Prohibited & Restricted Business Categories

Last updated: August 2026 This page lists products, services, and business types that either require additional review or may not be sold through Anyway. As a Merchant of Record (MoR), Anyway may act as the seller of record in relevant transactions and assume responsibilities relating to payment processing, consumer protection, refunds, disputes, taxes, and compliance. To comply with applicable laws and regulations, card network rules, acquiring bank and other financial partner requirements, and to manage fraud, chargeback, consumer protection, and other risks, certain products and services may only be sold after specific conditions are met and Anyway has given prior approval. Other products and services are strictly prohibited from being sold through Anyway. We classify relevant businesses into:

• Restricted Businesses: Businesses that may be supported in principle, but require additional compliance and risk review and must receive explicit approval from Anyway before sales begin.
• Prohibited Businesses: Businesses that may not be sold, promoted, provided, or processed through Anyway.

Any approval granted by Anyway for a restricted business category applies only to the specific business model, website, products, and services disclosed at the time of approval. Merchants may not treat such approval as automatic approval for any other business, product, website, or service. Anyway may impose conditions on an approval, re-review, suspend, or revoke an approval based on laws and regulations, card network rules, financial partner requirements, consumer complaints, chargeback activity, or Anyway’s own risk assessment.

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Restricted Businesses

The following products and services require additional review. Before receiving explicit approval from Anyway, merchants may not begin selling these products or services through Anyway. The current self-service application does not support this approval path, so contact Anyway before applying. Anyway may require merchants to provide company information, business model descriptions, relevant licenses, product screenshots, content moderation mechanisms, consumer protection measures, supply chain documentation, or other supplemental materials.

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1. AIGC (AI-generated content)

Includes products and services that provide AI-generated text, images, audio, video, virtual characters, or other generative content. Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must not generate, sell, or distribute pornographic, sexually explicit, or other prohibited adult content.
• Merchants must not generate or distribute illegal, harmful, fraudulent, or rights-infringing content.
• Merchants should maintain appropriate content safety mechanisms, including screening and restricting prohibited-content-related keywords, models, prompts, or outputs.
• Merchants should maintain reasonable user reporting and content handling mechanisms.
• AI-generated content must not infringe any third party’s copyright, trademark, likeness rights, privacy rights, or other intellectual property rights.
• Where applicable, merchants should reasonably disclose to users that the content is AI-generated.
• Products aimed at minors should implement appropriate minor protection measures.
• Anyway may require merchants to disable or restrict specific models, features, prompts, content categories, or user-generated content capabilities before providing services.

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2. Content creation and user-generated content platforms

Includes platforms that allow users to upload, publish, sell, subscribe to, or earn income from content. Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must maintain content moderation and reporting mechanisms.
• Merchants must prohibit adult content, illegal content, and intellectual property infringement.
• Merchants should maintain a process for handling repeat infringers.
• Merchants must be able to promptly remove illegal or infringing content.
• Merchants must not allow creators to use the platform for undisclosed third-party payment collection, person-to-person money transfers, or other financial activities.

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3. Games of skill

Conditions and notes:

• Game outcomes must be primarily determined by participants’ skill, rather than chance or luck.
• Games must not constitute gambling, betting, or lotteries under applicable law.
• Merchants must clearly and completely disclose participation rules, fees, and reward rules.
• Rewards with real economic value may require additional review.
• Age verification must be implemented where applicable.

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4. Streaming services

Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must own the legal copyright, license, or other authorization for the content being distributed.
• Services must not include unauthorized films, music, sports events, or other copyrighted content.
• Merchants must comply with applicable digital rights management (DRM) and intellectual property protection requirements.

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5. IPTV

Conditions and notes:

• Only legally authorized or licensed content may be distributed.
• Merchants must be able to provide proof of relevant content authorization or licensing.
• Unauthorized retransmission of television, sports events, films, or other copyrighted channels or content is prohibited.

