---
title: On-ramp / Off-ramp
url: "https://www.unknowngravity.com/en/glosario/on-ramp-off-ramp"
site: Unknown Gravity
published: "2026-09-21T11:55:10+00:00"
modified: "2026-09-21T11:55:14+00:00"
language: en-US
description: "On-ramp is the entry ramp from traditional money into crypto (pay by card or transfer and receive tokens); off-ramp is the exit (sell tokens and get euros in your bank)."
section: "Home > On-ramp / Off-ramp"
---

# On-ramp / Off-ramp

GLOSSARY · BLOCKCHAIN & WEB3

What fiat-to-crypto on-ramps and crypto-to-fiat off-ramps are, who operates them and what regulation requires of them in the EU.

WHAT IS IT? · FOR DUMMIES

**On-ramp** is the entry ramp from traditional money into crypto (pay by card or transfer and receive tokens); **off-ramp** is the exit (sell tokens and get euros in your bank). They are the doors between the two worlds — and where almost all the friction and almost all the compliance live.

WHAT IS IT? · PRO

Ramps are operated by exchanges, payment gateways and specialised providers that combine traditional payments, [KYC/AML](/en/glosario/kyc-know-your-customer) and liquidity. In the EU, exchanging crypto-assets for funds is a service inside the CASP perimeter ([CASP license](/en/articulos/casp-license-spain-mica)); a serious provider is recognised by its authorisation, not by its fee.

For a company that wants to accept crypto payments or pay salaries and suppliers mixing fiat and tokens, the design of the ramps (provider, costs, bank settlement, accounting) is 80% of the project — the terrain of our [crypto payment gateway](/en/servicios/pasarela-de-pagos-crypto) and our guide to accepting crypto payments.

## 01 / Key points

- On-ramp: fiat to crypto; off-ramp: crypto to fiat
- Operated by exchanges and gateways with KYC/AML
- In the EU, exchanging crypto for funds is a CASP service
- Ramp design is 80% of accepting crypto payments in a company

## 02 / Advantages

- Make crypto usable for people who live in euros
- Direct bank settlement for merchants
- Compliance delegated to the authorised provider

## 03 / Disadvantages

- Fees and spreads concentrated at the ramp
- Unavoidable KYC friction at serious amounts
- Provider risk: the ramp is one more third party

This entry is informative. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. The rules cited change: check the current version on [BOE](https://www.boe.es) and [EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu).