Product Introduction
Bolt Connect is a multi-seller payment solution designed for marketplaces to streamline embedded checkout flows and seller management. It replaces custom-coded payment infrastructure with pre-built tools for onboarding, compliance, and automated payouts. The platform integrates directly into marketplace ecosystems without requiring plugins or complex development work. It supports both low-risk and high-risk sub-merchants with configurable fee structures and fraud management.
The core value of Bolt Connect lies in accelerating marketplace growth by eliminating technical and operational friction in payment processing. It provides a unified system to handle seller onboarding, transaction routing, risk mitigation, and revenue sharing automatically. By embedding compliance and fraud tools directly into the checkout flow, it reduces development costs while improving conversion rates. The platform’s transparent pricing model ensures predictable costs for marketplaces and their sub-merchants.
Main Features
Bolt Connect automates sub-merchant onboarding by managing KYC checks, acquirer relationships, and compliance requirements under the marketplace’s brand. Sellers are onboarded through a white-labeled flow that collects necessary documentation and risk profiles. The system dynamically categorizes sub-merchants as low-risk (3% fee) or high-risk (6% fee) based on predefined criteria. Compliance workflows adhere to regional regulations, reducing legal exposure for core merchants.
The platform offers no-code integration with pre-configured payment routing and fee allocation logic. Marketplaces can define custom payout schedules, revenue-sharing models, and fee absorption rules without developer intervention. Automated payouts run monthly by default but support accelerated cycles for sellers requiring faster access to funds. All transactions leverage Bolt’s unified API, which connects to major payment networks and supports stablecoin settlements.
Built-in fraud management includes optional add-ons like real-time scoring ($0.35-$0.45 per transaction) and indemnification (0.79%-1.09% fees). High-risk sub-merchants are automatically enrolled in fraud indemnification to protect against chargeback liabilities. The system provides granular control over chargeback fees ($5-$20 per case) and network fee pass-throughs. Fraud rules are applied at both the core merchant and sub-merchant levels for layered risk mitigation.
Problems Solved
Bolt Connect addresses the complexity of building and maintaining custom payment infrastructure for multi-vendor marketplaces. Traditional solutions require extensive coding to handle split payments, compliance checks, and fraud monitoring across diverse seller types. Legacy systems often impose rigid fee structures that erode marketplace profitability and seller margins. The platform eliminates these barriers through standardized, API-driven workflows.
The product targets online marketplaces operating in verticals like e-commerce, digital goods, SaaS, and high-risk industries (e.g., gaming). It is particularly valuable for platforms scaling rapidly across multiple regions with varying compliance requirements. Core merchants needing to onboard thousands of sub-merchants while maintaining consistent checkout experiences benefit from its embedded tools. Developers building marketplace apps also use it to avoid reinventing payment logic.
Typical use cases include a SaaS platform automating partner payouts after subscription revenue sharing, a digital goods marketplace requiring instant seller onboarding with fraud protection, and a high-risk merchant aggregator needing compliant payment routing. The system handles scenarios where core merchants must absorb specific fees to attract sellers or compete on pricing. It also supports marketplaces transitioning from manual payout reconciliation to automated revenue distribution.
Unique Advantages
Unlike traditional payment processors, Bolt Connect provides end-to-end embedded checkout flows tailored for multi-seller ecosystems. Competitors typically require marketplaces to stitch together separate tools for onboarding, fraud, and payouts. The platform’s unified architecture reduces integration time from months to days while offering granular control over sub-merchant economics. Fee structures are transparently layered, allowing core merchants to decide which costs to pass through or absorb.
The platform innovates with dynamic risk-based pricing that automatically adjusts fees for sub-merchants (3%-6%) based on their transaction behavior. Its fraud indemnification model uniquely combines machine learning scoring with financial protection against chargebacks. Bolt Connect also supports stablecoin payouts, enabling cross-border settlements without traditional banking delays. The system’s no-code configuration dashboard lets non-technical teams modify payout rules and fee allocations in real time.
Competitive advantages include zero payout fees, which most competitors charge as fixed percentages or per-transaction costs. Bolt Connect’s compliance automation handles regional KYC/AML requirements across 100+ countries, reducing legal overhead. The platform guarantees uptime through redundant acquirer connections and automatic failover routing. For high-risk industries, it provides mandatory fraud tools that meet acquirer requirements while maintaining checkout conversion rates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does Bolt Connect’s pricing compare to traditional payment processors? Bolt Connect uses a transparent model with no hidden payout fees, charging 3% for low-risk and 6% for high-risk sub-merchants as a ceiling. Core merchants can choose to absorb or pass through network fees, chargeback costs, and fraud add-ons. Detailed pricing breakdowns are available at bolt.com/pricing, including stablecoin settlement options and volume-based discounts.
What technical resources are required to integrate Bolt Connect? No coding is needed for basic implementation due to pre-built UI components and configuration templates. Developers can access Bolt’s API documentation and platform plugins for advanced customization. The system supports test mode for simulating transactions across different risk profiles before going live. Enterprise clients receive dedicated technical support for migration from legacy payment stacks.
How does Bolt handle compliance for sub-merchants in regulated industries? The platform automatically collects and verifies KYC documents, tax forms, and banking details during onboarding. It maintains up-to-date compliance frameworks for PCI DSS, GDPR, and regional financial regulations. High-risk sub-merchants are subjected to enhanced due diligence and mandatory fraud indemnification. Core merchants receive audit trails for all compliance actions via the dashboard.
Can marketplaces customize fraud prevention settings? Yes, Bolt Connect allows enabling/disabling fraud scoring and indemnification per sub-merchant category. Rules can be set to block transactions exceeding specific risk scores or to flag them for manual review. Chargeback handling workflows are configurable, including automatic dispute resolution integrations. High-risk industries have predefined fraud templates that meet acquirer requirements while minimizing false positives.
What payout frequencies and methods are supported? Default payouts occur monthly, but core merchants can enable weekly or daily cycles for eligible sub-merchants. Funds are routed via ACH, SEPA, or stablecoins (USDC, USDT) with automatic currency conversion. The system deducts agreed-upon marketplace fees before distributing remaining balances to sellers. Payout timing and minimum thresholds are adjustable through the admin interface.