Key takeaways
- Mercury opens accounts only for companies formed and registered in the US or a US territory, and not for founders who live in the countries on its prohibited list, which includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam.
- If you have a US company, Wise Business, Airwallex and Revolut Business also open accounts for US-registered companies, with more currencies than Mercury's USD-only accounts.
- If your company is registered outside the US, you don't need to form one to get US account details: Wise Business, Airwallex, Payoneer and Align give USD details to eligible companies abroad.
- Align fits companies paid in USDC or USDT, or that need named EUR, GBP and AED accounts alongside USD. Mercury holds fiat only.
The short answer
Mercury is a strong choice for a US company with US operations, but it only opens accounts for companies formed and registered in the US or a US territory, it can't serve founders who live in the countries on its prohibited list, and it holds US dollars only. The right alternative depends on where your company is registered:
- You have a US company but want more currencies or Mercury declined you: look at Wise Business, Airwallex or Revolut Business.
- Your company is registered outside the US: Wise Business, Airwallex, Payoneer and Align give US account details without forming a US entity, each with its own country list.
- You're paid in USDC or USDT, or need named EUR, GBP and AED accounts too: Align.
Who Mercury serves
As of October 2026, Mercury's help center says your business must be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory, with existing or planned US operations. Founders don't need to be US citizens or residents, but Mercury can't open accounts for founders who live in, or businesses that operate in, the countries on its prohibited list, which is based on where you live rather than your passport. That list includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam, along with sanctioned countries such as Cuba, Iran and North Korea.
Mercury also doesn't open accounts for money services businesses and crypto exchanges, businesses in adult entertainment, cannabis or internet gambling, or trusts. Its accounts can only hold fiat currency: it says they "can only hold fiat currency, not cryptocurrency".
Mercury has narrowed its list before. In 2024 it told startups in a group of African countries, including Nigeria, that it would close their accounts, as reported at the time by Techpoint Africa and The Paypers.
The alternatives compared
| Who can open | US account details | Other currencies | Published pricing | Stablecoins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | Companies formed and registered in the US or a US territory | USD accounts at Choice Financial Group or Column N.A. | USD only; incoming wires in other currencies converted | $0 plan; free ACH and wires in USD | Fiat only |
| Wise Business | Sole traders, freelancers and companies; some countries not supported | USD account details for eligible businesses | 22 currencies; hold 40+ | UK: one-time 50 GBP; 6.11 USD per USD wire received | Businesses that exchange or trade crypto aren't supported |
| Airwallex | Businesses registered in 69 listed countries and territories | Global Accounts in USD for eligible businesses | 20+ currencies | UK plans from £0 or £19 a month; 15 USD per incoming Fedwire | USDC payouts in early access, API only |
| Revolut Business | Companies registered in the UK, the EEA, Switzerland, the US, Australia or Singapore | Local USD details depending on where you're registered | 25+ currencies | UK plans from £10 a month | Buy, sell and hold crypto |
| Payoneer | Freelancers and businesses in 190+ countries and territories | USD receiving details | 13 receiving currencies, including EUR, GBP and AED | Free in your local currency; 1% in other currencies | USDC and USDT wallet powered by Bridge, rolling out in phases |
| Align | Registered companies, after a KYB review; not companies based in the UAE | US account and routing numbers through a US banking partner, on request; a named account for SWIFT | Named EUR, GBP and AED accounts | Quoted on request | Balance held as USDC or USDT; receives USDC, USDT and EURC |
Pricing and eligibility are each provider's own published terms, as of October 2026. Check the provider's country list before you apply: being declined by one doesn't mean you'll be declined by another, because each sets its own.
If you have a US company
Mercury's closest alternatives for a US-registered company are the ones that also accept US companies and add currencies:
- Wise Business for published per-payment pricing and account details in 22 currencies.
- Airwallex for Global Accounts in 20+ currencies, cards and accounting integrations, if the founders' countries are on its list.
- Revolut Business for monthly plans and cards, where the applicant lives in a supported country.
Having a second account is sensible in any case. Providers change their country lists and risk appetite, and a business with one account can't pay suppliers while it moves.
If your company is registered outside the US
Forming a US LLC to open Mercury adds US tax filings and annual costs, and you still need to live in a country Mercury serves. If what you need is US customers paying you by ACH or wire, a provider that gives USD account details to your existing company may be simpler. See how to get a USD account as a non-US company and how to get paid by US customers without a US entity.
How Align compares
Align opens named accounts in the name of your company as it's registered in your own country, so there's nothing to form in the US. For USD you get a US account number and routing number for ACH and wires through Align's US banking partner, plus a named account for SWIFT. ACH and wire access isn't switched on automatically: you request it, and the US banking partner runs a second review after Align's KYB, and can decline or set limits. Align also offers named EUR accounts for SEPA and SEPA Instant, GBP for Faster Payments, and AED for companies outside the UAE.
Money you receive lands in your balance as USDC or USDT, and Align converts it when you pay out in USD, EUR, GBP or AED. Align doesn't onboard companies based in the UAE, and some countries and activities are prohibited or restricted. For a side-by-side with Mercury, see Align vs Mercury.
Sources
- Mercury, Eligibility and requirements, Prohibited countries, Banking for crypto companies and Pricing (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Mercury, Announcing Mercury's Series D (May 2026)
- Techpoint Africa, Mercury closes African accounts (2024) and The Paypers, Mercury stops serving startups in several countries (2024)
- Wise, Business pricing (UK), Can my business use Wise?, Can I get USD account details? and Wise's position on cryptocurrency (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Airwallex, Global Account currencies, UK pricing and UK fee schedule (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Revolut, Business account plans (UK) and Eligible countries (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Payoneer, Pricing, Receiving accounts and Stablecoin payments (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Align docs, Countries and currencies, USD ACH and wire onboarding and Prohibited and restricted use (October 2026)
Common questions
- Why can't I open a Mercury account?
- The usual reasons: your company isn't formed in the US or a US territory, you live in a country on Mercury's prohibited list, or your business is in a category Mercury doesn't serve, such as money services businesses, crypto exchanges, cannabis or internet gambling. As of October 2026, its list of prohibited countries includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam, plus sanctioned countries.
- Do I need a US LLC to get US account details?
- Not with every provider. Mercury requires a US company. Wise Business gives USD account details to eligible businesses in many countries, Airwallex to businesses registered in its 69 listed countries and territories, Payoneer to freelancers and businesses in 190+ countries and territories, and Align to registered companies after a KYB review, through its US banking partner.
- Which Mercury alternative accepts stablecoins?
- Mercury's accounts hold fiat only. Of the alternatives here, Payoneer is rolling out a USDC and USDT wallet powered by Bridge, Airwallex has USDC payouts in early access through its API, and Revolut lets businesses buy, sell and hold crypto. Align is built around a stablecoin balance: payments into your named accounts land as USDC or USDT.
- Is Mercury a bank?
- Not today. Mercury says it is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank, with banking through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. It said in May 2026 that it had received conditional OCC approval for Mercury Bank, N.A. None of the alternatives in this guide is a US bank either.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and providers' terms change; check the sources linked above and take advice on your own situation.