Stripe, Square, and PayPal make it easy to launch free trials that automatically convert into paid subscriptions. But for certain physical-product offers, technical functionality is not the same as merchant approval, MCC 5968 classification, or Mastercard specialty registration. Here’s what merchants should verify before processing.

The FTC has sent a historic warning to Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, and PayPal regarding “debanking” law-abiding merchants. This action signals that restricting access to financial services without legitimate, non-arbitrary risk could violate federal consumer protection laws. If your business relies on these payments, this is a critical reality check. Here is what this regulatory shift means for you and why creating a resilient, underwriting-first payments strategy is the only competitive advantage in 2026.