Are there merchant category restrictions for Halocard?
Halocard generally works wherever Visa, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted, however, some physical and online stores (merchants) represent a higher risk to our card issuing and banking partners. These types of transactions typically have a higher probability of fraud and chargebacks and/or are regulated or illegal in some jurisdictions. If a merchant is classified under one of the following merchant category codes (MCC), your payment may be declined even if the merchant appears legitimate or claims they accept credit cards:
Prohibited Merchant Categories:
Merchant Category | Description |
|---|---|
Crypto | Buying/selling/trading cryptocurrency or digital currencies (with the card) |
Dark web / Cybercrime | Dark web marketplaces; hacking, malware, ransomware, exploit services |
Data brokerage | Unauthorized personal data or privacy-violating data brokerage |
Drugs | Illegal drugs; marijuana/cannabis/CBD where not fully legal and properly licensed |
Endangered wildlife | Endangered species/wildlife products; CITES-violating items |
Escort services | Escort services or similar platforms |
Hazardous materials | Regulated chemicals/materials without required approvals/documentation |
High-risk activity | Anything that creates legal, regulatory, or reputational risk |
Illegal marketplaces | Unlicensed auction sites/marketplaces facilitating illegal activity |
Predatory lending | Payday loans and other unregulated/predatory financial services |
Tobacco & nicotine | Tobacco products and nicotine products (including vapes) |
Unregulated pharma | Unlicensed online pharmacies; pharmaceuticals from unregulated sources |
Weapons | Firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapons |
Updated on: 03/03/2026