High-Risk Vertical Coverage

The AI Risk Platform for High-Risk Verticals

Ballerine extends your KYB stack with vertical-specific checks built for the merchant categories most platforms cannot support.

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The Gap

Most onboarding tools stop where the real risk begins

Sensitive merchant categories carry regulatory complexity, scheme obligations, and reputational exposure that standard KYB workflows are not built to handle. The gap between what gets approved and what is actually operating is where acquirers get hurt.

Vertical Coverage

8 AI agents, each built for a different high-risk vertical

Our AI agents are trained on each vertical's rules, risks, and compliance signals - running continuously from onboarding onward and adapting as scheme requirements evolve.

CBD

THC content threshold detection
Jurisdiction legality mapping (US/EU)
FDA / EFSA + Novel Food Regulation health claims monitoring
Card scheme AUP compliance check

adult

Age verification mechanism check
Consent, 2257 record & performer rights compliance
Prohibited content detection (CSAM signals)
Visa/Mastercard AUP content scan
Content classification: human-produced vs. AI-generated

gaming

Gaming license validation (MGA, UKGC, etc.)
Geo-blocking enforcement check
Responsible gambling tools check
MCC misclassification detection
Structural risk factors

forex

FCA / CySEC / ASIC license check
Leverage and risk disclosure audit
Unlicensed financial promotion detection
UBO and PEP screening
Sanctions watchlist screening

pharma

NABP / CIPA accreditation check
Prescription-free product detection
Controlled substance MCC audit
FDA warning letter cross-reference
Shipping-to-restricted-region detection

crypto

VASP / CASP registration verification
AML/CFT program assessment
Travel Rule readiness check
Wallet screening integration
Token type and securities risk flag

Nutraceuticals

Unsubstantiated health claims monitoring
Subscription / negative option billing audit
FTC / ASA marketing compliance check
Ingredient risk database cross-check
Chargeback velocity anomaly detection

IP rights

Trademark and counterfeit product scan
DMCA / piracy signal detection
Brand impersonation web check
Domain age and spoofing analysis
Cross-reference with known IP violation registries

Check once or monitor continuously. Your choice.

AI-Powered Web Analysis of Restricted and Prohibited Content

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

Transaction Laundering Detection

Uncover hidden merchant activity masked behind seemingly legitimate storefronts by looking at common behaviours and patterns of transaction laundering.

Automatic Adverse Media and Reputation Checks Across the Internet

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

MCC Classification and Risk Mapping

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

Customized Fit Detection for Your Terms of Service

Ensure merchant business models align with your merchant acceptance policy.

Behavioral and Channel Risk Signals

Analyze website traffic, online reputation, social presence, and digital breadcrumbs to assess merchant legitimacy.

Customizable Risk Scoring and Policy Logic

Apply your own underwriting logic using configurable rule sets, industry filters, and geography-based thresholds.

Underwriting Audit Trail and Explainability

No black boxes - only explainable, regulator-ready decisions backed by structured data and evidence.

Website Compliance Detection

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

AI-Powered Web Analysis of Restricted and Prohibited Content

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

Transaction Laundering Detection

Uncover hidden merchant activity masked behind seemingly legitimate storefronts by looking at common behaviours and patterns of transaction laundering.

Automatic Adverse Media and Reputation Checks Across the Internet

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

MCC Classification and Risk Mapping

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

Customized Fit Detection for Your Terms of Service

Ensure merchant business models align with your merchant acceptance policy.

Behavioral and Channel Risk Signals

Analyze website traffic, online reputation, social presence, and digital breadcrumbs to assess merchant legitimacy.

Customizable Risk Scoring and Policy Logic

Apply your own underwriting logic using configurable rule sets, industry filters, and geography-based thresholds.

Underwriting Audit Trail and Explainability

No black boxes - only explainable, regulator-ready decisions backed by structured data and evidence.