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6. Online education platforms

Conditions and notes:

• Any claimed certificates, certifications, degrees, or related qualifications must be truthful and accurate.
• Merchants must not make false promises regarding employment, income, exam pass rates, or professional qualifications.
• Merchants must clearly disclose course content, pricing, and refund policies.
• Merchants must not sell essay-writing, exam-taking, forged credentials, or other academic fraud services.

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7. Subscription services

Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must clearly disclose subscription pricing, billing cycles, and renewal methods before payment.
• Automatic renewals must receive the customer’s explicit prior consent.
• Merchants must provide a reasonable, clear, and easy-to-use cancellation method.
• Merchants must not induce customers to subscribe through hidden terms, misleading free trials, or other negative-option practices.
• Merchants must not intentionally make subscriptions difficult to cancel.

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8. In-game virtual items

Includes game currency, skins, equipment, and other virtual goods. Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must have legal authorization to sell the relevant virtual goods.
• Merchants must not violate the terms of service of relevant game developers, publishers, or platforms.
• Merchants must not facilitate unauthorized secondary-market trading.
• Virtual items must not be used for gambling, betting, or gambling-like mechanisms.
• Virtual items that can be exchanged for fiat currency, crypto assets, or other assets with real monetary value may be subject to further restrictions.

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9. VPN / VPS / cloud computing services

Conditions and notes:

• Services must not be marketed as a way to evade laws, regulatory restrictions, or conduct illegal activities.
• Merchants must publish a clear Acceptable Use Policy.
• Merchants must prohibit use of the service for cyberattacks, malware distribution, fraud, spam, illegal content distribution, or other illegal activities.
• Merchants should maintain reasonable abuse complaint and response mechanisms.

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10. Cloud storage and file-sharing services

Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must maintain infringement complaint and takedown mechanisms.
• Services must not primarily operate around pirated content, cracked software, film or media resources, or other unauthorized content.
• Merchants must be able to handle illegal content, malware, and other high-risk files.
• Anyway may require a detailed explanation of content moderation and abuse prevention mechanisms.

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11. Computer software and software stores

Conditions and notes:

• Software sold must be properly licensed.
• Selling cracked software, pirated software, or malware is prohibited.
• Unauthorized resale of software licenses, accounts, or activation keys is prohibited.
• Merchants must not provide software used to conduct cyberattacks, unauthorized access, information theft, or other illegal activity.

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12. Luxury goods, high-value goods, and valuables

Conditions and notes:

• Product authenticity must be verifiable.
• Merchants must be able to provide appropriate procurement, provenance, or authorization documentation.
• Counterfeit goods must not be sold.
• Anyway may impose additional transaction or settlement limits based on product value, transaction amount, and chargeback risk.

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13. Dating and matchmaking services

Conditions and notes:

• Appropriate age restrictions must be implemented.
• Services must not involve prostitution, escort services, or any commercial sexual services.
• Merchants must maintain fraud, harassment, and abuse prevention mechanisms.
• Merchants must comply with local laws and regulations regarding online dating and matchmaking services in the target markets.
• This category may be entirely prohibited in certain jurisdictions.

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14. Travel and travel booking services

Includes travel bookings, travel packages, and other travel services with long fulfillment periods. Conditions and notes:

• Merchants must hold applicable travel service licenses or qualifications.
• Merchants must clearly disclose cancellation and refund policies.
• Anyway may impose reserves, delayed settlements, or other risk controls based on booking periods, fulfillment periods, refund risk, and chargeback risk.
• Airlines, cruises, charters, timeshares, and other high-risk travel businesses may not be supported.

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Prohibited Businesses

The following products, services, and business models may not be sold, promoted, provided, or processed through Anyway.

