Visa
Key Strategies for Adapting to Stricter PCI Compliance Standards
When it comes to PCI compliance, the days of simply filling out some paperwork and answering a few questions are gone. A casual approach is just not viable anymore.
How to Maximize Value From Your Payment Processing Fees
Regulatory requirements are putting more and more pressure on the adult industry. To stay compliant, merchants need tools that help with content moderation, age verification and fraud solutions. Unfortunately, the fees for those tools are hitting merchants’ bottom lines — including fees charged by payment services providers.
Final IRS 'No Tax on Tips' Rule Excludes Pornography
The Internal Revenue Service on Monday published final regulations on the “No Tax on Tips” provision included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” offering new tax deductions for tip workers but excluding revenue received for “pornographic activity.”
OCC, FDIC Prohibit Use of 'Reputation Risk' by Regulators
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Tuesday issued a final rule codifying the elimination of "reputation risk" as a criterion in their supervision of financial institutions.
Growing Site Revenue Under Ever-Changing Compliance Rules
Over the past year, many merchants have reported earnings that were flat or even a bit down. This is due to three main factors: age verification regulations, click-to-cancel rules, and banks backing away from cross-sales due to regulatory requirements and the rollout of the Visa Acquiring Monitoring Program (VAMP).
FTC Warns PayPal, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard Against Debanking
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent letters on Thursday to the CEOs of PayPal, Stripe, Visa and Mastercard, warning them against debanking practices — including denying customers access to services based on lawful business activities perceived as high-risk.
Making the Case for Network Tokens in Recurring Billing
A declined transaction isn’t just a technical error; it’s lost revenue you fought hard to earn. But here’s some good news for adult merchants: The same technology that helps the world’s largest subscription services smoothly process millions of monthly subscriptions is now available to you as well.
Building Sustainable Revenue Without Opt-Out Cross-Sales
Over the past year, we’ve seen growing pushback from acquirers on merchants using opt-out cross-sales — also known as negative option offers. This has been especially noticeable in the U.S. In fact, one of our acquirers now declines new merchants during onboarding if an opt-out flow is detected. Existing merchants submitting new URLs with opt-out cross-sales are being asked to remove them.
From Compliance to Confidence: The Future of Safety in Adult Platforms
In numerous countries and U.S. states, laws now require platforms to prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate material. But the need for safeguarding doesn’t end with age verification. Today’s online landscape also places adult companies at uniquely high risk for inadvertently facilitating exploitation, abuse or reputational harm, or of being accused of doing so.
How to Stay Legally Protected When Policies Get Outdated
The adult industry has long operated in a complex legal environment subject to rapid change. Now, a confluence of age verification laws, lawsuits, credit card processing and data privacy rules has created an urgent need for all industry participants — from major platforms to independent creators — to review and potentially overhaul their legal and operational policies.
From Compliance Chaos to Crypto Clarity: Making the Case for Digital Payments in Adult
These are uncertain times for adult merchants. With compliance tightening and age verification mandates rising, the barrier to entry keeps getting higher.
New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know
In December 2024, I shared an update on the upcoming rollout of Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program, also known as VAMP. The final version went into effect in June, and enforcement will begin in October. With just a month to go, now is the time to review what’s changing and how to stay compliant.
What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act
In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.
Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted
Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.
Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained
Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.
Eight Steps to Fast-Track AI Site Approval for Processing
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days. AI technology is speeding up the way we do business across all industries and offers numerous benefits, from automating processes to increasing efficiency and scalability.
How to Secure High-Risk Transactions With Network Tokenization
Ensuring the security of data as it moves through digital channels is the foundation of safe transactions, and crucial for your success. If your business can’t secure transactions, you’re exposed to myriad processing traumas.
Ready for New Visa Acquirer Changes?
Next spring, Visa will roll out the U.S. version of its new Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP), which goes into effect April 1, 2025. This follows Visa Europe, which rolled out VAMP back in June. VAMP charts a new path for acquirers to manage fraud and chargeback ratios.
Japanese Manga Industry Hit by Credit Card Companies' Anti-Porn Restrictions
Japanese manga retailers are reporting pressure from multinational credit card companies — many based in the U.S. and targeted by anti-porn religious conservatives — to censor their content if they wish to maintain their current payment processing arrangements.
Anti-Pornhub Attorney Expands Strategy to 'Name and Shame' Finance Companies
A legal team headed by attorney Michael J. Bowe has expanded its strategy in a series of ongoing legal actions against Aylo, over user-uploaded content on Pornhub allegedly involving minors, this time targeting finance companies that have backed or worked with the company formerly known as Mindgeek.
