Introducing the commerce payments protocol (2025) - Shopify

This post introduces the Commerce Payments Protocol, a new system for enabling real-world commerce on-chain. It addresses the limitations of existing crypto payments for commercial purchases by introducing a multi-stage payment commitment process. Key components include an escrow smart contract for authorization and capture, and a new role called 'operator' to facilitate fund movement and manage transaction fees. The protocol defines six core operations: authorize, capture, charge, void, reclaim, and refund, enabling features like delayed settlement, partial captures, and buyer/merchant protection. The initial implementation integrates with the ERC-3009 standard for payer authorization and leverages signing over a hash of payment details to ensure payer intent and prevent tampering by operators. Operators are restricted from modifying payment intents, locking funds in escrow, or impacting other operators' activities.