How European High-Risk Businesses can Access Global Payment Solutions: Legal Strategies and Banking Insights

High-risk businesses in Europe—like crypto companies, online gambling sites, or adult content platforms—often struggle to get access to global payment solutions. Many banks and payment providers see them as too risky and refuse to work with them. A 2024 report found that nearly 7 out of 10 high-risk merchants in Europe were rejected by three or more banks or PSPs in their first year.

Still, it’s possible to find the right payment partners with the right legal approach. Choosing a suitable country to register your business, following clear compliance rules, and getting legal support can help high-risk companies connect with reliable payment systems and grow safely. In this article, Key2Law experts share real experience and explain what steps to take to secure global payment access—even in the most complex industries.

What is considered a high-risk business in Europe?

In Europe, a business is considered high-risk when banks and payment providers see it as having a higher chance of financial loss, regulatory issues, or reputational damage. This risk classification affects how easily a company can open bank accounts or connect to payment systems. Typical high-risk industries include:

• Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallet providers
• Online gambling and betting platforms
• Adult entertainment and services
• Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements
• Forex and binary options trading
• E-commerce sectors with high chargeback rates
• Travel agencies and ticketing services
• Debt collection and credit repair services
• Multi-level marketing (MLM) and affiliate marketing, etc

Factors that lead to this classification include a high frequency of chargebacks or refunds, operating in a complex or unclear regulatory environment, conducting business across multiple countries, being subject to strict anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, and offering products or services that are heavily regulated by government authorities. These elements increase the perceived risk for banks and payment providers, making it more difficult for such businesses to access standard financial services.

Why high-risk businesses struggle with global payment processing

High-risk businesses often have a hard time getting access to global payment services because banks and payment providers see them as more likely to have problems like disputes or fraud. This makes providers hesitant to work with them, or they may charge higher fees and set strict limits.

Common reasons for refusal by banks and payment providers:

• High chargeback rates. Frequent customer disputes and refund requests increase financial risk.
• Regulatory uncertainty. Complex or unclear laws around the industry raise compliance concerns.
• Fraud risk. Higher chances of fraudulent transactions or money laundering activities.
• Reputation risk: Banks want to avoid businesses that might harm their own reputation.
• Cross-border challenges. Operating in multiple countries complicates legal and compliance checks.
• Lack of transparency. Insufficient or unclear business information makes risk assessment difficult.
• Previous negative history. Past issues with payment providers or regulators can lead to rejection.

Jurisdictions for a payment-friendly business setup

Popular jurisdictions for payment-friendly business setups in Europe and nearby regions include Estonia, Cyprus, and Curaçao. Choosing the right location helps businesses reduce compliance risks and build trust with payment partners. Often, combining a well-chosen jurisdiction with proper legal and compliance support is the key to unlocking stable and cost-effective global payment processing.

Legal strategies for securing reliable payment solutions

For high-risk businesses, legal preparation plays a key role in getting access to stable and trustworthy payment providers. A well-structured legal strategy can reduce perceived risk, improve compliance, and build trust with banks and payment systems.

Choose the right structure and jurisdiction

One of the first steps is choosing the right company structure and jurisdiction. Setting up your business in a payment-friendly country with clear regulations shows professionalism and improves your chances of approval. It’s also important to prepare clean, transparent corporate documents—such as proof of ownership, business plans, and service agreements—that clearly explain what your business does.

Have a strong AML

Another essential part is having a strong AML (anti-money laundering) and CFT policy in place and the implementation of comprehensive compliance measures. These help show that your business is serious about compliance and is not a risk for illegal activity. Working with legal experts who understand the requirements of payment providers can also help you avoid common mistakes, speed up onboarding, and negotiate better terms.

Building AML and compliance procedures that satisfy banks

To gain access to global payment systems, high-risk businesses must prove to banks and payment providers that they take compliance seriously. A strong AML (Anti-Money Laundering)program isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a key factor in being accepted as a client.

Here’s what a useful, bank-friendly compliance setup should include:

• Written AML policy: a clear document that outlines how your business verifies customers, monitors transactions, and reports suspicious activity.
• Customer onboarding process: collect government-issued ID, proof of address, if needed, source of funds, and conduct a liveness check. Usuall,y the service providers are engaging a third-party KYC provider, which may speed up checks and reduce errors.
• Ongoing and retrospective monitoring: keep an eye on customer behavior, flag unusual transactions, and document the detected issues. Usually this is done by combining the usage of automated tools or software and manual monitoring.
• Be ready to provide a truth-worthy source of funds documents that would confirm the legal origin of the funds, engaged in the company’s operations
• Qualified Compliance Team: it is crucial to create and develop a comprehensive compliance team that would help to track the regulatory requirements and implement all the AML/CFT measures that should be taken.

By showing that your business knows who it serves, how it prevents fraud, and how it stays compliant, you reduce the risk in the eyes of banks, making it far more likely to get access to global payment services.

How Key2Law helps high-risk merchants access global payment infrastructure

Key2Law specializes in helping high-risk businesses overcome legal and banking barriers to access global payment systems. With deep experience in industries like crypto, gambling, adult content, and nutraceuticals, the firm understands the specific challenges these businesses face—and how to solve them.

Here’s how Key2Law supports high-risk merchants:

• Jurisdiction selection and company setup: Key2Law helps clients choose payment-friendly jurisdictions and sets up legal entities optimized for financial approval.
• Licensing and regulatory support: whether it’s a crypto license or a gambling permit, the firm assists with obtaining the need for the Company’s operations licenses.
• AML/CFT policy development: our legal team creates customized compliance documents and procedures that meet regulatory requirements and describes the best practices existing on the market
• Ongoing legal guidance: from compliance reviews to contract drafting and risk assessments, Key2Law stays involved to ensure long-term banking stability.

With this full-service legal approach, Key2Law not only improves the chances of payment acceptance but also helps clients operate securely and confidently across global markets.