Overview
MCC 6531 covers payment facilitators and marketplace platforms that aggregate multiple sub-merchants under a single acquirer relationship. This includes e-commerce marketplaces, gig economy platforms, and payment service providers facilitating third-party commerce.
Transaction Profile
Varied value, high frequency, predominantly CNP, multi-merchant aggregation, complex settlement flows
Card Network Notes
Visa and Mastercard have specific payment facilitator rules including registration requirements, sub-merchant monitoring, and transaction identification. Payment facilitators must register with card networks.
Risk & Compliance
Risk is high. Payment facilitators carry systemic risk as they aggregate sub-merchant transactions. Regulatory requirements include payment institution licensing in many jurisdictions. Sub-merchant onboarding, monitoring, and chargeback management are critical compliance areas.