MoonPay US vs Transak US (2026): US Fees, Spreads, 50-State Legality & NMLS Compared
- MoonPay US $1k Pro / Simple
- $50.00 Pro · $50.00 Retail
- Transak US $1k Pro / Simple
- $44.00 Pro · $44.00 Retail
- US State Availability
- MoonPay US: 51/51 · Transak US: 49/51
- NYDFS BitLicense (NY)
- MoonPay US: Yes · Transak US: No
- NMLS Registry IDs
- #2071245 vs #2361634
- 2026 Tax Reporting
- IRS Form 1099-DA + Form 8949 Compatible
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1. Visual Trade Cost Comparison ($100, $1,000 Retail, $1,000 Pro & $10,000)
2. Complete US Fee, Regulatory & Product Matrix: MoonPay US vs Transak US
| Benchmark Dimension | MoonPay US | Transak US |
|---|---|---|
| US Legal Entity | MoonPay USA LLC | Transak USA LLC |
| NMLS ID & State MTLs | NMLS #2071245 (49 MTLs) | NMLS #2361634 (47 MTLs) |
| New York (NYDFS) Status | Granted NYDFS BitLicense and New York Money Transmitter License in June 2025 (MoonPay USA LLC), unlocking direct New York on-ramp access. | Does not hold a NYDFS BitLicense (unavailable in New York). |
| Available US Jurisdictions | 51 / 51 | 49 / 51 |
| Retail Instant Buy Fee + Spread | 1.00% + 150 bps | 0.99% + 120 bps |
| Pro Orderbook Maker / Taker | No Separate Pro Book | No Separate Pro Book |
| $100 Round-Trip Cost (Retail) | $7.98 | $6.40 |
| $1,000 Round-Trip Cost (Retail) | $50.00 | $44.00 |
| $1,000 Round-Trip Cost (Pro Tier) | $50.00 | $44.00 |
| $10,000 Round-Trip Cost | $500.00 | $440.00 |
| $100/mo Annual DCA Cost | $95.76/yr | $76.80/yr |
| ACH Deposit / Withdrawal | $0.00 (ACH/PayPal/Venmo) / $0.00 | 0.99% (ACH/Wire) / 1.00% |
| Fedwire Deposit / Withdrawal | / | 0.99% / 1.00% |
| Supported Crypto Assets | 110 | 160 |
| Lightning Network Support | No | No |
| CFPB Consumer Complaints | 0 / Partner Routed | 0 / Partner Routed |
| IRS Tax Forms | 1099-DA, 1099-K, CSV-History | 1099-DA, CSV-History |
3. 50-State + DC Licensing Delta
States where MoonPay US is legal but Transak US is restricted: Hawaii (HI), New York (NY)
States where Transak US is legal but MoonPay US is restricted: None (Available in same states)
Overall State Reach Winner: MoonPay US (51/51 vs 49/51).
4. Scenario Winner Breakdown
- Lowest $1,000 Active Trading Cost: Transak US ($44.00 round-trip).
- Lowest $100/mo Automated DCA Cost: Transak US ($76.80/year).
- New York Resident Eligibility: MoonPay US.
- Full Dossiers: MoonPay US Dossier · Transak US Dossier
Who Should Choose MoonPay US vs. Who Should Choose Transak US (2026 Decision Matrix)
2026 US Execution & Compliance Matrix| US Trader / Investor Profile | Who Should Choose (Optimal Use Case) | Who Should Avoid (Cost or Regulatory Friction) | Recommended Execution Protocol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-Minimizing Orderbook Traders ($1k–$50k) | Choose Choose Transak US for lower $1,000 round-trip execution cost ($44.00 vs $50.00). | Avoid Avoid executing market buys on either platform's Retail Simple interface ($50.00 vs $44.00). | Always place limit Maker orders on the Pro Orderbook tier after funding via $0.00 ACH. |
| New York & Strict MTL State Residents | Choose Choose MoonPay US if you reside in New York (51/51 vs 49/51 states). | Avoid Avoid attempting VPN workarounds if your state is excluded under NMLS Money Transmitter rules. | Check our 51-Jurisdiction State Matrix to verify exact state eligibility before completing KYC. |
| Automated Monthly DCA Investors ($100/mo) | Choose Choose Transak US ($76.80/yr vs $95.76/yr on $100/mo DCA). | Avoid Avoid funding recurring buys with a debit card (adds 2.99%–3.99% processing fees). | Link a US checking account via Plaid ACH ($0 deposit fee) and schedule limit or zero-fee recurring buys. |
Orderbook Fee & Spread Microstructure (MoonPay US vs Transak US): When evaluating MoonPay US (MoonPay USA LLC) against Transak US (Transak USA LLC), the primary cost driver for US traders is the spread between retail instant-buy widgets and institutional limit orderbooks. On a $1,000 round-trip transaction, MoonPay US charges $50.00 on its retail interface and $50.00 on its 1.00% ACH bank transfer / 3.50%–4.50% Debit Card / Apple Pay / PayPal (min $3.99 fee) + network fee, whereas Transak US charges $44.00 retail and $44.00 on its 0.99% ACH / Wire transfer or 3.50%–5.50% Apple Pay / Debit Card + network gas fee.
