Non-Supported Industries and Countries
Last Updated: December 1, 2025
Our Commitment to Regulatory Compliance
Unicorn Currencies is dedicated to adhering to all relevant laws and regulations, including those concerning anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF), sanctions, and export controls.
We operate through a curated network of FCA-authorized payment partners and licensed financial institutions. Our banking partners and payment service providers enforce their own requirements and restrictions, which cover certain industries, activities, and countries as outlined below. These policies reflect our commitment to maintaining the highest compliance standards across our partner network.
We do not support the onboarding of, or incoming/outgoing payments from/to any entities or individuals which fall into the below industries, or operate/are registered in the below countries.
Non-compliance with these restrictions can cause payment delays or rejections, with repeated violations potentially leading to account suspension or closure. For further information, please contact our Compliance Team at compliance@unicorncurrencies.com.
Non-Supported Industries
The following business sectors and activities are prohibited from using Unicorn Currencies' services:
Adult Content & Services
Pornography production, distribution, or hosting
Adult entertainment venues
Escort services and sale/advertising of sexual services
Dating services with adult or escort components
Gambling & Gaming
Online gambling, casinos, or betting operations (licensed or unlicensed)
Fantasy sports platforms involving real-money wagering
Lottery services or sweepstakes with cash prizes
Skill-gaming platforms that involve monetary stakes
Weapons, Defence & Military
Firearms, ammunition, or weapons manufacturers and dealers
Defence contractors and military equipment suppliers
Explosives, fireworks, or incendiary device manufacturers
Chemical or biological weapons components
Nuclear or military energy applications
3D-printed weapon file distribution
Controlled Substances & Related Products
Cannabis cultivation, distribution, or retail (including CBD products)
Recreational marijuana businesses in any jurisdiction
Drug paraphernalia manufacturing or sales
Unlicensed pharmaceutical distribution
Psychoactive substances or designer drugs
Tobacco & Nicotine Products
Tobacco manufacturers, distributors, or retailers
E-cigarette and vaping product companies
Smokeless tobacco or nicotine product manufacturers
Financial Crime & Illegal Activities
Money services businesses (MSBs) that are unlicensed or unregulated
Cryptocurrency exchanges, mixers, tumblers, or unlicensed digital asset platforms
Shell companies without legitimate business operations
Bearer share corporations
Entities engaged in money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions evasion
Fraud, Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, or other deceptive practices
Counterfeit goods manufacturers or distributors
Unlicensed payment processors or payment facilitators
Shell banks or banks with no physical presence
High-Risk Financial Services
Payday lenders or high-interest short-term lending operations
Pawn shops or title loan businesses
Check cashing services without proper licensing
Debt collection agencies engaged in aggressive or illegal practices
Credit repair services making false claims
Multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses with pyramid characteristics
Get-rich-quick schemes or business opportunity scams
High-Value & Cash-Intensive Businesses
Diamond, precious metals, or gemstone merchants (without enhanced due diligence)
Import of second-hand vehicles and/or vehicle parts in high-risk scenarios
Bonded warehouses (without enhanced due diligence)
Cash-intensive retail businesses with inadequate financial controls
Unregulated Charitable & Political Activities
Unregistered charities or illegitimate fundraising activities
Crowdfunding platforms for high-risk or unverified causes
Lobbying organizations
Political pressure groups
Think tanks engaged in political advocacy
Development aid organizations (without proper documentation)
Intellectual Property & Legal Violations
Pirated software, movies, music, or digital content
Counterfeit luxury goods manufacturers or distributors
Patent or trademark infringing operations
High-Risk Merchant Categories
Telemarketing or outbound sales operations with high chargeback rates
Pseudo-religious or cult organizations engaged in financial exploitation
Businesses with excessive consumer complaints or regulatory actions
Entities on sanctioned business lists (OFAC, OFSI, EU, UN)
Non-Supported Countries
Unicorn Currencies does not support onboarding of entities registered in, or incoming/outgoing payments from/to, the following countries and territories:
Comprehensively Sanctioned Jurisdictions
Afghanistan
Belarus
Cuba
Iran
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
Russia
Syria
Venezuela
Illegally Annexed or Occupied Territories
Crimea
Donetsk People's Republic (DNR)
Luhansk People's Republic (LNR)
Zaporizhzhia Region
Kherson Region
High-Risk & Conflict Zones
