[ANN] 🗺️ CryptoPayMap — Find Crypto-Friendly Places to Pay with Crypto (MVP)

[badjoke-lab]

🗺️ [ANN] CryptoPayMap — Find Crypto-Friendly Places to Pay with Crypto (MVP Launch)

Live URL: https://cryptopaymap.vercel.app/


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CryptoPayMap is a lightweight web app (MVP) to quickly find real-world places that accept crypto payments.  
→ Filter by coin / city / category and check details instantly in a side modal.  
→ One-click navigation with Google / Apple / OSM Maps.

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✅ What works now (MVP)

- Pages: Map / Discover / Coins / News / About / Disclaimer  
- Map (main screen): OSM + Leaflet  
  • Coin / Category / City filters (instant)  
  • Pins & clusters → side modal details  
  • External navigation (Google / Apple / OSM)  
  • Shareable URL (`?select=<place_id>`)  
- Discover / Coins: 30-day window of new / re-verified / hot cities & categories, per-coin ranking  
- News: English crypto news normalized & clustered → Hot Topics also shown in Discover  
- Static hosting + CDN, usable up to ~2000 pins

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⚠️ Known limitations (MVP)

- English-only UI  
- Static JSON, no DB yet  
- Coverage varies by city (data expansion ongoing)  
- Some UI polishing still in progress (side modal, details)

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🚧 Next steps (short-term roadmap)

1. Side modal polish (close button, accessibility, back navigation)  
2. Stronger filters (multi-select, URL sync, better mobile UX)  
3. Data expansion (new cities/countries, “Add a place / Report issue” form)  
4. Better Discover/Coins UX (direct shortcuts to Map, richer cards)  
5. Performance & stability (cluster thresholds, initial load optimization)  
6. Launch readiness (analytics, custom domain, CSP/security headers)  
7. (Mid-term) DB migration (Supabase/PostGIS) once data >10k places

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🙌 Call for community help

- Try the map! Open your city, click a pin → details → navigation  
- Contribute info: new spots, closures, coin support changes  
- Share English news sources / Hot Topic leads  
- If you like it → share or star 🙏

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This is the MVP release. Full specifications (data structures, aggregation, acceptance criteria, etc.) are documented internally. Updates will be posted here as development progresses.

[SFR10]

CryptoPayMap is a lightweight web app (MVP) to quickly find real-world places that accept crypto payments.  

It's always nice to see another alternative in this field ^{[hopefully, you're planning to maintain it properly (unlike a few)]}... In addition to your current short-term roadmap, it'd be great if you could also add an alert system to notify users when a new shop in their city starts accepting bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

[Lucius]

So far it looks good, but it can be seen that the project is only at the beginning, considering that less than 1000 locations are covered, so there is still a lot of work to be done if everything is entered manually.

In addition to the proposal suggested by @SFR10, I would be very interested if some of those who are already on this map (or will be found in the future) use this way of advertising to encourage people to actually come to their store and spend Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency - and the best way to do this is to encourage payment with cryptocurrencies through discounts.

I don't know how it could be done most easily in terms of the owners finding out that something like this exists, and then somehow having access to the system where they could make changes regarding their locations themselves.

[badjoke-lab]

CryptoPayMap is a lightweight web app (MVP) to quickly find real-world places that accept crypto payments.  

It's always nice to see another alternative in this field ^{[hopefully, you're planning to maintain it properly (unlike a few)]}... In addition to your current short-term roadmap, it'd be great if you could also add an alert system to notify users when a new shop in their city starts accepting bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

Thanks for the feedback.
I also think a notification when new crypto-friendly places are added could be useful, so I’ve added it to the consideration list (including feasibility). If you have a preference for the notification channel (email / RSS / others), feel free to share.

[badjoke-lab]

So far it looks good, but it can be seen that the project is only at the beginning, considering that less than 1000 locations are covered, so there is still a lot of work to be done if everything is entered manually.

In addition to the proposal suggested by @SFR10, I would be very interested if some of those who are already on this map (or will be found in the future) use this way of advertising to encourage people to actually come to their store and spend Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency - and the best way to do this is to encourage payment with cryptocurrencies through discounts.

I don't know how it could be done most easily in terms of the owners finding out that something like this exists, and then somehow having access to the system where they could make changes regarding their locations themselves.

Thanks for the comment. As you pointed out, manual input alone has clear limitations, so we’re considering a “minimal submission form for additions/updates” and a “simple verification step” as the next step.
Showing discounts or allowing owners to edit their listings could be valuable, but it would require moderation and validation mechanisms, so I can’t promise immediate implementation.
I’ll move forward step by step, and post updates here in this thread.

