FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Subscriptions Protocol.
General
What is Subscriptions Protocol?
A decentralized protocol for recurring payments on LitVM blockchain. It allows users to subscribe to services and pay automatically with USDC, without intermediaries or custody risk. Everything is managed by smart contracts.
Is it safe?
Yes. You control your own Smart Account. The protocol can only charge the exact amount you approved for the specific service. You can cancel or pause any subscription instantly. All code is on-chain and verifiable.
What network does it run on?
Currently deployed on LitVM Testnet. You need MetaMask configured for LitVM and test USDC tokens to try it out.
What tokens are supported?
Currently USDC is the primary payment token. Service providers set which token their plans accept. The protocol architecture supports any ERC-20 token.
For Subscribers
What is a Smart Account?
A Smart Account is a personal smart contract wallet deployed for you. It holds your USDC and executes subscription payments automatically. You remain the sole owner — only you can withdraw funds or manage subscriptions.
Why do I need to "Activate payments"?
This step gives the Subscription Module permission to charge your Smart Account when payments are due. Without this approval, the protocol cannot debit your account. You set the maximum amount it can spend.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Click "Cancel" on any active subscription. It takes effect immediately — no more charges will occur. There are no cancellation fees or lock-in periods.
What happens if my balance is too low?
If your Smart Account doesn't have enough USDC when a payment is due, the charge will fail. Your subscription stays active but the payment is marked as failed. Fund your account and the next charge will succeed.
Who pays gas fees?
Service providers can sponsor gas fees for their subscribers through the Paymaster system. If a provider has deposited funds into the Paymaster, you won't pay gas. Otherwise, standard network fees apply.
For Service Providers
How do I create a service?
Go to the "Service Panel" tab in the app. Fill in your service name and payment receiver address, then click "Register Service". After that, add one or more subscription plans with pricing and billing period.
What fees does the protocol charge?
The protocol has two types of fees:
Registration fee: 1 USDC — one-time payment when registering a new service.
Platform fee: 1% — deducted from each subscription payment. The remaining 99% goes directly to your payment receiver address.
Example: if a subscriber pays 10 USDC/month, you receive 9.9 USDC and 0.1 USDC goes to the platform.
Registration fee: 1 USDC — one-time payment when registering a new service.
Platform fee: 1% — deducted from each subscription payment. The remaining 99% goes directly to your payment receiver address.
Example: if a subscriber pays 10 USDC/month, you receive 9.9 USDC and 0.1 USDC goes to the platform.
Can I change plan pricing?
You can add new plans at any time. Existing subscribers remain on their current plan until they cancel. To change pricing, create a new plan and deactivate the old one.
How do I integrate subscriptions into my app?
You can check subscription status on-chain by calling the SubscriptionModule contract. Use
isActive(subscriber, subscriptionId) to verify if a user has an active subscription. See the Provider Guide for full integration details.