Katherine Ross

Binance is “considering our options for legal action” after Checkout.com severed ties with the company on Thursday.



“As of Aug. 16, 2023, Checkout.com is no longer servicing Binance as a payment service provider. There is no impact on our services and users can continue to use on-and off-ramps as usual,” a Binance spokesperson told Blockworks via email.



“We do not agree with Checkout’s purported basis for termination and are considering our options for legal action.”



However, <a href="https://blockworks.co/tag/binance">Binance</a> said that it will continue “to collaborate with regulators and partners around the world to ensure clarity and the best services and protections for our users.”



Binance is facing a lawsuit from the <a href="https://blockworks.co/tag/sec">US Securities and Exchange Commission</a>, alleging that the exchange — alongside the US arm, Binance.US, and CEO Changpeng Zhao — operated as an unregistered exchange and offered unregistered securities.



The company has also reportedly faced a French investigation back in June, though Binance told Blockworks that it was just an “<a href="https://blockworks.co/news/binance-france-on-site-visit">on-site visit…by the relevant authorities</a>.”



The crypto exchange has also <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/binance-exits-european-markets">exited multiple European markets</a>, as well as pulling its application with Germany’s BaFin, citing the regulatory landscape as well as the global market.



It also exited the <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/binance-leaves-netherlands-cyprus">Netherlands</a> and Cyprus.



Forbes first reported the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidjeans/2023/08/18/payment-processor-checkout-drops-binance-over-money-laundering-compliance-concerns/?sh=7bac33225623">news</a>, citing letters seen by the publication.



According to reports, Binance received two letters from Checkout.com on Aug. 9 and 11 ending the relationship between the two because of regulator actions, though the second letter specifically detailed concerns about compliance, anti-money laundering and sanctions. 



Checkout.com did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the termination.



The news comes after <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/binance-connect-shutting-down">Binance shuttered Binance Connect</a> on Aug. 16, claiming that the move was made due to a “changing market.”



“At Binance, we periodically review our products and services to ensure that our resources continue to be focused on core efforts that align with our long-term strategy,” a Binance spokesperson told Blockworks.&nbsp;



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Binance considers “legal action” after Checkout.com terminates partnership

Brian Nibley

<div id="highlights-block_910792d6b40bddc21749560f6ed107be" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>These secure, fast, and easy-to-use payment rails bypass many of the restrictions and complications presented by the legacy financial system</li>
 <li>One of the challenges in creating these payment gateways is the classic cybersecurity dichotomy of usability versus security</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



It sounds counterintuitive, but a secure and easy exit is essential to increasing first-time adoption of a new monetary system. A Web3 ecosystem with poor fiat off-ramps is like a theme park with only one entrance and exit. Sure, fans of the park will learn to adapt to long lines, but outsiders will be less likely to make the effort.&nbsp;



Until recently, the crypto industry has been constrained by clunky and inefficient exits. They often require multiple steps that expose users to different security vulnerabilities — like losing a <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/what-are-seed-phrases">seed phrase</a> to one of many Web3 wallets and relying on insecure payment gateways. 



But payment industry leaders such as <a href="https://www.checkout.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>, <a href="https://www.checkout.com/payment-methods/accept/visa">Visa and MasterCard</a> are teaming up with crypto businesses such as <a href="https://cex.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEX.IO</a> to offer solutions that import trust and convenience from existing financial structures.&nbsp;



We spoke with some of the experts at Checkout.com and CEX.IO for more about their work and where they see the industry headed.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The new economy</h3>



Arina Dudko, head of corporate payment solutions at CEX.IO, said that one of the challenges in creating these payment gateways is the classic cybersecurity dichotomy of usability versus security: Sometimes increasing security can decrease ease of use. Creating gateways that are both secure and user friendly is no easy feat.&nbsp;



“We&#8217;re ranked in the top <a href="https://blog.cex.io/company-updates/cex-io-ranked-third-among-the-safest-cryptocurrency-exchanges-by-cryptocompare-24022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 safest cryptocurrency exchanges</a> by Crypto Compare,” Dudko added.



While striking this balance is a necessary step toward adoption, in many ways, legacy financial systems can’t compare to the speed and convenience of crypto.



