Many people ask why we do not process payments through credit card companies. The main reason is that the major payment processors, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe, use automated systems to decide which businesses can use their services. These systems scan for keywords, product categories, and industry codes that they have classified as high risk.
Chemical suppliers, even those operating fully within the law and serving only legitimate research purposes, are often placed in these high-risk categories. Once flagged, an account can be closed without much explanation. This decision is not necessarily based on any wrongdoing. It is often the result of a broad policy that avoids certain industries entirely.
For example, Stripe’s restricted business list includes many types of chemicals, laboratory supplies, and other research-related materials. These restrictions apply regardless of the end use or safety measures in place. At the same time, businesses that work with the same types of products can sometimes remain on the platform if their category description or onboarding process does not trigger the automated filters.
Because of the way these filters work, accepting credit card payments for our type of business is not reliable. Accounts can be terminated suddenly, funds can be held for long periods, and disputes are difficult to resolve when the decision was made by an automated system.
For this reason, we accept the following payment methods:
- US bank transfers
- Wise
- Revolut
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and others)
We are relatively new to cryptocurrency and only added it as a payment option because it was straightforward to integrate. While it is not our primary method, it can be a useful alternative for customers who prefer fast, cross-border transactions without traditional banking delays.
By focusing on stable and predictable payment options, we can ensure that orders are not interrupted by third-party risk algorithms and that payments are processed without unexpected delays.
