Coinepay | How to Pay 1688 Suppliers as a Foreign Buyer with Coinepay

1688.com is Alibaba Group's domestic wholesale marketplace in China. Its listings are priced in renminbi (RMB/CNY), and its payment and shipping flows are built for buyers inside mainland China. If you are sourcing from overseas, the hard part is usually not finding products but getting money to the supplier in a way the platform or the seller accepts. This guide explains the situation, then shows two concrete ways to approach it with Coinepay: paying with a virtual card where card checkout is available, and using Coinepay Global Remittance to settle with a sourcing agent or supplier outside the 1688 checkout.

Before you start, make sure you have registered with Coinepay and completed identity verification (KYC). Card and fund services require this. You can create an account and manage everything from the 24/7 dashboard or the Coinepay app for iOS and Android.

Why paying 1688 from abroad is tricky

A few obstacles come up again and again for foreign buyers:

It is a domestic marketplace. Many checkout paths assume an Alipay account linked to a mainland Chinese bank account, which overseas buyers usually do not have.
Cross-border checkout options vary. Some third-party solutions (for example 1688's WorldFirst-linked "跨境宝/World Pay" and USD-balance options) exist, but availability differs by country, order and even the IP region you browse from. Do not assume any single method appears for your order.
Prices often exclude international freight. Many suppliers ship only within China, so you may need a Chinese receiving address, a freight forwarder or a sourcing agent.
1688's "secured transaction" (担保交易) is not Alibaba.com Trade Assurance. Disputes are handled through 1688's own, China-oriented process.

Route 1: Pay with a Coinepay virtual card at checkout

Some 1688 cross-border checkouts offer a foreign-currency card option. Regional help pages describe Visa and Mastercard credit/debit card checkout with a stated 3% fee, but whether a card option appears on your particular order is not guaranteed, and the marketplace or the checkout provider may restrict which cards it accepts.

If a checkout states a requirement about card type or issuing country, take it at face value. Contact Coinepay support to confirm your card meets that requirement before you buy, rather than assuming it will work.

When a card field is available, the general flow is:

In the Coinepay app or dashboard, create a virtual card. You get the card number, expiry date and CVV instantly.
Use your real name and billing address that match your Coinepay account. Do not enter invented details or try to disguise your location.
At 1688 checkout, choose the foreign-currency card option if it is shown, and enter the card details.
Review the amount, the currency conversion and any checkout fee before you confirm.
Keep the order number and payment receipt for your records.

If you run advertising or buy software and AI subscriptions as part of the same sourcing business, you can also issue separate virtual cards and set a spending limit per card, which keeps supplier purchases easy to reconcile.

Route 2: Use Coinepay Global Remittance for agents and suppliers

Many overseas buyers do not pay 1688 directly at all. They work through a sourcing agent or arrange a bank transfer (T/T) with the supplier, who then places and consolidates the domestic order for them. This is a separate arrangement from the on-platform checkout, so you must confirm the counterparty's identity, account details and order terms yourself before sending money.

Coinepay Global Remittance is built for exactly this kind of cross-border settlement. It supports multi-currency transfers and common local payout methods, including bank account deposit, mobile wallets and cash pickup. To pay an agent or supplier:

Open Global Remittance (or the transfer/send section) in the Coinepay app or dashboard.
Select the destination country and the payout method your agent or supplier asked for, such as a bank account deposit.
Enter the recipient's full legal name and account details exactly as provided.
Review the exchange rate and fees, which are shown clearly on screen, then confirm the transfer.
Use the built-in status tracking to follow the transfer through to payout, and save the confirmation against your purchase order.

Coinepay settles with trading partners in their local currency and produces compliant transaction records, which is helpful when you need to match a payment to a supplier invoice.

What to prepare

A verified Coinepay account (KYC complete).
Your real billing name and address.
The supplier's or agent's verified details: legal name, bank account or wallet, and a clear invoice or order summary.
A plan for international freight: a Chinese address, forwarder or agent, since the listed price may not include shipping out of China.
For your own records, the purpose of the payment and, if asked, the source of funds.

Compliance and documentation

All Coinepay transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations, and Coinepay may ask for supporting documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Customers and counterparties are screened against sanctions lists, and Coinepay does not serve sanctioned persons or residents of jurisdictions under comprehensive sanctions. Services related to virtual assets are not available to residents of mainland China, and some services are not available in every jurisdiction.

Two points specific to importing from 1688:

Screen your supplier. U.S. persons, for example, are generally prohibited from dealing with parties on OFAC's SDN List, including entities blocked under its 50 Percent Rule. Check who you are paying before you arrange payment.
Payment is not import clearance. A successful payment does not mean the goods may legally be imported. In the United States, duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments of \$800 or less has been suspended for shipments from all countries since 29 August 2025, so budget applicable import duties and fees separately from what you pay the supplier. You remain responsible for permits and agency requirements for your goods.

Troubleshooting

The card option does not appear at checkout

Foreign-currency and card options are not shown for every order or in every region, and some paths depend on the browsing region. If no card field appears, consider Route 2 (remittance to an agent or supplier) instead of trying to force a method that is not offered.

A card payment is declined

Confirm the card number, expiry, CVV and billing address are entered correctly and match your Coinepay profile, and that there are enough funds. If the checkout restricts card type or issuing country, that is a merchant rule. Contact Coinepay support to confirm your card details before trying again.

A remittance is paused or needs documents

This is normal when verification or sanctions screening needs more information. Provide the requested documents promptly, keep the recipient details accurate, and track the status in the app. Never split a payment, route it through third parties, or do anything to avoid checks or reporting.

Goods do not match the order

Paying does not guarantee product quality. Contact the seller through 1688 and request a return or refund through its own process. Keep your order records and payment confirmations to support any claim.

Where to get help

If you are unsure which route fits your order or whether a method is available in your country, reach out through Coinepay support or our Telegram channel. You can also start from the Coinepay home page to set up your account and cards.

Get your Coinepay virtual card: Sign up · App Store · Google Play · Customer support

FAQ

Can I pay 1688 directly with a Coinepay virtual card?

Only if your 1688 checkout shows a foreign-currency card option, which is not available for every order or region. The marketplace may also restrict card type or issuing country. Contact Coinepay support to confirm your card meets any stated requirement before you buy.

Should I use the card or Global Remittance?

Use the virtual card when a card checkout is offered and accepted. Use Coinepay Global Remittance when you are settling with a sourcing agent or paying a supplier by bank transfer outside the on-platform checkout.

Can Coinepay send money to a supplier or agent in China?

Coinepay Global Remittance supports transfers to every country and region except those under comprehensive sanctions, with bank deposit, mobile wallet and cash pickup payouts. Transfers are subject to KYC, sanctions screening and local rules, and you may be asked for documents.

Will the product price include shipping to my country?

Often not. Many 1688 suppliers ship only within China, so you may need a Chinese receiving address, a forwarder or an agent. Confirm international freight and any import duties separately before you pay.

What if the goods arrive wrong or the payment fails?

For wrong goods, contact the seller through 1688 and use its return or refund process. For a failed payment, recheck your details and funds; if a merchant card rule is involved, contact Coinepay support before retrying.

How to Pay 1688 Suppliers as a Foreign Buyer with Coinepay