> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.atum.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Network participants

> Who does what in an Atum payment — your app, the gateway, settlement providers, and recipients.

## Roles

| Participant              | Role                                                                                                                                                        |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Application**          | Build UX, manage signing, submit payment requests, and collect the outcome (re-attempt the same purchase for x402/MPP flows, or read `/status` out of band) |
| **Source account**       | The wallet holding funds to send — your customer's wallet or your own                                                                                       |
| **Recipient**            | The address credited on the destination rail — merchant, user wallet, or treasury                                                                           |
| **Payment Gateway**      | Your only integration point — validates requests, finds a settlement provider, tracks the payment                                                           |
| **Settlement providers** | Independent providers who compete to fulfill payments and execute the on-chain transfer                                                                     |

## Identity

Atum issues **Known to Atum** to participants today — a credential that means Atum recognizes a participant (for example, your organization as a payment provider). It does not onboard your customers.

You bring any other identity credentials and attach them to the payment request. Atum verifies what you attach at the gateway; it does not replace your own onboarding. Identity is separate from [authorization](/get-started/concepts/authorization-and-counterparties). See [What is Atum ID?](/get-started/identity/overview).

## Next steps

After you finish this page, the following go deeper:

* [Atum payment lifecycle](/get-started/overview/how-an-atum-payment-works)
* [What is Atum ID?](/get-started/identity/overview)
* [Know Your Agent](/get-started/identity/know-your-agent)
* [What is Atum?](/get-started/overview/what-is-atum)