Payments API: Credit Cards & Telegram Stars in Bot Workflows

from telegram import Update, LabeledPrice
from telegram.ext import ApplicationBuilder, CommandHandler, PreCheckoutQueryHandler, MessageHandler, filters, ContextTypes

async def buy_vip_pass(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
    # 1. Dispatch Star Invoice
    prices = [LabeledPrice("VIP Monthly Pass", 150)]  # 150 Telegram Stars
    await context.bot.send_invoice(
        chat_id=update.effective_chat.id,
        title="TGWAY VIP Monthly Pass",
        description="Unlock full access to alpha signals and private community forums.",
        payload="ORDER_VIP_USER_84920",
        currency="XTR",  # Telegram Stars Currency Code
        prices=prices,
        provider_token="" # Empty string for Telegram Stars
    )

async def pre_checkout_callback(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
    # 2. Validate Order within 10-Second Window
    query = update.pre_checkout_query
    if query.invoice_payload.startswith("ORDER_VIP_"):
        await query.answer(ok=True)
    else:
        await query.answer(ok=False, error_message="Invalid order payload! Purchase aborted.")

async def successful_payment_callback(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
    # 3. Fulfillment & Receipt
    payment = update.message.successful_payment
    charge_id = payment.telegram_payment_charge_id
    total_stars = payment.total_amount
    await update.message.reply_html(
        f"🎉 Payment Successful!
Received: {total_stars} Stars
Receipt ID: {charge_id}"
    )

Step 094 Visual Recap: Telegram Payments & Stars Checkout Blueprint

Four-tier in-app monetization architecture: sendInvoice dispatch, dual checkout modal (Stars vs. Credit Card), strict 10-second pre-checkout validation, and Fragment TON cashout pipeline.