Prohibited Merchant Categories
Updated: 9 April 2026
Acceptable Use Policy
At Moment, we are committed to maintaining a secure, compliant, and responsible financial ecosystem. To uphold the integrity of our platform and ensure the safety of the businesses we support, we assess all potential partners against rigorous legal, ethical, and risk management standards. While we aim to empower a diverse range of industries, we maintain specific restrictions to ensure full compliance with global sanctions, regulatory obligations, industry best practices and Moment's internal risk appetite. These boundaries are not a reflection on any individual organization, but a necessary framework to protect our partners and our platform.
Business Alignment & Prohibited Activities
We build for businesses that prioritize transparency and long-term sustainability. In certain instances, we may be unable to onboard or continue supporting an entity due to regulatory, operational, or risk considerations. The following table outlines the sectors and activities that fall outside our risk appetite:
Category | Prohibited Activities & Industries | Representative Examples |
|---|---|---|
Financial Integrity | Entities that obscure transparency or bypass global financial regulations. | Shell banks, unlicensed financial service providers, and structures designed to hide beneficial ownership. |
Regulatory Compliance | Any business operating illegally or outside of the required local or international frameworks. | Unlicensed entities in regulated sectors (e.g., gambling or lending without a permit or license) or businesses or services breaching sanctions and embargoes. |
Adult & Sensitive Services | Services involving adult-oriented content, physical services, or sexual enhancements. | Escorting, prostitution, adult live-streaming, subscription-based erotic content, and sexual health supplements. |
Drugs & Controlled Substances | The sale or distribution of illegal substances or related paraphernalia. | Illicit drugs, synthetic high-risk substances, and equipment designed for the manufacturing of illegal drugs. |
Human Exploitation | Any activity that commodifies or exploits human beings in any shape or form. | Commercial surrogacy, mail-order bride services, and the trade of human remains or body parts. |
Fraud & Counterfeit | The sale of stolen goods, malicious tools, or deceptive financial schemes. | Counterfeit merchandise, stolen data, malware/hacking tools, and Pyramid or Ponzi schemes. |
Intellectual Property | Unauthorized distribution of protected content or artificial engagement. | Selling social media "likes" or followers, and the unauthorized sale of copyrighted digital media. |
Weapons & Explosives | High-risk hardware and military-grade materials. | Firearms, ammunition, explosives, and restricted military equipment. |
Important Regulatory Notes
Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASP): Please note that PayShap is currently unavailable as a payment method for any entity operating under a CASP license.
Policy Updates: This list is not exhaustive and may be amended or supplemented periodically to reflect changing regulatory landscapes.
Service Discretion: We reserve the right to decline or discontinue services where a business model does not align with our risk standards or where risks cannot be appropriately mitigated.
Not sure if you're a fit?
We are here to help you navigate the onboarding process. If you have questions regarding your specific business model or industry, please reach out to our team at compops@momentco.net for guidance.
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