Regulatory and Card Network Compliance
Expert analysis of regulatory expectations and card network requirements to help organizations balance compliance expectations with growth goals.
Payment service providers must stay abreast of changing regulations and card network rules. LegitScript explains these requirements and helps organizations apply them to merchant onboarding and monitoring. With our insights, teams can reduce compliance gaps and improve risk management while scaling their business.
Major card brands regularly enforce compliance rules and issue assessments against payment service providers whose merchants fail to meet network standards — with fines that can be $100,000 or more per violation.
Blog Articles
Latest Blog Article
What to Know About 7-OH and Other “Gas Station Highs”
February 19, 2026
While drugs like fentanyl and cocaine may be top of mind regarding threats to public health, a potpourri of lesser-known products are posing increasing risks to consumers, payment processors, and online platforms. And they’re all surprisingly easy to get. Read more about these “gas station highs.”
What You Need to Know about VIRP Updates to Adult, Escort, and Dating Merchants
Late last year, Visa began enforcing new standards within the Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP) that affect adult content, dating services, and escort services. These updates raise expectations for merchant classification, transparency, and compliance. Keep reading to learn about these changes.
February 16, 2026
by Erin Feebeck
Gaining Visibility and Control Across Your Downstream Merchant Portfolio
As payment ecosystems grow more complex, sponsor banks are under increasing pressure to maintain effective oversight of their downstream merchant portfolios. At the same time, managing merchant risk at scale has never been more challenging. Keep reading to learn how LegitScript is tackling this challenge.
February 12, 2026
Guides
Smarter Onboarding for Payments Leaders
Is your merchant onboarding keeping up with rapidly changes to risk and competition? Learn how to future-proof your onboarding with our guide.
24 pages
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The Top 10 High-risk Trends in Payment Processing and E-commerce
In this updated guide, LegitScript shares new high-risk trends that companies should be aware of to avoid fines and brand damage.
24 pages
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LegitScript Payments Risk & Compliance Benchmarking Report 2023-2024
LegitScript surveyed payments risk and compliance professionals about their recent challenges, impending threats, and opportunities. Hear what they had to say.
23 pages
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Top 10 High-risk Trends That Put You at Risk of Card Brand Fines
Learn about recent high-risk trends with card-not-present transactions that are likely to lead to expensive card brand fines.
36 pages
Webinars
On Demand
Problematic Products and Enforcement Trends Driving Risk in 2026
Peptides, 7-OH, and forced reset triggers are just of few of the latest products vexing payment service providers and online platforms. Register for this webinar to learn about our full list of trending high-risk products: what they are, why they’re problematic, and how to spot them.
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On Demand
Provisional Approvals: Balancing Instant Merchant Onboarding with Risk Mitigation
In this webinar, panelists will compare provisional approvals with traditional underwriting models, discuss the operational and compliance implications of each, and show how technology can support both approaches without compromising oversight. Learn more.
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On Demand
FTC Payments Enforcement Trends
The FTC increasingly views payment service providers as vital gatekeepers against fraudulent activity. Learn what the FTC does, how it approaches enforcement, when trends are shaping policy, and what this means for payments companies.