7OH Crackdown: What It Means for Kratom Vendors and Payment Processing in 2025

On July 29, 2025, the FDA issued a major update regarding 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH), classifying it as a synthetic opioid and signaling immediate enforcement efforts in partnership with Mastercard, the DEA, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Banks and processors have confirmed that merchants must remove all 7OH products by August 15, 2025 to avoid penalties.

The FDA has made it clear that they do not consider 7OH to be kratom, a kratom byproduct, or a naturally occurring compound. Their statement alleges it is often synthesized and marketed deceptively as a dietary supplement — something they are moving to shut down quickly.

Several press conferences and livestreams have reiterated this stance. Here are official resources:

• FDA: 7OH Threat to Consumers
• Hiding in Plain Sight: 7OH Products
• American Kratom Association: 7OH Warning
• Robert F. Kennedy: Federal Response to 7OH

Processors have confirmed that Mastercard has started issuing BRAM (Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation) violations for merchants caught selling 7OH. These violations carry major financial risk, including:

• Fines of up to $500,000 per incident
• Potential MATCH list placement
• Immediate account termination

There is no gray area here. If your processor is tied to Mastercard (and most are), they will be forced to shut you down unless all 7OH products are removed.

This crackdown does not impact plain kratom leaf, compliant extracts, or mitragynine. The FDA has specifically stated they are not going after the kratom industry as a whole — only 7OH products being misrepresented or synthesized.

High Wire Payments continues to fully support kratom, mitragynine, tea blends, and legal botanical products.

If someone tells you they can still process 7OH, they’re either miscoding your business or lying outright. That may buy you a week or two, but Mastercard’s detection tools are aggressive and automated.

• Your website will get crawled for keywords
• You may be MATCH listed
• Intentional fraud carries harsher fines and permanent blacklisting

No reputable processor can or should take on 7OH right now. Any who say otherwise are putting you at risk.

• Take down all 7OH product listings from your site and POS
• Discontinue all advertising or promotional content mentioning 7OH
• Confirm with your processor that you’re in compliance
• Ensure all COAs and product labels do not mention 7OH

This isn’t a rumor. These are compliance instructions directly from banks and card brands.

Want Help Navigating the Shift?

If you’re unsure about your product lineup or are being dropped by your current processor, reach out to High Wire. We’ll walk you through what’s compliant, and help you stay operational without risking your merchant account.