| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Illegal Products & Services | This includes the sale and distribution of illegal drugs (eg. Schedule 1 controlled drugs), substances designed to mimic legal and illegal drugs, and drug paraphernalia. It also covers businesses engaged in identity fraud, such as fake ID providers, and those using telecommunications manipulation devices like signal jammers. Any business promoting, celebrating, or engaging in unlawful violence or physical harm is also prohibited. |
| Unlicensed Financial & Crypto Services | Businesses operating without the necessary financial licenses, including unregulated money transmission, cryptocurrency mixing, anonymizing or tumbling services, and unlicensed banking and non-banking financial institutions that are not allowed. ‘Pure’ Privacy coins that do not have adequate AML/ CTF controls i.e., any Crypto Asset that allows for complete privacy without sufficient AML controls are not allowed as well. This category also includes high-risk crypto-related businesses, such as unlicensed crypto ATMs, crypto ATMS in high-risk jurisdictions, shell banks, private banks, correspondent banks, or similar companies without a physical presence and financial entities attempting to sidestep regulations. |
| Intellectual Property & Counterfeit Goods | Any business involved in the sale of counterfeit goods, illegally imported or exported products, unauthorized brand-name or designer products, or pirated digital content, such as movies, music, and software, is prohibited. This also includes services or products that facilitate trademark, copyright, or patent infringement. Unauthorized ticket resellers, black market products, and businesses selling unlicensed or fraudulent items fall under this category. |
| Fraudulent & Predatory Practices | Prohibited businesses include those engaging in deceptive or predatory financial practices, such as pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, and predatory lending. Other deceptive practices, including ‘get-rich-quick’ scams, aggregation services, multi-level marketing, negative response marketing, no-value-added services, tax avoidance schemes, mugshot removal sites or publication, sales of online traffic or engagement, remote technical support, essay mills, chain letters, door-to-door sales and businesses that use high-pressure upselling or fake testimonials are also prohibited. Additionally, restricted businesses include litigation finance companies with predatory lending models, unverified business consultants, and businesses misrepresenting revenue models. This also includes any other businesses that our partners deem unfair, deceptive, or predatory toward consumers, regardless of location or audience. |
| Adult Content & Services | Businesses involved in the production, sale, or distribution of pornography and sexually explicit content, including escort services, strip clubs, adult live chat, and online dating platforms, are prohibited. Massage parlors, physical dating agencies, and businesses with reputations for predatory practices also fall under this category. |
| Weapons, Precious Metals & Dangerous Materials | The sale, distribution, or production of firearms, ammunition, explosives, precious metals and other dangerous materials is prohibited. This includes toxic, flammable, or radioactive chemicals, as well as specialized research chemicals such as peptides. Businesses operating in arms, defense or precious metals sectors without proper authorization, including those in conflict-heavy regions, are also prohibited. Other businesses involving rough gems and scrap metals are also prohibited. |
| Gambling & Other Cash Intensive Businesses | Any form of gambling, including online casinos, sports betting, fantasy sports leagues with monetary prizes, and bidding fee auctions, is prohibited. Businesses engaged in unlicensed gambling activities, unlawful internet gambling, and unauthorized wagering institutions are also prohibited. Other cash intensive businesses are also prohibited. |
| Cannabis & Tobacco | The sale or distribution of cannabis products, including dispensaries and affiliated businesses, is prohibited. This category also includes tobacco products, vaping devices, and synthetic substances designed to mimic illegal drugs. Marijuana businesses operating without proper licensing or in jurisdictions where cannabis remains illegal are prohibited. |
| Hate Speech & Violent Organizations | Businesses that promote, support, or engage in violence, hate speech, or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or any other protected characteristic are strictly prohibited. This includes organizations spreading extremist ideologies or content promoting physical harm. Businesses involved in political or religious propaganda in high-risk regions are also barred. |
| Sanctioned & High-Risk Entities | Businesses or individuals subject to government sanctions, embargoes, or restrictions from international regulatory bodies such as OFAC are not allowed. This also includes terrorist financing and transactions in sanctioned jurisdictions. Diplomatic missions, consulates, and embassies operating in high-risk corruption zones also fall under this category. |
| Unauthorized Tech & Hacking | Prohibited businesses include those involved in hacking, malware distribution, unauthorized data scraping, and software reverse engineering. Businesses operating cyberlocker services for illegal content sharing or engaging in other forms of unauthorized digital access are also prohibited. The sale of hacking materials or unauthorized data exploitation services is strictly prohibited. |
| Certain Legal & Financial Services | Certain legal and financial services, such as unlicensed law firms, bail bond services, bankruptcy attorneys, law firms collecting funds for purposes other than legal service fee payments and trial continuity services, businesses offering contracts for difference (CFDs) are prohibited. Businesses offering unlicensed investment or financial advisory services are also prohibited. |
| Other Miscellaneous Businesses | A variety of other businesses fall under this category, including follower/like farms, massage parlors, tattoo shops, nightclubs, smoking clubs and political or religious propaganda organizations. Businesses that facilitate prostitution and escort services are prohibited. Other types of business types such as car washes, dry cleaners, butcher shops, laundries, sauna, Hammam, or bath houses are prohibited. |
*Companies engaged in certain industries may need to provide additional information or documentation or may be ineligible for certain services as required by our partners. This includes but not limited to businesses in financial services, high-risk trading, regulated goods, and industries with complex compliance requirements or high fraud risks.
*Please note that the types of businesses listed in the Prohibited Activities List and the Restricted Activities List are representative but not exhaustive. Additional industries may also be prohibited or subject restrictions based on our partners’ assessments.