Payment Link Deep Link

Overview

Meaning and boundaries

Payment Link Deep Link is a URI or application link that opens a compatible wallet or payment application with payment fields prefilled. A deep link is an application-oriented URI that may open a wallet with fields already filled, such as recipient, asset, amount, and chain. Schemes and support vary by wallet and network; show the decoded details before signing and offer a safe QR or copy fallback when the application cannot interpret the link.

How it works in practice

The page builds a wallet-compatible request from a validated invoice rather than from arbitrary browser parameters. The wallet may ask the user to choose an account and sign a transfer. After the wallet returns to the app, the merchant must use an independently observed transaction reference, not the app-open callback, for reconciliation.

Checks and failure points

Never assume a launched wallet completed payment. A hostile or malformed deep link could change the destination, choose a different network, or omit an amount. Verify the final on-chain transaction independently against the invoice.

Operational evidence and decisions

Wallet deep links are not universal. Some encode chain identifiers, transaction request data, or token parameters differently, and some open only a wallet without constructing the transfer. The checkout should present a readable summary and a manual fallback. Record the actual transfer hash after signing; do not mark the invoice paid based on app launch telemetry.

How it differs from related terms

A deep link launches a payment application, while an ordinary hosted payment link opens a web checkout page. Related entries: Payment Link QR Code; Payment Token Contract; Payment Network Selection.