For many businesses in the adult industry, including porn production companies, creator platforms, and sex-tech startups, access to traditional banking services has become increasingly challenging. Some companies report difficulty opening or maintaining accounts, securing loans, or receiving payments from mainstream financial institutions.
Because of these challenges, alternative payment methods, such as cryptocurrency, have gained attention in the adult sector. For certain creators and platforms, decentralized payment systems have offered additional flexibility when traditional banking channels become limited.
At the same time, increased regulatory scrutiny of crypto and financial risk management, sometimes described online as “Operation Choke Point 2.0,” has sparked debate about how evolving regulations may affect adult businesses and other high-risk industries.
In this article, Adult Site Broker explores the history behind Operation Choke Point and examines how current financial policies and regulatory discussions may influence the adult entertainment industry.
What Was Operation Choke Point?
Operation Choke Point was a U.S. Department of Justice initiative launched in 2013 to investigate payment processors and financial institutions associated with high-risk industries for fraud or money laundering.
While the program aimed to address illegal activity, critics argued that some lawful businesses, including parts of the adult entertainment industry, experienced reduced access to financial services. The initiative officially ended in 2017 after concerns were raised about regulatory overreach.
Even after its closure, discussions about financial risk policies continued to influence how banks and payment platforms evaluate certain industries. For example, the 2021 OnlyFans policy controversy highlighted how banking relationships can influence platform decisions about adult content.
What Is “Operation Choke Point 2.0”?
The term “Operation Choke Point 2.0” is not an official government program but rather a label used by commentators and industry observers to describe increased regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrency companies and financial institutions following major market events such as the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.
Regulators have emphasized the need to reduce fraud, protect consumers, and enforce existing compliance standards. However, some businesses in high-risk sectors remain uncertain about how evolving policies may affect their access to banking or payment infrastructure.
These discussions often raise broader questions about financial inclusion, risk management, and how industries labeled “high-risk” navigate an increasingly regulated digital economy.
How Could This Impact the Adult Entertainment Industry?
Historically, segments of the adult industry have reported challenges accessing banking services. Advocacy organizations such as the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) have documented cases in which performers or companies have reported account closures or payment disruptions.
Financial barriers can have significant consequences for creators and entrepreneurs, potentially affecting income stability, business operations, and long-term growth opportunities.
As a result, some platforms and creators have explored alternative payment systems, including crypto-based platforms such as NSFW.app, while others continue to rely on traditional payment processors despite evolving policies.
At the same time, ongoing legal debates around online regulation, including age-verification laws and financial compliance standards, continue to shape how adult businesses operate within different jurisdictions. You can read more about these challenges in our guide to banking issues facing adult business owners.
Advocacy groups such as the ACLU and industry organizations continue to discuss how payment policies and regulatory frameworks may impact lawful adult businesses moving forward.
Final Thoughts
The long-term effects of evolving financial regulations remain uncertain. For adult entrepreneurs, diversification, including multiple payment methods, compliance planning, and a strong operational structure, can help reduce risk in a rapidly changing environment.
At Adult Site Broker, we regularly analyze how regulatory trends influence the valuation and sale of adult websites, creator platforms, and digital assets. Understanding financial infrastructure is becoming just as important as traffic or revenue when assessing long-term sustainability.
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