> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://developer.paddle.com/llms.txt).

# Currencies

Currencies describe the currencies that Paddle supports, including the number of decimals used and the minimum amount that Paddle can process.

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Currencies describe the currencies that Paddle supports. Each currency holds the number of decimals it uses, the smallest amount Paddle can charge, and the countries where it's used for automatic price conversion.

Use currencies to format amounts correctly and check the minimum charge before you create a price.

Currency entities include:

- The three-letter ISO 4217 code for the currency, under `code`, and its full name under `name`.
- The number of decimals in the common notation of the currency, under `decimal_places`.
- Whether you can hold your balance in the currency, under `can_be_balance`.
- The countries where the currency is used for automatic price conversion, under `applicable_countries`.
- The smallest amount Paddle can charge, under `minimum_payment_amount`.

### Working with amounts

Paddle handles money as a string in the lowest denomination for a currency. `decimal_places` tells you how to convert between that representation and the amount a person reads.

Most currencies use two decimals, so 10 USD is `"1000"` in cents. Some use none, so 100 JPY is `"100"`. Read `decimal_places` rather than assuming two, and see [data types](https://developer.paddle.com/api-reference/about/data-types.md) for how Paddle represents amounts across the Paddle API.

`minimum_payment_amount` uses the same representation. Payment can't be attempted for a transaction or checkout below this amount.

### Platform support, not account settings

Currencies describe what the Paddle platform supports. They don't describe what's enabled on your account.

`can_be_balance` tells you whether holding a balance in the currency is possible at all. You can set your balance currency in the Paddle dashboard.

`applicable_countries` lists where the currency is used for automatic price conversion, and only includes countries that Paddle supports sales to. You can set up automatic currency conversion in the Paddle dashboard.