adopted crypto payments to bypass restrictions from traditional financial services.
Payment processors frequently categorize generative-AI platforms with mature content as high risk, even when content is legal and moderated. Mainstream processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square often prohibit adult content entirely, while Visa and MasterCard allow banks to refuse service on reputational and regulatory grounds. This systemic challenge has driven many platforms toward cryptocurrency to sustain business operations.
In response to evolving legal frameworks, Civitai has updated its content policies to comply with regulations like the U.S. Take It Down Act and the European Union AI Act. These changes include banning the use of real-person likenesses, celebrity deepfakes, and certain fan-art depictions to avoid regulatory penalties. The Take It Down Act mandates prompt removal of non-consensual intimate imagery, with penalties including up to three years in prison for violations.
User reaction to the adoption of crypto payments has been mixed. While many praise the increased flexibility and privacy afforded by crypto, some users remain skeptical or seek alternative platforms and archiving communities, such as r/CivitaiArchives. Nonetheless, the majority of Civitai’s 3.2 million users continue to support the platform during this transitional period.
Civitai’s experience highlights the growing movement within AI-generated content platforms and adult industries towards embracing cryptocurrency as a resilient payment method amid increasing scrutiny and restrictions by traditional financial services. This shift underscores broader regulatory and reputational pressures shaping how digital content platforms operate and monetize in today’s evolving landscape.