50-State + DC Licensing & Regulatory Footprint: MoonPay US holds 49 state Money Transmitter Licenses (NMLS #2071245) covering 51/51 US jurisdictions, while Transak US holds 47 state MTLs (NMLS #2361634) covering 49/51 jurisdictions. New York availability is supported on MoonPay US and restricted on Transak US.
Banking Rails, ACH Clearing Holds & Self-Custody: Both platforms support US banking rails, with MoonPay US charging $0.00 (ACH/PayPal/Venmo) for ACH deposits (None Fedwire) and Transak US charging 0.99% (ACH/Wire) for ACH deposits (0.99% Fedwire). Standard ACH deposits incur a 3–7 business day clearing hold before on-chain withdrawal to a hardware wallet.
2026 IRS Form 1099-DA & Portfolio Tax Reconciliation: MoonPay US issues 1099-DA, 1099-K, CSV-History (User-tracked per self-custody wallet (Rev. Proc. 2024-28)) and Transak US issues 1099-DA, CSV-History (User-tracked per self-custody wallet). Investors using both venues simultaneously must track cost basis separately per account under IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-28.
Frequently Asked Questions (US Regulatory & Execution Reference)
VERIFIED Q&A PROTOCOLIs MoonPay US cheaper than Transak US for US crypto traders?
On a $1,000 round-trip trade using the lowest-fee tier, MoonPay US costs $50.00 compared to $44.00 on Transak US. On standard retail instant buy, MoonPay US costs $50.00 vs $44.00 on Transak US.
Which states allow MoonPay US vs Transak US?
MoonPay US is available in 51/51 US jurisdictions, whereas Transak US is available in 49/51 jurisdictions.
How does MoonPay US vs Transak US impact 2026 IRS Form 1099-DA and Rev. Proc. 2024-28 tax reporting?
For the 2026 tax year, regulated US digital asset brokers report gross proceeds and covered cost basis on IRS Form 1099-DA under IRC Section 6045. Taxpayers interacting with MoonPay US vs Transak US must maintain wallet-by-wallet (or account-by-account) cost-basis lot allocation under IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-28 and reconcile dispositions on Form 8949 and Schedule D.
What is the difference between Retail Instant Buy and Pro Orderbook execution for MoonPay US vs Transak US?
Across audited US platforms relevant to MoonPay US vs Transak US, standard retail 'Simple' or 'Instant Buy' widgets embed a 100 to 200 bps principal spread on top of a 0.99%–1.49% convenience fee (~$18–$29 per $1,000). Routing the exact same USD deposit through a Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) such as Kraken Pro, Coinbase Advanced, Gemini ActiveTrader, or Bitstamp US reduces total execution cost to 20–60 bps ($2.00–$6.00 per $1,000).
How do NMLS Money Transmitter Licenses and the NYDFS BitLicense apply to MoonPay US vs Transak US?
In the United States, custodial crypto platforms must register federally as a FinCEN Money Services Business (MSB) under 31 CFR 1022.380 and hold state-by-state Money Transmitter Licenses tracked in NMLS Consumer Access. Serving New York residents additionally requires a NYDFS BitLicense (23 NYCRR Part 200) or a New York Limited Purpose Trust Company charter.
FinCEN / NMLS / Form 1099-DA Execution Checklist
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State MTL, BitLicense & Fee Schedule Alert Wire
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