[Lucius]

~snip~
Showing discounts or allowing owners to edit their listings could be valuable, but it would require moderation and validation mechanisms, so I can’t promise immediate implementation.
I’ll move forward step by step, and post updates here in this thread.

I know that something like this is not easy to implement, and the question is how much merchants would want to get involved in it, but it would be good if they had such an option. It is not easy to motivate people to pay with cryptocurrencies, but if they know that they can get a certain discount in that case, I have no doubt that it could have a positive effect on some.


By the way, posting multiple posts in a row is not allowed by the forum rules, so if you reply to several posts at once, you can do it in one post by adding more quotes (insert quote option).

[examplens]

So far it looks good, but it can be seen that the project is only at the beginning, considering that less than 1000 locations are covered, so there is still a lot of work to be done if everything is entered manually.

It would be good if the whole thing were decentralized, so that someone other than the project owner could add locations. Less burden for one person, and the information would certainly be more accurate when moderated by a larger number of people.

[Lucius]

@examplens, I don't think it would make sense to give access to everyone to just enter information, because there would certainly be a lot of abuse, but it should definitely be possible for people to send suggestions that the owner could then add if they prove to be legitimate.

Perhaps access could be given to some trusted people based on their locations, because everyone can best check local information and that way the map would always be updated. As far as I can see, the last locations added were about a month ago.

[examplens]

@examplens, I don't think it would make sense to give access to everyone to just enter information, because there would certainly be a lot of abuse, but it should definitely be possible for people to send suggestions that the owner could then add if they prove to be legitimate.

Perhaps access could be given to some trusted people based on their locations, because everyone can best check local information and that way the map would always be updated. As far as I can see, the last locations added were about a month ago.

I agree with you. But for the long-term success of this or similar projects, one person is not enough because, over time, it can be tiring and because of this, ideas like this are often neglected. Maybe a mode of moderation like Wikipedia, where there are many editors, but every change requires checking and confirmation by other users.

[badjoke-lab]

It is not easy to motivate people to pay with cryptocurrencies, but if they know that they can get a certain discount in that case, I have no doubt that it could have a positive effect on some.


By the way, posting multiple posts in a row is not allowed by the forum rules, so if you reply to several posts at once, you can do it in one post by adding more quotes (insert quote option).

Thanks, noted on the forum rule — I’ll reply in one post with quotes like this going forward.
On incentives: I agree discounts and owner edits can help, but at the MVP stage I’m prioritizing data accuracy. I’m currently trialing a verification system; once it’s stable I’ll revisit incentives with a clear moderation path.

It would be good if the whole thing were decentralized, so that someone other than the project owner could add locations.

I share the long-term goal. Fully open editing invites abuse, so for now I’ll run an approval flow: collect proposals via a GitHub submission form (in preparation), and I will verify & publish legitimate entries. Community involvement will expand step by step.

Perhaps access could be given to some trusted people based on their locations, because everyone can best check local information and that way the map would always be updated. As far as I can see, the last locations added were about a month ago.

Agreed — trusted local contributors with limited rights is a sensible middle ground; I plan to introduce that after the basic flow proves stable. On recency: new listings are ongoing, but the pace is limited since it’s a solo effort right now.

But for the long-term success of this or similar projects, one person isn’t enough because, over time, it can be tiring and because of this, ideas like this are often neglected. Maybe a mode of moderation like Wikipedia, where there are many editors, but every change requires checking and confirmation by other users.

That’s close to the direction I have in mind: approval → limited rights for trusted contributors → broader decentralization, with checks at each step. I have no budget to hire moderators yet, so that expansion comes later as capacity allows.

Status & next steps
• Data sources (MVP): candidates are pulled from OSM tags and past public lists/community posts, so some entries may lack an explicit “we accept crypto” on official sites — hence verification is required. 
• Verification: in trial now. Verified entries will receive a “Verified” badge; unverified ones will be labeled accordingly. 
• Coverage growth: continuing to increase the number of listed places (gradually, given it’s one-person at the moment). 
• Submission flow: a GitHub-based submission form is being set up; I’ll review and apply valid additions/edits. 
• Community model: later, onboard trusted local contributors with limited rights, then evaluate broader decentralization.

Thanks again for the constructive feedback — I’ll post updates here as these pieces ship (Verified badges, form launch, added locations).

[SFR10]

If you have a preference for the notification channel (email / RSS / others), feel free to share.

Subscribing to an RSS feed would be my number one choice, but considering that fewer users are using it nowadays, I was hoping for a built-in alert system where each user gets to have their own profiles & dashboards ^{[preferably with LNURL-auth as a sign-in option]}.

