Dec 10, 2025
By The LiquidTrust team
LiquidTrust is a payments innovation company serving FIs, B2B platforms and SMBs globally.
“Marketplace payments compliance” is a system design challenge—licensing, custody, verification, monitoring, and audit evidence must be embedded into your flows. This guide outlines a compliant framework you can implement now.
Trust account / Escrow (glossary): licensed, segregated custody of customer funds; release only under stated conditions.
KYB/KYC (glossary): Know-Your-Business / Know-Your-Customer identity checks; verify entities and ultimate owners.
AML (glossary): Anti-Money-Laundering monitoring and screening for suspicious behavior.
Subledger (glossary): per-participant transaction ledger that reconciles to custodial balances.
1) Stay out of the flow of funds (licensing & custody)
Use licensed custody/escrow so the marketplace never holds user funds.
Keep client funds in segregated accounts; document custodial structures and release logic.
Align flows to your jurisdictional obligations and partner with regulated rails.
2) Embed KYB/KYC + AML where it happens
Progressive verification at onboarding and at key risk transitions (new country, higher ticket, new payout).
Continuous screening and transaction monitoring with clear operator queues and SLAs.
Store verification artifacts with audit-ready evidence.
3) Make your subledger the system of record
Track every state, split, fee, and adjustment per participant.
Reconcile to master custodial accounts continuously; auto-surface exceptions for review.
Generate payout statements and event logs that pass audits without manual stitching.
4) Design for exceptions from day one
Model refunds, partial releases, reversals, and corrections as first-class states.
Build an operator console with evidence timelines and action controls.
Ensure idempotent APIs and reliable webhooks so actions are traceable and safe.
5) Global by default (if you have cross-border ambitions)
Support FX, sanctions screening, and local payout schemes through your provider.
Standardize release conditions; localize verification types without changing your core model.
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Learn more about how LiquidTrust helps B2B marketplaces build payment trust.
