The Coinflow Crashout: Another Blow to the Adult Industry—And What We’re Doing About It

On April 4th, our primary payment processor Coinflow terminated our partnership, cutting off instant payouts and freezing payment processing for creators across our platform. We’re so sorry for the disruption this caused. We'd like to shed some more light on what happened, why, and how we are rectifying the situation.

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This decision didn’t come from Coinflow directly, but from their banking partner Approvely, who suddenly shifted their stance on adult content. Coinflow were in a difficult position: protect their banking relationships or stand by their promises to us. We were caught in the fallout.

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You might’ve seen that some other platforms using Coinflow were impacted less as it seems Approvely are reconsidering their stance on other adult adjacent categories, which we really hope will not be the case. We’ve always pushed for equitable access to financial tools for creators in our space – and we’re not backing down now.

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Let’s be absolutely clear: we didn’t break any rules. This is what financial discrimination looks like. It’s a broken system that treats adult creators as disposable, cutting off livelihoods with zero notice and zero accountability.

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This is exactly why we built MintStars. Fair revenue splits are only part of the puzzle. The real fight is building tech and infrastructure that actually protects sex workers, so no one else gets blindsided like this again.

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Where We Are Now

Just hours after the shutdown, we engaged a backup payment processor. Phase one is already live. Fans and creators can now:

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• Top up wallets
  
  
• Creators can receive card-based tips
  
  
• Purchases through MintStars balance are fully supported
  
  
• Crypto cash-outs are always  available, and have never been affected

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Next up: We’re implementing a new subscription system, adding instant withdrawals to card and bank accounts, and expanding payment methods with as little disruption as possible.

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How This Happened 

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There’s power in knowledge, so here’s how payment processing works. Every digital payment runs through a chain of five major players:

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1. Payment Processors (the tech that facilitates payments from fans, like Coinflow)
2. Acquiring Partners (financial service providers like Approvely, who work with payment processors and handle the risk underwriting)
3. Payment Networks (that facilitate transactions, like Visa and Mastercard)
4. Merchant Acquiring Banks (A “middle man” of sorts between customers’ bank accounts and us, where funds are ultimately received)
5. Creator Payout (for fansites, how you get paid such as through Wise/bank transfer/whatever your methods are)

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If any one of these decides adult content is “too risky,” the entire flow collapses. This is what’s known as financial “choke-pointing.” It’s how sex workers and adult platforms get deplatformed, de-risked, and shut out of essential services - without breaking a single rule.

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What We’re Building

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We’re not just reacting – we’re reinforcing.

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• Partnering with a standalone payment platform that supports multiple processors
  
  
• Establishing direct relationships with banking partners aligned with our mission
  
  
• Expanding crypto options to give you decentralized, reliable payment choices
  
  
• Keeping fees low and payout speeds fast - always
  

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Our goal is a multi-layered, creator-first financial ecosystem that cannot be shut down overnight. 

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To Our Creators

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Thank you. For your trust, your patience, and your grit. We know this has been a stressful, frustrating time, but we’re here, we’re listening, and we’re committed to doing right by you every single day.

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We’re not just reacting. We’re building something better - with you, and for you. This work takes time, but we’re not going anywhere. And, we hope, neither are you. 

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Team MintStars