- Higher authorization rates — scheme-recognized tokens are treated as lower-risk and authorize at higher rates than raw PANs
- Reduced fraud — tokens are scoped to a specific merchant and cannot be reused outside that context
- Lower interchange fees — some schemes offer preferential rates for network token transactions
- PSP portability — a single network token can be used with multiple PSPs
Flows
Create a Network Token
When you tokenize a card, Hellgate requests a network token from the card scheme. The scheme provisions a TPAN bound to the card and your merchant, which Hellgate associates with the token.Customer Initiated Transaction (CIT)
When a cardholder is present at checkout, a cryptogram must be requested before authorization. The cryptogram is a one-time proof of token ownership that your PSP uses to validate the transaction.Merchant Initiated Transaction (MIT)
For recurring charges where the cardholder is not present — subscriptions, installments, deferred billing — the scheme manages the TPAN lifecycle automatically. Most processors do not require a new cryptogram for MIT, simplifying the authorization flow.MIT cryptogram requirements vary by processor. Check your PSP’s documentation for their specific requirements for recurring network token transactions.
Supported Schemes
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover (coming soon)
- Diners Club (coming soon)
Guardian and Commerce
Both products support network tokens, but handle the relationship to PCI tokens differently:| Guardian | Commerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Provisioning | Explicit — provisioned separately from PCI tokens | Automatic — provisioned when you create a Commerce token (if enabled for your account) |
| Token lifecycle | Independent — PCI token and network token lifecycles are separate | Unified — network token lifecycle is aligned with the Commerce token |
Guardian: Network Tokens
Provisioning sources, cryptogram types, and API usage.
Commerce: Network Tokens
Automatic provisioning, cryptogram request workflow, and PSP integration.