Test Mode
Build and test your integration without touching real cryptocurrency. Test mode simulates the full payment lifecycle.
Your test key is in Dashboard → API Integration. It starts with
sk_test_. Use the same https://api.cryptogate.live/v1 base URL for both modes.
How Test Mode Works
Identical request and response format to live mode
No real on-chain transaction required — payments auto-confirm
Test transactions are clearly labelled TEST in your Dashboard
Webhooks fire as normal — use this to validate your handler end-to-end
Test transactions do not count toward your monthly plan limit
Create a Test Transaction
POST /transactions/create
curl -X POST https://api.cryptogate.live/v1/transactions/create \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_test_YOUR_TEST_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"crypto": "BTC",
"amount": 10.00,
"currency_fiat": "USD"
}'
The response is identical to a live transaction. Visit the payment_url to simulate a customer paying.
Test vs Live Comparison
| Feature | TEST sk_test_ | LIVE sk_live_ |
|---|---|---|
| Real on-chain payment needed | No — auto-confirms | Yes |
| Counts toward monthly limit | No | Yes |
| Webhooks fire | Yes | Yes |
| Appears in Dashboard | Yes (labelled TEST) | Yes |
| Real funds transferred | No | Yes |
Switch keys before going live. Replace
sk_test_ with sk_live_ in your environment variables. Never use test keys in production.