Website Compliance Detection

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

AI-Powered Web Analysis of Restricted and Prohibited Content

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

Transaction Laundering Detection

Uncover hidden merchant activity masked behind seemingly legitimate storefronts by looking at common behaviours and patterns of transaction laundering.

Automatic Adverse Media and Reputation Checks Across the Internet

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

MCC Classification and Risk Mapping

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

Customized Fit Detection for Your Terms of Service

Ensure merchant business models align with your merchant acceptance policy.

Behavioral and Channel Risk Signals

Analyze website traffic, online reputation, social presence, and digital breadcrumbs to assess merchant legitimacy.

Customizable Risk Scoring and Policy Logic

Apply your own underwriting logic using configurable rule sets, industry filters, and geography-based thresholds.

Underwriting Audit Trail and Explainability

No black boxes - only explainable, regulator-ready decisions backed by structured data and evidence.

Website Compliance Detection

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

AI-Powered Web Analysis of Restricted and Prohibited Content

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

Transaction Laundering Detection

Uncover hidden merchant activity masked behind seemingly legitimate storefronts by looking at common behaviours and patterns of transaction laundering.

Automatic Adverse Media and Reputation Checks Across the Internet

Understand what merchants sell and how they sell it, in accordance with card scheme directions and regulatory guidelines.

MCC Classification and Risk Mapping

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

Customized Fit Detection for Your Terms of Service

Ensure merchant business models align with your merchant acceptance policy.

Behavioral and Channel Risk Signals

Analyze website traffic, online reputation, social presence, and digital breadcrumbs to assess merchant legitimacy.

Customizable Risk Scoring and Policy Logic

Apply your own underwriting logic using configurable rule sets, industry filters, and geography-based thresholds.

Underwriting Audit Trail and Explainability

No black boxes - only explainable, regulator-ready decisions backed by structured data and evidence.

Website Compliance Detection

Automatically assign Merchant Category Codes with contextual accuracy.

AI Agents at Every Stage

AI agents that cover every merchant, at every stage

From underwriting to decisioning, our AI agents run vertical-specific checks, monitor for changes, and surface evidence-backed findings across your entire portfolio.

stage 01 · Underwriting

Screen for vertical risk before you board

Catch high-risk applications at the point of entry

t the point of application, Ballerine deploys category-specific checks based on MCC code, declared business activity, and product signals. High-risk applications are automatically routed to enhanced due diligence workflows, with evidence collected and structured for review.

stage 02 · Monitoring

Catch what changes after approval

Continuous surveillance across your live portfolio

Post-approval, Ballerine agents scan merchant URLs, social profiles, and connected platforms on a configurable cadence. New product categories, lapsed licenses, age-gating failures, and prohibited content changes are flagged the moment they appear.

stage 03 · Decisioning

Turn findings into clear, defensible actions

Consistent, audit-ready outcomes at scale

Every flag is scored against your risk appetite. Critical findings auto-escalate. Moderate signals queue for analyst review. Your team sees exactly what changed, when, and why - audit-ready for card scheme oversight.

faq

The AI Risk Platform for High-Risk Verticals

Most onboarding tools stop where the real risk begins

8 AI agents, each built for a different high-risk vertical

Check once or monitor continuously. Your choice.

AI agents that cover every merchant, at every stage

Screen for vertical risk before you board

Catch what changes after approval

Turn findings into clear, defensible actions

Common questions
about high-risk merchants

Grow your high-risk merchant portfolio without the exposure

The AI Risk Platform for High-Risk Verticals

Most onboarding tools stop where the real risk begins

8 AI agents, each built for a different high-risk vertical

Check once or monitor continuously. Your choice.

AI agents that cover every merchant, at every stage

Screen for vertical risk before you board

Catch what changes after approval

Turn findings into clear, defensible actions

Common questions about high-risk merchants

Grow your high-risk merchant portfolio without the exposure

The AI Risk Platform for High-Risk Verticals

Common questions
about high-risk merchants