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Prohibited Businesses

Some activities cannot use zerofive. Others need our written approval before you accept any payments.

Effective 22 October 2026

1.Before you start accepting payments

This policy is part of the Terms of Service at /terms. It applies to every store, product, invoice, subscription, tip page and payout using zerofive. It also applies when you collect or send funds for someone else.

A business being legal in one place does not automatically make it eligible. You must comply with the laws that apply to your business and customers, obtain required licences, and follow this policy. Technical access to an API or checkout is not approval.

2.Not allowed

Do not use zerofive for the activities below. Written approval for a restricted business cannot authorise an activity that is illegal or prohibited here.

2.1Illegal trade and sanctions evasion

  • Illegal goods or services, trafficking, stolen property, or payments intended to conceal or fund crime.
  • Transactions involving sanctioned persons or prohibited destinations, sanctions evasion, money laundering, terrorist financing or disguising the source or owner of funds.
  • Firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapon parts intended for assembly, and services to acquire or manufacture weapons.
  • Illegal drugs, unlawful controlled substances, drug manufacturing or trafficking services, and prescription medicines sold without required authorisation.
  • Counterfeit goods, pirated software or media, and products or services that infringe copyright, trademarks or other intellectual property rights.

2.2Fraud and financial abuse

  • Scams, impersonation, deceptive sales, fake investments, advance-fee fraud, Ponzi or pyramid schemes, and high-yield investment programmes (HYIPs) built on misleading or unsustainable returns.
  • Money transmission, remittance, crypto exchange, brokerage or other regulated financial activity without every required licence or registration.
  • Crypto mixers, tumblers and services designed to conceal transaction trails or evade screening.
  • Processing payments for an undisclosed business, disguising an unapproved business as another store, or renting out a zerofive account or its payment access.

2.3Data abuse, exploitation and violence

  • Stolen personal data, payment credentials or accounts; phishing, malware, ransomware, botnets, unauthorised hacking services and tools marketed for those purposes. Lawful security work with the system owner's permission is not prohibited solely because it involves security testing.
  • Content or services that promote hatred, targeted abuse, terrorism or violence, including fundraising for violent groups.
  • Human trafficking, sexual exploitation, non-consensual intimate content or sexual services that are unlawful.
  • Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sexual exploitation of children or any activity facilitating it. We have zero tolerance. We suspend access, preserve relevant evidence as legally required and report suspected child sexual exploitation to the appropriate authorities as required by law.

3.Allowed, on your responsibility

You don't need our approval for these, but you're responsible for running them lawfully everywhere you sell, and we may ask for evidence at any time.

  • Gambling, casinos, sports betting, lotteries and prize competitions: you hold any licence your markets require, keep players under the legal age out and block countries where your offer is illegal.
  • Adult content and adult entertainment: everyone shown is a verified adult who consented, and you check your customers' age where the law requires it. Exploitation, non-consensual content and any sexual content involving minors are always prohibited.

4.Allowed only with our written approval

Contact us before processing any payment for these activities. Approval is specific to the business, products, countries and payment flows we review. A licence is necessary where required, but it does not guarantee approval.

  • Crypto exchanges, OTC desks, brokers, custodial wallets, money transmission and remittance: only with required licences or registrations and adequate customer and transaction controls.
  • Investment, lending, securities, derivatives, insurance and other financial services: only with required authorisations and clear, accurate risk disclosures. Approval never permits guaranteed-return scams or misleading claims.
  • Nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, CBD and other legally permitted regulated products: only where lawful in every relevant market, with required permissions, accurate labelling and no unlawful medical claims.
  • Charitable fundraising, crowdfunding and collecting money for beneficiaries other than your own business: with a clear purpose, authority to collect, beneficiary information and any required registration.
  • Marketplaces or platforms collecting for third-party sellers, and other businesses whose main purpose is to move money between third parties: with transparent participants, permitted payment flows and required regulatory permissions.
  • Other regulated or age-restricted goods and services, including lawful tobacco or vaping products and licensed pharmaceutical sales: subject to product, licence, location and age checks.

We may set conditions, request evidence, limit payment flows or withdraw approval if the activity changes, controls are inadequate, or legal or provider requirements change. Tell us before adding a new restricted activity or materially changing an approved one.

5.If we find a prohibited activity

We may request information, block new payments, suspend or close a store, and pause payouts while we investigate. Money arriving at an existing address may be held. We may preserve relevant records and report activity or share information with authorities where required by law.

Suspension alone does not forfeit an otherwise releasable balance. The Terms of Service explain how balances are handled during suspension or closure. If you believe a decision is mistaken, write to [email protected] with the store reference and relevant evidence to request review.

6.How to ask for approval

Email [email protected] with your business name, website, countries served, products, required licences and a description of who pays and who receives funds. Explain any age checks, customer checks, moderation and refund process relevant to the activity. Do not send private keys, passwords or unnecessary customer documents.

Wait for written approval from ZeroFive before taking payments for a restricted activity. If you are unsure which category applies, describe your business and ask. Silence, a successful signup or a test payment does not count as approval.