> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://support.halocard.co/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# 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 are regulated or illegal in some jurisdictions.

If a merchant falls into one of the following categories, your payment may be declined even if the merchant appears legitimate or claims they accept credit cards:

| Prohibited Categories | Description |
| ---- |
| Adult & escort services | Adult content, pornography, entertainment, and companion platforms. This **excludes OnlyFans** which is supported ([see article](https://support.halocard.co/en/article/can-i-use-halocard-for-onlyfans-1rr48ge/)). |
| Crypto | Buying/selling/trading cryptocurrency or digital currencies  (e.g. Banxa, Coinbase, Kraken) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Money transfer & quasi-cash | Money orders, account funding or peer-to-peer transfers (e.g. Western Union, Revolut, Wise, PayPal, Xoom) |
| Gift cards | Prepaid gift cards and loading funds onto stored value cards  |
| 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 |

###### Country-specific Merchant Restrictions

| Country | Description |
| ---- |
| Egypt | Purchases at Starlink (due to the service being prohibited in this country) |