SAN FRANCISCO — Creator-focused wishlist solution WishTender announced Tuesday that it had been dropped by mainstream payment processor Stripe over policy issues, and was in the process of transitioning to a different financial partner.
Through a post on its X account, WishTender added that it is collaborating with its new partner “to continue building the best wishlist platform for creators.”
“We will continue to update you on the action items that you will need to take as we transition,” the company added.
WishTender urged creators with outstanding payments to review a calendar for the transition and to contact the company with any questions.
For U.S. accounts, gift payments into U.S.-based WishTender Stripe Connect accounts will be paused on Feb. 15. All U.S. payouts to U.S. bank accounts will continue as usual, but the company “strongly recommends” ensuring balances are paid out as soon as possible and no later than March 15.
For non-U.S. accounts, gift payments will be paused on Friday, and payouts will cease on Feb. 20. Creators need to ensure their balance is paid out by Feb. 19. WishTender also noted extra precautions for non-U.S. accounts.
“We’ve been working through this sudden and surprising change around the clock,” the post explained. “It’s been a challenge, but we are facing this head-on. We know how important it is for users to collect payments, and we’re implementing our new solution as fast as possible so users can experience minimal interruption. We apologize to those who may experience payment interruptions during this transition.
“We are so grateful to have the chance to continue building for the community,” the company added. “We have exciting plans on our roadmap that we will be better equipped to accomplish with partners better aligned with our model. We understand this sudden change may be disconcerting, and we welcome your feedback and concerns. With your support, we will evolve the platform far beyond what it is today with our new financial partners, providing you with a more resilient and stable platform.”
Global payment processor Stripe has been criticized by adult creators and sex workers for its discriminatory policies.
Free Speech Coalition Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile told tech news site 404 in September that Stripe has historically been “one of the most aggressive censors of consensual adult content in the digital payment space.”
Stabile noted an FSC report from early 2023 indicating that nearly a quarter of adult workers and businesses reported a ban from Stripe.
“Even that underrepresents how aggressive they are, given that most sex workers avoid it in the first place,” Stabile added.
For more information, visit WishTender.com.