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1. Illegal products and services

Includes, but is not limited to:

• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, and related drug paraphernalia
• Equipment used to manufacture, process, or use illegal drugs
• Forged identity documents, fake credentials, false certificates, or other fraudulent documents
• SIM card cloning devices, communication jamming devices, and other illegal telecommunications equipment
• Products or services used to conduct or assist illegal activity
• Human trafficking or any product or service that facilitates human exploitation
• Any product or service that is illegal in the merchant’s jurisdiction or target sales market

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2. Adult content and services

Merchants may not sell, provide, or monetize through Anyway:

• Pornographic or sexually explicit images, videos, text, audio, or other content
• Adult content primarily intended for sexual gratification
• AI-generated pornographic, NSFW, or sexually explicit content
• Adult live streaming or adult live chat
• Prostitution, escort services, erotic massage, or other commercial sexual services
• Other products or services primarily intended for pornography or sexual services

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3. Intellectual property infringement

Merchants may not sell or provide:

• Unauthorized distribution of films, music, books, software, games, or other copyrighted content
• Counterfeit goods
• Products that make unauthorized use of third-party brands, trademarks, characters, likenesses, or other intellectual property
• Cracked software, pirated software, or unauthorized software licenses and activation keys
• Products or services that directly infringe, or are primarily used to facilitate infringement of, third-party copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, likeness rights, or other legal rights

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4. Fraudulent, misleading, and unfair business practices

Prohibited practices include, but are not limited to:

• Pyramid schemes and Ponzi schemes
• Multi-level marketing programs that primarily generate income through recruiting new members
• “Get rich quick” or “overnight wealth” schemes
• Products that guarantee investment returns or make clearly unrealistic income promises
• Fake endorsements, fake reviews, or false consumer testimonials
• Hidden prices, hidden subscriptions, or misleading free trials
• Deceptive or predatory lending, investment, or business opportunities
• Selling fake or artificially generated social media engagement, including followers, likes, views, comments, or other fake traffic
• Document forgery services
• Other businesses that Anyway reasonably considers deceptive, unfair, predatory, or seriously harmful to consumers

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5. Gambling and betting

Prohibited businesses include:

• Online casinos
• Poker and other games of chance
• Sports betting
• Sports predictions involving cash or rewards with real economic value
• Lotteries
• Paid-entry sweepstakes
• Penny auctions
• Games or contests that are centered on money or rewards with real economic value and primarily depend on chance or random outcomes

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6. Firearms, weapons, explosives, and dangerous goods

Merchants may not sell:

• Firearms, handguns, rifles, shotguns, or other regulated weapons
• Firearm parts and regulated accessories
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Illegal knives and other regulated weapons
• Toxic, flammable, radioactive, biological, or other hazardous materials
• Goods prohibited by arms control, sanctions, or export control laws

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7. Illegal or high-risk financial services

Prohibited businesses include:

• Unlicensed money transmission or funds transfer services
• Unlicensed currency exchange services
• Unlicensed lending or credit services
• Paying loans with credit cards
• Check cashing
• Illegal debt collection
• Shell banks
• Unapproved payment aggregation or payment facilitation services
• Collecting payments on behalf of undisclosed third-party merchants
• Other financial services that require a license but do not hold the appropriate license

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8. Cryptocurrency and high-risk digital asset businesses

Prohibited businesses include:

• Unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges or related financial services
• Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) that violate applicable securities laws
• Cryptocurrency mining or staking investment products
• NFT secondary markets primarily used for speculative trading
• Other unlicensed digital asset financial activities

Lawful and appropriately regulated digital asset businesses still require separate review by Anyway. Anyway does not guarantee that such businesses will be approved.

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9. Stored value, top-ups, and cash equivalents

Unless explicitly approved in writing by Anyway, the following are prohibited:

• Prepaid cards or reloadable payment cards
• Virtual credit card (VCC) top-ups or fund loading
• Stored-value balances issued or accepted by third parties
• Virtual points that are broadly redeemable or transferable
• Converting credit card funds into cash, cash equivalents, or other payment instruments
• Other businesses that may constitute money transmission, cash-out, or cash-equivalent transactions

Merchant-issued points or credits that can only be used to purchase the merchant’s own goods or services and cannot be cashed out or transferred may be reviewed separately based on the specific business model.

