Online shopping is supposed to make life easier, for both sellers and shoppers, right? Amazon, eBay, Temu, AliExpress, etc. - we are all using these eCommerce platforms. But let's be honest: online shopping and online selling are not perfect...
Ever tried to sell something on those platforms, and noticed how they take too big a cut of your profits?
Ever bought something because of glowing reviews, only to get a cheap knockoff?
Ever waited for weeks for a platform to release your payment?
Ever had to worry about currency conversion, complicated shipping, or confusing checkout processes?
All of this sounds familiar, right? But there are some good news - blockchain technology is here to fix this! Let's break down how blockchain solves common eCommerce problems👇
Why eCommerce Feels Broken
Despite its rapid growth and convenience, eCommerce feels broken for various reasons! We’ll break them down to online sellers and online shoppers.
For Online Sellers
1. High Fees Eating Your Profits: Platforms like Amazon have two types of fees for sellers, which are: the seller's fee and the referral fee. They charge sellers up to $0.99 per item sold under the Individual Plan, or $39.99 monthly for the Professional Plan. Additionally, sellers pay referral fees, which vary by category, for example, 15% per sale for home products like candles.
Amazon seller fees infographic
2. Slow Payments: Waiting 7–14 days to get paid? That's normal on traditional platforms. It's brutal for small businesses needing cash to restock or grow.
3. Fear of Losing Your Online Shop: Big platforms can suspend your account overnight, often without clear reasons. Imagine losing your income because of a policy you didn't even know existed!
4. Stuck Selling Locally: Want to sell globally? Good luck with currency conversion fees, banking rules, and shipping nightmares.
High Prices: Those 15% fees sellers paid on online marketplaces like Amazon are passed on to YOU. Buyers end up overpaying for products.
Cross-Border Hassles: Want to buy handmade jewelry from Italy? Prepare for sky-high shipping costs and weeks of waiting.
Security Worries: Data breaches and stolen credit card info make online shopping feel risky.
Why eCommerce feels broken infographic
How Blockchain Makes eCommerce Better
Blockchain technology is revolutionising online shopping by tackling the biggest pain points for both buyers and sellers.
For Online Sellers
Lower Fees, More Profits: Unlike traditional platforms that charge 10-15% per sale, blockchain-powered marketplaces significantly reduce fees. How? Because all the transactions happen directly on the chain. Sellers keep more of their earnings instead of paying hefty commissions to middlemen.
Instant Payments: With blockchain, payments are processed in real-time. No more waiting 7–14 days to access your money; funds are transferred instantly, giving sellers better cash flow for reinvestment.
True Ownership & Freedom: On blockchain-based platforms, sellers own their storefronts, not a corporation that can suspend them at will. Your business stays in your hands, all the time.
Global Reach Without Borders: Blockchain enables cross-border transactions with minimal fees and no complex currency conversions. Sell to anyone, anywhere, without worrying about banking restrictions.
For Online Buyers
No More Fake Reviews: Blockchain-based rating systems ensure only verified purchases can leave reviews, eliminating fake feedback and misleading ratings.
Lower Prices: Since sellers don't pay excessive fees, they can offer much better prices. You get fair deals without extra markups 🤝
Seamless Global Shopping: Crypto payments make international purchases smooth; no hidden currency exchange fees or slow bank transfers.
Better Security & Privacy: Your payment details stay secure with blockchain encryption, reducing the risk of data breaches and fraud.
How blockchain makes eCommerce better infographic
Astal is Leading the eCommerce Change
Astal is building a blockchain-powered eCommerce platform designed to solve all these challenges.
Astal Marketplace benefits for Online Sellers
Lower Fees – There is no middlemen taking a cut (thanks to the blockchain technology on which Astal is built) , so sellers keep more of their money.
Instant Payments – Get paid immediately after a sale, with no long waiting payment time.
Full Control – Your store belongs to you. No risk of being shut down without reason.
Sell Anywhere – Reach global customers without worrying about currency issues or bank restrictions.
Astal Marketplace benefits for Online Buyers
Trusted Reviews – Only real buyers can leave reviews, stopping fake ratings.
Fair Prices – Since sellers don't pay high fees, they can offer better prices.
Smooth Global Shopping – No extra bank charges or long waits for payments to process.
Secure Transactions – Blockchain protects your data and reduces fraud risks.
Online shopping has its problems. And these problems make it frustrating for everyone!Online sellers lose money to big platforms, while online buyers deal with overpriced items and dodgy ratings…
But it’s 2025 and it’s about time we do something about it, now that we have the technology. Don’t you think?
By utilizing blockchain technology and integrating it in the core of eCommerce, we can fix all of these problem! We can make online shopping more affordable, faster, and much safer for everyone! Sellers should be able to keep more of their earnings, and buyers should always get the best prices!
That’s why we decided to build Astal - a marketplace where sellers are in control of their shops, and buyers always get a better deal. No middlemen, no nonsense or hidden fees - just simple, secure online shopping!
Be Among the First to Sell on Astal
Be among the first to experience a new way to sell online! No hidden fees, no restrictions - just full control over your store and earnings.
