Introducing the Request Network API
Alex Stoicescu
Mar 4, 2025
5 min.
For too long, companies have been forced to rely on centralized systems like PayPal and Stripe. These platforms have high fees, opaque practices, and inflexible processes that often hold businesses back. The Request Network API disrupts this norm by offering:
Crypto Payments: Expand your app’s payment rails with stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies, enabling faster transactions and lower costs than traditional fiat rails.
Plug and Play Invoicing Module: Crypto invoicing can be complex with all the currencies and new payment flows. Easily add advanced crypto invoicing features to your financial app or enterprise software without worrying about developing and maintaining Web3 software.
Unprecedented Cost Efficiency: With protocol fees of USD $0.10 or less per transaction, the API dramatically reduces transaction costs compared to traditional processors.
These benefits allow businesses to cut costs and access innovative financial services that were previously out of reach.
Who Benefits from the Request Network API?
While all businesses can extract value, our API is particularly transformative for:
Payment Service Providers (PSPs): For apps or platforms that want to expand payment options without overhauling their entire system, our API enables the integration of crypto invoicing & payment rails and advanced reconciliation features.
Financial Applications: Apps or platforms offering none or just basic invoicing and payments can upgrade their capabilities by adding multi-currency support, automated reconciliation, and on-chain transparency, all to better serve their users.
Even if the core business isn’t finance, any modern app that handles recurring transactions or needs clear audit trails will find our API revolutionary.
In short, while the degree of benefit may vary, the API empowers your business to offer a more open, agile, and cost-effective solution.
How Can the Request Network API Redefine Your Payment Infrastructure?
Consider an accounting platform integrating a crypto invoicing system so users can manage payments more effectively. The Request Network API enables them to:
Create and Manage Invoices: Generate payment requests with essential details, such as payee, amount, and currency, and automatically reconcile payments.
Initiate Crypto Payouts: Initiate a payout on any cryptocurrency while settling it in fiat or stablecoins.
Real-Time Updates: Webhook notifications ensure your system accurately reflects every change in payment status since the reconciliation is done on-chain.
Multi-Currency Support: Whether operating in USD, EUR, or crypto assets like ETH or stablecoins, the API supports a range of currencies and built-in conversion options.
EasyInvoice, our demo app built with Next.js, shows how modern invoicing can merge the best aspects of Web2 usability with blockchain’s qualities.
To discover how the Request Network API can introduce or expand Web3 financial services for your app or platform, simply book a call with us.
Rapid Integration and Developer Empowerment
Engineered with developers in mind, the Request Network API features intuitive endpoints and comprehensive documentation, making it possible to launch proof-of-concept applications quickly. Our developer docs and API Portal offer streamlined tools for generating API keys, configuring webhooks, and securing your integration.
Create Request Endpoint:
A standard POST request to create a payment request looks like this:POST /v1/request
Headers: {
"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
Body: {
"payee": "0xYourPayeeAddress",
"payer": "0xYourPayerAddress",
"amount": "1000000000000000000",
"invoiceCurrency": "FAU-sepolia",
"paymentCurrency": "FAU-sepolia"
}
Workflow Overview:
Creation: Generate a request with a unique payment reference and core transaction details.
Payment Processing: Securely guide the transaction through blockchain execution.
Real-Time Notifications: Use webhooks for instant updates on transaction status.
Developers appreciate the API Portal for its ease of managing keys and configuring webhooks, which makes the entire integration process secure and fast.
A Deeper Dive into the Request Network API
Core Capabilities
At its heart, the Request Network API provides a comprehensive set of tools designed to create, track, and reconcile payment requests with unparalleled ease and security. The main features include:
Request Creation: Generate payment requests by providing essential details such as the payee, payer (optional), transaction amount, and currency. Each request has a unique payment reference that ties blockchain events to the underlying payment.
Payment Processing: Our integrated endpoints guide users through secure blockchain transactions.
Webhook Notifications: Receive instant updates on payment status via webhooks. This real-time synchronization ensures that your application is always up-to-date without manual intervention.
Multi-Currency and Conversion Support: Whether you operate in fiat currencies (USD, EUR, etc.) or cryptocurrencies (stablecoins, ETH, REQ, etc.), the API supports a variety of currencies and even offers conversion capabilities.
Endpoints and Technical Details
The API is designed with developers in mind, featuring intuitive endpoints that are easy to integrate. Here are some key endpoints and how they work:
1. Create a Payment Request
To create a new payment request, you can use the following endpoint:
POST /v1/request
Headers:
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json
Body:
{
"payee": "0xYourPayeeAddress",
"payer": "0xYourPayerAddress",
"amount": "1000000000000000000", // Example: 1 ETH in wei
"invoiceCurrency": "FAU-sepolia",
"paymentCurrency": "FAU-sepolia"
}
This endpoint accepts all necessary details for the request. Upon successful creation, you receive a JSON response that includes a unique request ID and a payment reference that will be used throughout the transaction lifecycle.
2. Retrieve Request Status
To check the status of a payment request, use:
GET /v1/request/{paymentReference}
Headers:
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
This endpoint returns the request's current status, including whether it has been paid, is still listening for payments and whether the transaction details are needed for further processing.
3. Payment Calldata Retrieval
When it’s time to pay a request, retrieve the necessary calldata with:
GET /v1/request/{paymentReference}/pay
Headers:
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
The response includes details such as the transaction steps required, any approval signatures needed, and additional metadata to guide the payment process.
4. Webhook Notifications
Configure your system to receive real-time notifications by setting up a webhook endpoint. When a payment event occurs, the API sends a POST request to your designated URL:
POST <your-webhook-url>
Body:
{
"payment.confirmed": true,
"requestId": "text",
"paymentReference": "text",
"timestamp": "ISO8601 timestamp"
}
This mechanism ensures that your backend stays in sync with every payment event, removing the guesswork from the reconciliation process.
A Provocative Glance at the Status Quo
The world of finance has long been dominated by outdated systems that favor established players. Conventional payment processors and financial institutions impose high fees, maintain opaque data practices, and limit innovation with rigid structures. In an era where technology is tightly connected to speed, clinging to these legacy systems is inefficient and a liability.
The Request Network API challenges this status quo. It dares traditional gatekeepers to step aside as a new wave of decentralized, transparent, and agile financial infrastructure takes hold.
Book a call to explore what Request Network can do for you and your business.