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10. Malware and cybercrime-related services

Merchants may not sell, distribute, or provide:

• Malware
• Ransomware
• Spyware
• Credential theft tools
• Tools used for unauthorized access to third-party systems
• Software or services used for cyberattacks, fraud, or other illegal activity

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Sanctioned and high-risk jurisdictions

Anyway must not be used, directly or indirectly, to violate applicable economic sanctions, export controls, or other trade restrictions. Anyway does not support transactions involving countries, regions, individuals, or entities prohibited by applicable laws, regulations, or financial partner policies. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals, entities, and regions restricted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other applicable sanctions regimes. Merchants must not:

• Provide products or services to sanctioned parties;
• Process transactions on behalf of sanctioned parties;
• Knowingly conceal the actual parties to a transaction or ultimate beneficial owners;
• Evade sanctions restrictions through agents, third-party companies, or other means.

The specific scope of restrictions may change at any time based on laws, regulations, and financial partner requirements.

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Charitable, political, and religious organizations

Charitable organizations, political organizations, religious organizations, and organizations that primarily accept donations rather than sell goods or services are generally not suitable for Anyway’s Merchant of Record model. Unless explicitly approved by Anyway, merchants may not use Anyway to:

• Accept charitable donations;
• Accept political contributions;
• Conduct political fundraising;
• Conduct religious donations or fundraising;
• Process donations on behalf of nonprofit organizations.

This restriction does not mean that the relevant organizations or activities are themselves illegal. Rather, the transaction nature of these activities is generally not suitable for Anyway’s Merchant of Record service model.

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Prohibited misuse of Anyway

Regardless of the merchant’s industry, the following conduct is prohibited:

• Using false, forged, or misleading identity or business information to register for Anyway;
• Impersonating another individual, business, or organization;
• Concealing the actual business model, website, product, or service;
• Changing to another high-risk business after approval without authorization;
• Processing payments on behalf of third-party merchants not disclosed to Anyway;
• Using one approved website to collect payments for another unreviewed website;
• Using Anyway for card testing or fake transactions without genuine goods or services;
• Splitting, structuring, or manipulating transactions to evade fraud, chargeback, transaction monitoring, or reporting thresholds;
• Creating fictitious orders, transactions, or customers;
• Using, or directing affiliates to use, cards to create fake transactions;
• Processing, selling, or sharing cardholder payment information without authorization;
• Using Anyway for money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, or other financial crimes;
• Distributing malware, ransomware, spyware, or other malicious programs through Anyway.

The above conduct may result in immediate account suspension or termination and may trigger further compliance investigations.

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Business changes and ongoing review

After a merchant is approved by Anyway, the merchant remains responsible for ensuring that its actual business continues to comply with this policy. If any of the following material changes occur, the merchant should notify Anyway promptly:

• Website domain changes;
• Material changes to the products or services actually sold;
• Addition of new business lines;
• Addition of user-generated content or marketplace features;
• Addition of adult, high-risk financial, virtual asset, or other restricted features;
• Changes to the business entity, actual controller, or ultimate beneficial owners;
• Material changes to target sales countries or regions.

Anyway may conduct ongoing monitoring or periodic re-review of merchants and may require supplemental information.

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Anyway’s review and enforcement rights

The categories listed on this page are not exhaustive. Even if a product or service is not expressly listed in this policy, if Anyway determines based on applicable laws and regulations, card network rules, acquiring bank or other financial partner requirements, consumer protection requirements, fraud risk, chargeback risk, reputational risk, or other reasonable risk factors that the business is not suitable for processing through Anyway, Anyway may:

• Require additional information;
• Impose additional restrictions on the business;
• Set transaction or settlement limits;
• Require reserves or extend settlement periods;
• Suspend specific products or features;
• Suspend transaction processing;
• Refuse or terminate service.

Merchants may not assume that a business has been approved merely because the category is not expressly listed in this policy.

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Questions and compliance

If you are unsure whether your business, product, or service falls into a restricted or prohibited category, please contact Anyway before launch or before you begin selling. For restricted categories, please provide truthful and complete business information to Anyway. You may begin processing relevant transactions only after receiving explicit confirmation from Anyway. Do not use the current self-service application to request that approval.