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In December 2020, Visa and Mastercard stopped processing payments for Pornhub, one of the most visited websites in the world. It was the clearest sign yet that the card networks would cut off even the biggest name in adult if they believed its content controls had failed.
The decision didn’t just affect one company. It rewrote the rules for every adult merchant account that takes cards today.
Key takeaways
- Visa and Mastercard blocked their cards on Pornhub on December 10, 2020, days after a New York Times column alleged abusive and non-consensual content on the site.
- Pornhub removed all videos from unverified uploaders, cutting its library from roughly 13 million videos to about 4 million.
- In 2022, both networks also suspended its parent company’s advertising arm after a court ruling in a lawsuit against Visa.
- The fallout produced the rules adult merchants live with now: verified uploaders, review before publication and fast complaint handling.
What Happened
On December 4, 2020, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof published an investigation alleging that Pornhub hosted videos of child abuse, rape and non-consensual content. Visa and Mastercard both said they would review their relationship with the site.
Pornhub announced new safeguards a few days later, including banning uploads from unverified users. It wasn’t enough. When the card networks say they’re “reviewing the relationship,” start packing. On December 10, Mastercard said its own investigation had confirmed violations of its standards and ended card acceptance on the site. Visa suspended acceptance the same day while its review continued.
On December 14, Pornhub removed every video uploaded by unverified users, shrinking its library from about 13 million videos to roughly 4 million.
What Pornhub Did Next
Without Visa and Mastercard, Pornhub pointed paying customers to alternatives. Its premium membership had already accepted cryptocurrency, and reporting at the time described crypto becoming the main way to pay. We’re not aware of Visa or Mastercard acceptance being restored on the site since.
The pressure continued. In August 2022, a federal judge in California declined to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Visa facilitated the distribution of abusive content on the company’s sites. Days later, Visa and Mastercard suspended card acceptance at TrafficJunky, the parent company’s advertising business. In 2023, the parent company, then called MindGeek, was sold to Ethical Capital Partners and later renamed Aylo.
How It Changed the Rules for Everyone
The card networks didn’t stop at one site. In April 2021, Mastercard announced new standards that banks must apply to every adult content merchant. Visa followed with its Integrity Risk Program, placing adult content in its highest-scrutiny tier.
| What platforms failed to show | What every adult merchant must show now |
|---|---|
| Who uploaded content and how old they were | Documented age and identity verification for everyone depicted and everyone uploading |
| That people in videos agreed to be filmed and published | Clear, documented consent from everyone depicted |
| That anyone reviewed content before it went live | Review of content before publication |
| That complaints were taken seriously | Complaints resolved within 7 business days, with an appeals process for people depicted |
| That the bank knew where money was flowing | Registration with the card networks and correct coding under MCC 5967 |
The Ripple Effects
Fewer places to process. Banks and processors weighed the new liability and many narrowed or closed their adult programs. The ones that stayed raised fees and tightened underwriting.
Platforms changed their business models. In August 2021, OnlyFans announced it would ban sexually explicit content, citing its banking partners, before reversing the decision within a week. Creator platforms across the industry added identity checks and pre-publication review.
Pressure spread beyond adult sites. In July 2025, Steam and itch.io restricted or removed adult games after payment processors raised concerns, showing that card network expectations now reach any platform hosting adult material.
Compliance became a competitive advantage. Merchants with strong verification and moderation became easier to approve and could negotiate better terms. Those without them found it harder to get approved anywhere.
Lessons for Adult Merchants Today
- Size doesn’t protect you. If the most recognizable brand in the industry can lose card acceptance, any merchant can.
- User-generated content is the highest-risk model. If you host uploads, verification and review before publication are non-negotiable.
- Look at every revenue stream. The 2022 advertising suspension showed that the networks look at related businesses, not just the main checkout.
- Have a plan B. Know which alternative payment methods you’d use and how long it would take to switch.
See what these rules look like in practice in our guide to Visa VIRP and Mastercard rules, and the broader backstory in the history of the adult industry and credit card processing.
Selling adult content? See how we set up adult merchant accounts →
The Merchant Guru’s Take
The Pornhub cutoff was a turning point. It moved the card networks from watching chargebacks to policing content, and it made verification and moderation the price of admission for every adult merchant. The good news: merchants who build those controls in from day one are exactly who adult-friendly banks want to board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Visa and Mastercard cut off Pornhub?
In December 2020, after a New York Times column alleged abusive and non-consensual content, Mastercard said it confirmed violations of its standards and both networks stopped processing.
Does Pornhub accept credit cards now?
We’re not aware of Visa or Mastercard acceptance being restored. Reporting described cryptocurrency becoming the main way to pay.
How did the Pornhub cutoff affect other adult sites?
It led to Mastercard’s 2021 adult content standards and Visa’s Integrity Risk Program, which now apply to every adult content merchant.
What do adult merchants need to show banks now?
Verified age and identity for everyone depicted and uploading, documented consent, review before publication and complaint resolution within 7 business days.
Could a smaller adult site lose card acceptance the same way?
Yes. If the biggest brand in the industry could lose card acceptance, any merchant that can’t prove its content controls can.
This article draws on public reporting and published card brand materials as of October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.
