# Settlement Basics

> Understand how customer payments settle to merchant wallets.

Canonical: https://stafiel.org/documentation/accept-payments/settlement-basics
Version: v1.0.0

Settlement is the step after payment and after-sales handling where eligible
paid orders move toward the merchant settlement wallet.

![Settlement basics diagram](/documentation/settlement-basics-light.png)

## Settlement Destination

Settlement destination means the merchant wallet and network used when an
eligible order settles.

### Merchant Wallet Boundary

Merchant wallet configuration sets the settlement destination. Stafiel does not
ask for merchant wallet private keys or custody of the merchant wallet.

### Captured At Checkout Creation

The settlement destination is captured when the checkout session is created.
Later wallet configuration changes apply to future checkout sessions, not to
existing orders.

### Network-Specific Settlement

Settlement value is not aggregated across networks. Each eligible order settles
on the network used by that order to the merchant wallet configured for that
network.

### Normal Settlement Flow

After an eligible paid order passes the configured after-sales window,
settlement moves the merchant amount through the supported payment rail to the
configured merchant wallet. There is no manual merchant claim or withdrawal step
in the normal settlement flow.

For wallet setup and security boundaries, see
[Wallet Settings](/documentation/merchant-operations/wallet-settings)
and [Security and Wallet Boundary](/documentation/risk-and-reference/security-and-wallet-boundary).

## Platform Fee

When a platform fee applies, it is handled as part of the same on-chain
settlement transaction. Settlement records show the merchant amount and the
platform fee amount separately, so the breakdown is clear.

For fee concepts, see [Fees and Plan Usage](/documentation/merchant-operations/fees-and-plan-usage). For
operational settlement review, see
[Settlement Review](/documentation/merchant-operations/settlement). For integration
details, see
[Settlements API](/documentation/developer-integration/settlement-history-api).

## Refund Impact

Refunds during the after-sales window can change what later settles. A partial
refund can leave a remaining amount for settlement. A full refund ends the
payment value for that order instead of continuing to settlement.

For refund rules, see [Refund Basics](/documentation/accept-payments/refund-basics).

## Network Differences

Settlement behavior can vary by network. Timing, transaction format,
transaction costs, and confirmation behavior may not look identical across
supported payment rails.

These differences do not change the settlement rule: each order settles on the
network selected for that order.

## Settlement Completion

Settlement completion means the order's settlement record shows a settled
result. Before that, Merchant Dashboard may show the order as waiting for
settlement or pending settlement verification.

Settlement is not instant. It follows payment confirmation, the configured
after-sales window, required KYT/AML and related compliance checks, network
processing, and platform settlement processing.