The new API is now ready for testing. As we have mentioned in previous blog posts, we expect the API to open the door to new web services that will integrate VirtaPay payments.

Who is the API for? How do I use it?

To get a better understanding of the API, who it’s for and how to use it, visit the API Details page. To create your own API key, visit the API Access page.

IMPORTANT: The API is intended for users who know how to program web services. If you choose to create an API key, keep it a secret. Never share it with anyone you don’t trust. If your account has an API key, anyone who has that key will have the power to access your account, and even send payments. Again, be sure to keep it secret, like you would any password.

What functions does the API allow?

Version 1.0 of the API has the following functions available:

• Get your account balance.
• Post a payment from your account to any VirtaPay user.
• Get transaction details on any transaction in your account.

We may add more features in future upgrades to the API.

What benefit will the API bring to VirtaPay users?

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing that yet. But, we hope to see many new services begin to integrate VirtaPay payments using the API. This could include “get-paid-to” websites, currency exchanges, marketplaces for both physical and digital items, use of VP$ as an in-game currency, and more. The API opens the door for web services to integrate VirtaPay payments in a way never before possible.

How will developers know what people want?

Coming soon, we will post polls to find out what services our users want most. These polls will be shared with developers who want to create services based on the API.

In addition, we will soon begin accepting submissions from developers who have created services that use the API. We will review these submissions and notify VirtaPay users (using the blog) about the services we think you’ll like the most.

So, if you’re a web developer who already knows what you want to create using the API, get started today! There are over 150,000 VirtaPay users waiting to start using your new service.