[dkbit98]

🙌 Call for community help

- Try the map! Open your city, click a pin → details → navigation  
- Contribute info: new spots, closures, coin support changes  

I have seen similar bitcoin maps projects before, but compared to CryptoPayMap website they have much more location that accept cryptocurrency payments.
You probably need more contributions from community, but I am wondering how are you going to confirm if those places actually accept bitcoin and other crypto?

[badjoke-lab]

CryptoPayMap | Latest Update Announcement

Thank you for using CryptoPayMap.
This update introduces a new four-tier verification system to clarify the credibility of each listed merchant,
along with reorganized submission forms and the publication of our updated development roadmap.
We remain committed to transparency and accuracy in our operations.


🔖 Table of Contents

1. Four-Tier Verification System
2. Operation of the Three Submission Forms
3. Future Roadmap
4. Overall Summary


🧩 1. Four-Tier Verification System

CryptoPayMap now classifies all listed merchants into four levels based on reliability.
This update clarifies the source and proof level of every record.

Owner (`owner`)
Official submission by the store owner or operator.
Confirmed with primary evidence such as photos, receipts, or POS screens.

* Highest display priority
* Profile up to 600 characters / up to 8 images
* Downgraded if operation stops or false information is found

Community (`community`)
Reported by users or third parties with indirect proof of crypto payment.

* Second priority after Owner
* Profile up to 300 characters / up to 4 images
* Can be promoted to Owner upon official confirmation

Directory Listed (`directory-listed`)
Semi-verified data automatically collected from external directories, payment provider lists, or OSM sources.

* Displays source URL and last-checked date
* No profile or image display
* Downgraded if the external source is removed or updated

Unverified (`unverified`)
Automatically extracted OSM or other seed data with insufficient evidence.

* Lowest priority display
* No proof or image
* Can be promoted to Community/Owner with valid submissions

Common Rules
Display priority: Owner → Community → Directory → Unverified.
If an external source disappears or remains outdated for a long period, it will automatically be downgraded to Unverified.

※ Test data representing each tier is temporarily placed in Antarctica for demo purposes.


📝 2. Operation of the Three Submission Forms

All additions, updates, and corrections are handled through submission forms and reviewed by the OPS team.

Owner Submission Form
For store owners to officially register their crypto acceptance with evidence.

* Up to 8 images (max 2 MB each) / description up to 600 characters
* Upon approval → `verification.status="owner"`

Community Submission Form
For users or third parties to report confirmed crypto-friendly stores.

* Up to 4 images (max 2 MB each) / description up to 300 characters
* Upon approval → `verification.status="community"`

Report Form
For reporting incorrect or outdated listings (e.g., closure, stopped acceptance).

* Submit target store ID/URL and issue details
* May be temporarily marked as `status_override="disputed"` during review


🚀 3. Future Roadmap

From JSON to Database
Initially, a JSON structure was adopted for its lightweight, transparent, and cost-free deployment.
As listings grow, we are transitioning to a database for efficient updates and statistical processing.
This shift will centralize data reliability, editing, and analytics management.

coins Page and stats Page
The current `/coins` page remains static.
A new `/stats` page will be introduced to dynamically display chain adoption rates, regional distribution, and listing counts.
The content of `/coins` will be merged into `stats`, forming part of a unified real-time analytics section.

Planned UI / Functional Improvements

* Enhanced filters
* Improved search (English name / category support)
* Refined card layout and lighter gallery
* OPS / debug log optimization
* Multi-language support (EN / JP)


🌍 4. Overall Summary

CryptoPayMap is evolving from a static MVP into a dynamic, reliability-focused platform.
While maintaining transparency through JSON, database integration will enhance operational efficiency,
and the upcoming Stats page will visualize the global distribution of crypto-accepting merchants.

Our ultimate goal:
"To maintain evidence-based credibility while establishing a scalable, global crypto payment map."

Official Update – CryptoPayMap Team

[SFR10]

Official submission by the store owner or operator.
...
* Downgraded if operation stops or false information is found

Concerning false information, I think it'd be better to go back and forth with the owner about the inaccurate parts ^{[e.g., some of it could be outdated information]}.

Reported by users or third parties with indirect proof of crypto payment.
...
* Can be promoted to Owner upon official confirmation

Considering that they have to confirm in the submission form that they're not the owner, I don't think there should be an option to promote them.
^{- BTW, the community submission form appears to be repeating itself.}

※ Test data representing each tier is temporarily placed in Antarctica for demo purposes.

It'd be nice to also see different colored location icons based on their verification levels.