Myanmar (Burma) - Military junta sanctions
Yemen - Conflict zone with limited financial infrastructure
Somalia - Conflict zone; arms embargo
Libya - Conflict zone; asset freezes on certain entities
Iraq - Enhanced due diligence; limited to specific sectors
Lebanon - Enhanced due diligence due to Hezbollah financing risks
Mali - Conflict zone; political instability
Nicaragua - Targeted sanctions
Countries Under UN or Regional Sanctions
Burundi
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of the Congo
Ethiopia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
South Sudan
Sudan
Zimbabwe
Additional Restricted Jurisdictions
The following jurisdictions are subject to restrictions due to regulatory concerns, banking partner requirements, or enhanced risk profiles:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo
Restricted Destination Countries
For certain jurisdictions, we may support payments on a case-by-case basis with enhanced due diligence (EDD) and additional documentation requirements:
Enhanced Due Diligence Required
Pakistan - FATF grey list; enhanced monitoring
Nigeria - FATF grey list; enhanced monitoring
South Africa - FATF grey list; enhanced monitoring
United Arab Emirates - Enhanced monitoring
Tanzania - FATF grey list
Mozambique - FATF grey list
Panama - Enhanced due diligence
Offshore Financial Centers & Tax Havens
The following jurisdictions require enhanced beneficial ownership verification and source of funds documentation:
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Seychelles
Marshall Islands
Vanuatu
Belize
Sanctioned Individuals & Entities
Unicorn Currencies screens all clients, beneficial owners, directors, and transaction counterparties against:
OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List (United States)
UK HM Treasury Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets
Canadian Consolidated Autonomous Sanctions List
EU Consolidated Sanctions List
UN Security Council Consolidated List
Interpol and national law enforcement watch lists
Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases
Any match or potential match results in automatic transaction blocking and mandatory investigation.
Restricted Currencies
Unicorn Currencies does not facilitate transactions in the following currencies due to sanctions, convertibility issues, or regulatory restrictions:
Iranian Rial (IRR)
North Korean Won (KPW)
Syrian Pound (SYP)
Russian Ruble (RUB) - Restricted due to SWIFT disconnection and sanctions
Belarusian Ruble (BYN)
Venezuelan Bolívar (VES)
Cuban Peso (CUP) / Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Afghan Afghani (AFN) - Limited support due to Taliban control
Crimean Ruble (unrecognized currency)
Consequences of Non-Compliance
If you attempt to use Unicorn Currencies' services in violation of these restrictions, we reserve the right to:
Decline or reverse the transaction
Request additional documentation and subject the transaction to enhanced review
Suspend or close your account immediately
Report the transaction to relevant law enforcement or regulatory authorities
Charge administration fees for investigations into suspicious activity
Permanently ban you from using our platform
We are legally prohibited from disclosing suspicious activity reports (SARs) to the subject of the investigation.
Compliance Monitoring & Updates
This policy is reviewed and updated quarterly or immediately upon changes to sanctions regimes, FATF assessments, or regulatory guidance. Our compliance team monitors:
OFAC, OFSI, and Global Affairs Canada sanctions updates (daily)
FATF public statements and grey/blacklist modifications (monthly)
Regulatory guidance from FINTRAC, FCA, and FinCEN (ongoing)
Geopolitical developments affecting sanctions compliance (real-time)
Banking partner and payment service provider requirements (as updated)
Questions or Clarifications?
If you are uncertain whether your business or a specific transaction falls within any of the non-supported categories, or if you have questions about how these requirements apply to you, please contact our Compliance Team before attempting to open an account or initiate a transaction:
Email: compliance@unicorncurrencies.com
Phone: +44 20 8064 0818
Response Time: Within 48 business hours
Please note: Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee approval. All decisions regarding account eligibility and transaction approval are made at Unicorn Currencies' sole discretion.
Regulatory Framework:
Unicorn Currencies operates under the following regulatory authorizations:
Canada: FINTRAC-registered Money Services Business (MSB)
Canada: Bank of Canada RPAA Payment Service Provider (PSP)
United Kingdom: Company registered in England & Wales (Company No. 14325478)
Payment Infrastructure: Services delivered through FCA-authorized Electronic Money Institutions and Payment Service Providers
Unicorn Currencies partners with FCA-authorized institutions for payment processing and fund safeguarding across Canada-UK-EU trade corridors. These restrictions are non-negotiable and designed to protect our clients, our partner network, and the integrity of the global financial system.