Tried paying for a $130 online order through a third-party crypto payment processor. Here's where it went wrong: the funds never reached the merchant. Instead, the platform demanded personal information citing AML verification requirements. That wouldn't be so bad—except I'm far from alone. Scrolling through forums and review sites reveals hundreds of similar complaints stacked up. Same story: pending payments, held funds, increasing demands for documentation. Whether it's compliance theater or genuine regulatory caution, the end result is the same—users stuck in limbo. It's a stark reminder to vet payment solutions carefully before trusting them with your transaction.