[badjoke-lab]

Official submission by the store owner or operator.
...
* Downgraded if operation stops or false information is found

Concerning false information, I think it'd be better to go back and forth with the owner about the inaccurate parts ^{[e.g., some of it could be outdated information]}.

Reported by users or third parties with indirect proof of crypto payment.
...
* Can be promoted to Owner upon official confirmation

Considering that they have to confirm in the submission form that they're not the owner, I don't think there should be an option to promote them.
^{- BTW, the community submission form appears to be repeating itself.}

※ Test data representing each tier is temporarily placed in Antarctica for demo purposes.

It'd be nice to also see different colored location icons based on their verification levels.

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback — much appreciated.

First, the duplicate fields in the Community submission form were caused by a simple implementation mistake.
This has already been fixed.

We also implemented differentiated map pins by verification level, so
Owner / Community / Directory / Unverified are now visually distinct on the map.

https://talkimg.com/images/2025/11/05/U6YscT.png

Regarding possible downgrades from Owner:
you’re right — sometimes information is simply outdated rather than false.
Going forward, we won’t downgrade automatically; we’ll contact the store and verify before making a decision.

As for Community → Owner promotion:
as before, it will only happen after we separately confirm that the submitter is the actual store owner/operator.
(The “I’m not the owner” confirmation in the Community form is solely for the Community stage.)

Thanks again for the constructive input.

[badjoke-lab]

Apologies for the long gap since the last update.

During this time, we have been rebuilding the core infrastructure of CryptoPayMap.

First, we have moved to our official domain:

https://cryptopaymap.com

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■ Backend Migration

CryptoPayMap has transitioned from a JSON-based data source to a PostgreSQL-based architecture.

Store data is now stored in PostgreSQL, and the map is powered directly by the database backend.

(A JSON fallback remains in place as a safety mechanism.)

This marks the beginning of the v2 infrastructure phase.

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■ Stats Page Redesign

The previous `/coins` page has been retired and restructured as:

https://cryptopaymap.com/stats

The Stats page is no longer a simple counter view.

I'm currently strengthening the statistical engine with:

• Snapshot (current global overview) 
• Trends (24h / 7d / 30d / All) 
• Verification growth tracking 
• Crypto acceptance growth tracking 
• Precomputed aggregation logic for stability and performance 

CryptoPayMap is evolving from a simple directory into a measurable crypto adoption dataset infrastructure.

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■ Discover Page

The old version of Discover 
https://cryptopaymap.vercel.app/discover 

previously contained curated directory-style content.

The current Discover page has been intentionally reset as part of a redesign process. It is now entering a new development phase.

The structure and direction are under consideration, and it will serve a role distinct from both Map and Stats.

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With the infrastructure overhaul largely complete, we will now focus on strengthening the statistics system and rebuilding Discover.

Feedback is always welcome.

[badjoke-lab]

A new page: Discover

https://www.cryptopaymap.com/discover

Discover is meant to complement Map and Stats:
- Map shows where crypto can be used.
- Stats summarizes overall coverage and verification levels.
- Discover is for browsing what’s changing and surfacing highlights.

This is an early v0.1 release. Over time, we plan to expand it with:

• monthly summaries and reports
• trend views (Stats v4.1) and change tracking
• city / country-level highlights
• verification status change tracking (e.g., promotions)

Feedback is welcome.

[badjoke-lab]

Update: CryptoPayMap — https://www.cryptopaymap.com/

Previously, the homepage (/) showed the map directly. I’ve now added a dedicated homepage to better explain what the site is for and to make navigation clearer. The map is still available as usual at: https://www.cryptopaymap.com/map

Next, I’ll continue improving the map experience (UI/visibility/usability). More updates soon.

Feedback is welcome — thanks for checking it out.

[badjoke-lab]

CryptoPayMap update

CryptoPayMap has grown from 976 listings to 12,758 places.

Most of this expansion came from OSM-derived, unverified entries. I want to be clear about that: the goal of CryptoPayMap is not to become a map filled only with unverified data. In the long run, the stronger foundation for this site should come from owner and community verified places.

That said, the dataset was simply too small before, so the first step was to expand the base layer and make the map more useful at a global level.

After increasing the number of places, I worked on making that larger dataset usable on the map itself. World / low-zoom map behavior has been improved, and the way clusters and pins are displayed is now more stable and easier to read.

I also cleaned up the consistency between the map and the stats side, so the display is now working from a more aligned baseline. On top of that, I removed misleading UI behavior that made it look like the map was capped at 2,000 entries.

The next stage is cleanup / suspicious-data fixes. That means reviewing questionable records, checking missing data, and improving overall data quality instead of only pushing the total count higher.

If you want to see the current map, you can check it here:
https://www.cryptopaymap.com/map