FOSTA-SESTA (Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act / Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, 2018) holds online platforms criminally and civilly liable for user-posted content related to sex work. Practical effect: payment processors, banks, and platforms have systematically deplatformed sex-work-related accounts to avoid liability. Result: providers face ongoing banking, payment, and platform churn that didn\u2019t exist pre-2018.
Banks deplatforming patterns
Specific patterns: Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo have closed accounts of identifiable sex workers without warning. Capital One has been less aggressive. Online banks (Chime, Varo, Current) vary by quarter. European banks have been less aggressive but increasing pressure exists from Visa/Mastercard at the network level. Crypto-friendly banks (Mercury, Brex for US business; Revolut/Wise for international) provide alternative routes but aren\u2019t fully insulated.
Multi-bank strategy
Standard approach: Multiple accounts — at least 2-3 banks, including one local credit union or community bank that handles cash deposits without questions. Cash + electronic mix — convert cash to deposit gradually in small amounts to avoid CTR (Currency Transaction Report) triggers at $10,000+ aggregated. Cross-jurisdictional — UK + US + Wise accounts cover most bases. Backup accounts not used for daily — for emergency in case of primary deplatforming.
Wise / Revolut / Stripe / PayPal
Wise (formerly TransferWise): Multi-currency; international; less aggressive deplatforming for non-explicit usage; useful for international touring. Revolut: Similar; some deplatforming history but workable. PayPal: Aggressive deplatforming; not reliable. Stripe: Aggressive deplatforming; not for adult business. Square: Aggressive deplatforming. Venmo, Cash App, Zelle: All have closed sex-worker accounts; not reliable for primary banking.
Cryptocurrency for providers
Bitcoin: Major platforms (Coinbase, Kraken) have aggressively deplatformed sex-work-related transfers; many alternatives. Monero (XMR): Privacy-focused; harder for banks to track; reasonable choice for transfers from clients who want privacy. USDT/USDC stablecoins: Dollar-pegged crypto; bypasses some banking exposure but converting to fiat creates new exposure. Cash-out infrastructure: Bitcoin ATMs, peer-to-peer (LocalBitcoins, Hodl Hodl) provide local cash conversion but with substantial fees and tax implications.
Adult-specialised payment processors
Specific processors that work with adult industries: SegPay — long-established adult-focused processor. CCBill — adult-friendly processor; common for OnlyFans-style billing. NetBilling — adult-focused processor. Epoch — adult-focused. These charge higher rates (5-15% vs 2-3% for Stripe) but provide stability that mainstream processors don\u2019t.
Cash discipline and bookkeeping
Cash-based income presents specific accounting challenges. (1) Daily deposit log — date, amount, source category; (2) Reasonable deposit cadence — avoid daily perfect-pattern deposits that trigger fraud flags; (3) Mix of denominations realistic for service economy; (4) Tax filing matches deposit patterns; (5) Maintain business expense receipts that approximate income; (6) Don\u2019t structure deposits below $10,000 reporting threshold deliberately — structuring is itself a federal crime in the US.
Surviving a deplatforming event
When a bank closes your account: (1) Don\u2019t panic — closure isn\u2019t criminal; it\u2019s policy. (2) Withdraw all funds immediately if possible; (3) Have backup accounts already established for emergency cash flow; (4) Pay any pending bills via cash or money order during transition; (5) Re-establish at different bank (different bank network where possible); (6) Don\u2019t use the same metadata (phone, address pattern) that triggered the closure if you can avoid it; (7) Consider whether your platform usage triggered the closure and adjust if needed.
