How to Get Paid in USDT Without a Domiciliary Account
· Updated · 3 min read
Short answer: Ask your client to pay you in USDT, a stablecoin that tracks the US dollar. Give them your USDT deposit address and its network from the KWIQ app, invoice the amount in dollars, and once the USDT arrives you can hold it or sell it for naira with zero conversion fees, then withdraw to any Nigerian bank account. You don't need a domiciliary account, and the client doesn't need a Nigerian bank.
A domiciliary account is the traditional way to receive foreign currency in Nigeria. It works, but it isn't for everyone. Some people don't have one. Some do, and still deal with slow international transfers, intermediary bank charges or questions about where the money came from.
If you work with clients abroad, there's another route that many Nigerian freelancers, designers, developers and writers already use: get paid in USDT.
What USDT is, in one paragraph
USDT is a stablecoin, a digital token designed to stay worth one US dollar. It moves on public blockchains such as TRON and BNB Smart Chain, usually in minutes, and anyone with a crypto wallet can send it. So a client in Texas or Toronto can pay you dollar value without touching the Nigerian banking system, and you decide when to turn it into naira.
The set-up, step by step
1. Get your USDT deposit address
Open the USDT wallet in the KWIQ app and go to deposit. You'll see your address and the network it belongs to. Copy both. Our guide to finding your USDT wallet address shows where everything is.
2. Tell your client exactly how to pay
Don't just send a long string of letters. Send three things, clearly:
- the amount in USDT (or in dollars, if you agree a 1:1 rate),
- your address, pasted, never typed out by hand,
- the network, written in plain words: "TRON (TRC20)" or "BNB Smart Chain (BEP20)".
If your client is new to this, suggest they send a small test amount first. It costs them one extra network fee and removes most of the worry.
3. Invoice it properly
A simple invoice in dollars, with your address and network at the bottom, keeps things professional and gives both of you a record. Our post on how to invoice clients in USDT has a template you can copy.
4. Confirm the payment yourself
When the client says they've paid, ask for the transaction ID and check it on the explorer. It takes a minute and protects you from fake screenshots. See how to check a USDT transfer on Tronscan and BscScan.
5. Hold or sell
Once the USDT is credited to your KWIQ wallet, you choose:
- Sell now: the app shows the rate and the naira amount before you confirm. Swapping to naira is free, and naira hits your bank account in just 4 seconds.
- Hold it: keep it as USDT until you need naira. Many people sell in parts, for rent one week and school fees the next.
How it compares with a domiciliary account
| USDT to your KWIQ wallet | Domiciliary account | |
|---|---|---|
| What the client needs | A crypto exchange or wallet | An international bank transfer |
| Typical speed | Minutes once confirmed on the network | Can take days |
| When you get naira | Whenever you choose to sell | When you convert at the bank |
| Paperwork | Keep your own invoices and records | Bank's own requirements |
Neither is right for everyone. Some people use both: a domiciliary account for clients who can only pay by wire, and USDT for everyone else. We compare them in more detail in saving in USDT vs a domiciliary account.
Things to get right
Agree the rate before the work. If you price in dollars, say so. If your client pays in USDT, agree that one USDT counts as one dollar, so nobody argues later.
Who pays the network fee? Normally the sender. Put "sender covers network fees" on your invoice so you receive the full amount.
Keep records. Save invoices, TXIDs and the KWIQ transaction history. If your bank ever asks about money coming in, you'll have clear answers. Our post on crypto income and your bank explains why that helps.
Ready to receive your first USDT payment?
If you freelance, our page on crypto for freelancers in Nigeria goes further, and you can check what 500 USDT is worth in naira today.
Download the KWIQ app to get your USDT deposit address. If your phone is short on space, sign up on the web instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is USDT the same as US dollars?
Not exactly. USDT is a token issued by Tether that aims to stay worth one US dollar. It isn't a bank deposit, but it's widely used to move dollar value across borders quickly.
What does my client need to pay me in USDT?
An account on a crypto exchange or a crypto wallet that holds USDT, and your deposit address with the right network. Many exchanges let people buy USDT with a card or bank transfer in their own country.
Do I have to sell the USDT immediately?
No. It stays in your KWIQ wallet until you decide to sell. When you sell, the app shows the rate and naira amount first, and swapping to naira is free.
Which network should my client use?
The one shown with the deposit address you copied from the KWIQ app. TRC20 (TRON) and BEP20 (BNB Smart Chain) are common because their fees are low, but the network must match your address.
Written by
Mercy Eboh
Technical Writer at KWIQ
Writes KWIQ’s guides on crypto, payments and keeping your money safe online.
