Our client approached us with a clear vision: create a secure, scalable, and user-friendly payment gateway that supports both individuals and companies, offers real-time transaction management, and integrates seamlessly with third-party payment providers. The solution needed to be robust enough for financial operations, flexible for future integrations, and simple for end-users and administrators alike.
Client Needs & Context
The client’s main goal was to provide individuals and businesses with a seamless registration process, including KYC verification, so they could quickly begin processing payments without manual intervention. They required a third party API that could be used to initiate both cash-in and cash-out operations, with flexible fee structures and built-in security controls. On the merchant side, a real-time dashboard was essential for displaying balances, transaction history, and key business insights, while also empowering non-technical users to manage fee rates and reserve settings independently. Predictable and transparent hosting costs were a must, making Digital Ocean’s flat-rate infrastructure the ideal choice for scalable, reliable deployment.
Key Challenges
Building this platform presented several intertwined challenges. We had to design adaptive KYC flows that automatically validate documents while still allowing manual overrides when necessary. Fee structures and reserve percentages required sensible default settings, yet merchants needed the flexibility to adjust them on a per-account basis. Ensuring API security demanded token-based authentication, IP whitelisting, and idempotency mechanisms to prevent unauthorized or duplicate requests. Payouts had to be completely secure, allowing funds to be sent only to the merchant’s own PIX key with safeguards against race conditions and retry logic. Throughout the development, the codebase needed to be modular so that adding new payment methods or dashboard features could be done without rewriting core services.
Our Solutions
To achieve these goals, we designed a solution based on a Single Page Application (SPA) architecture, robust API layer, and a powerful dashboard, hosted on Digital Ocean for optimal reliability and scalability.
– Front-End SPA
We developed the client-facing application using Vue.js. This approach ensures a highly responsive and interactive experience, allowing users to register as individuals or businesses, upload required documents, and complete KYC verification with real-time feedback. The adaptive flow streamlines onboarding and minimizes friction, while inline notifications help users resolve any issues quickly.
– API Layer
The core business logic and payment operations are handled by a robust API built with Laravel. This layer manages secure authentication with token-based access and IP whitelisting, processes cash-in and cash-out requests, and integrates with third-party payment providers. The API automatically calculates gateway fees and manages financial reserves, ensuring each transaction is processed securely and according to customizable rules.
– Merchant Dashboard
For the administrative and merchant interface, we implemented a dashboard using Filament PHP. This dashboard gives merchants clear visibility into their balances, transaction history, and KYC status. Merchants can easily adjust fee and reserve settings, review and approve withdrawal requests, and process refunds, all within an intuitive and user-friendly environment. The dashboard is designed to empower both technical and non-technical users to manage their accounts efficiently.
Technologies & Other Services
- Front-End: Vue.js, Pinia, Vue Router
- Backend: Laravel, FilamentPHP, JWT, …
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions pipelines
- Provider: Digital Ocean
- Security: SSL everywhere, input validation libraries, regular pen‑testing
Outcomes & Benefits
The platform enables fast, secure onboarding for both individuals and businesses, streamlining KYC and registration so clients can start processing payments right away. Real-time dashboards provide clear visibility into balances, transactions, and key business metrics, giving users confidence and control. Flexible fee and reserve settings, along with customizable approval flows, allow each client to tailor the platform to their needs. The robust API makes integration with partner platforms easy and secure. Hosting on Digital Ocean ensures predictable costs and reliable performance. Overall, the solution accelerates business operations, strengthens security, and positions clients for growth in the digital payments space.