Esteban Sadurni, director of crypto and digital assets at Checkout.com, notes that traditional payment methods can involve significant delays: “Sometimes traditional payment rails like Swift or others can take several days for the money to get to your account. We can easily send the money to their Visa or MasterCard using Checkout.com, and just last month, we announced our very strong partnership between Checkout.com, CEX.IO and Visa to allow CEX.IO users to withdraw their funds to their card in more than 130 countries.”



Just a few years ago, the idea of having the ability to withdraw crypto to a Visa card might have sounded like a pipe dream. Today it’s becoming reality.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Dudko went on to explain why there has been an increased demand for this kind of service:



“Users prefer easy cash out to fiat options that don’t take days to settle — because we&#8217;re talking about a new economy here. For example, we see more and more individuals, like artists, influencers, gamers, etc., preferring to receive their payments and salaries in crypto.”



Receiving a salary in the form of crypto can have significant challenges. People need to pay their bills. And for the time being, that requires fiat currency. So, the ability to cross over from crypto to fiat and back is becoming more important than ever. Dudko continued:



“But still, they are living in a world that has not reached complete adoption, so they need a way to exchange crypto to fiat as soon as possible, and that&#8217;s why customers just love fast and seamless payment methods such as payment cards, for example.”



<a href="https://www.checkout.com/newsroom/news/checkout-com-welcomes-cex-io-to-its-merchant-base" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com and CEX.IO</a> are on the forefront of making this possible, bridging the gap between crypto and traditional finance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ease of use meets security for Web3</h3>



As mentioned, an easy-to-use platform that has security standards and is trusted by users will be crucial for crypto adoption. Web3 apps, in particular, can benefit enormously from this type of innovation.



Sadurni explained it this way: “I think that it will become a key component for Web3 adoption that isn’t limited to use cases on exchanges. Other Web3 businesses, like NFT marketplaces, offer creators off-ramps that use channels like Visa direct or Mastercard Send via Checkout.com. This enables creators to accept crypto payments from the marketplace and at the same time, send money to their traditional fiat rails. This crypto-to-fiat solution is a growing trend. On the flip side, our stablecoin settlement solution offers merchants the flexibility of 24/7/365 settlements, including weekends and holidays — making around-the-clock liquidity now a reality.”



At the same time, these secure, fast, and easy-to-use payment rails bypass many of the restrictions and complications presented by the legacy financial system. This represents yet another key driver of demand for the kind of services offered by <a href="https://www.checkout.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a> and <a href="https://cex.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEX.IO</a>. Sadurni continued:



“We&#8217;re seeing a lot of crypto exchanges migrating to Checkout.com to avoid restrictions that they faced with their current legacy providers. So, they can offer users a seamless method where they use their Visa, MasterCard and/or other payment methods like GooglePay or ApplePay for buying crypto and making withdrawals while maintaining strong security.”



He went on to mention that unlike many banks, Checkout.com fees are very transparent:



“With Checkout.com, we are providing transparent fees to our merchants and disrupting the entire industry. As a leading fintech with 2000 plus employees globally, we deliver fast, agile and seamless payments.”



Finally, Dudko summarized how quick and easy payments make crypto more appealing: “Good on-ramp and off-ramp solutions in general are a must have for a maturing crypto ecosystem.&nbsp; We can show you that [using] crypto is as easy as buying a cup of coffee.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Dawn of a New Crypto Age</h3>



With <a href="https://www.checkout.com/newsroom/news/checkout-com-welcomes-cex-io-to-its-merchant-base" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com and CEX.IO partnering with major financial players like Visa</a>, the long-awaited mass adoption of crypto appears to be drawing ever-nearer. Many of the obstacles that have stood in the way of this adoption — fears about security, difficulty interacting with a new ecosystem, general uncertainty, to name a few — can be set aside thanks to payment gateway innovations. We may soon live in a world where people can choose to be paid in crypto and use those funds for the majority of their financial transactions.



This content is sponsored by <a href="https://www.checkout.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>.



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How Off-ramps Are Onboarding the Next Billion Users to Web3

<div id="highlights-block_62e033e960473" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>According to Wolfgang Bardorf, group treasurer at Checkout.com, when it comes to the nature of CBDCs, central banks most likely “don’t want to deal with the retail universe&#8221;</li>
 <li>Depending on the direction of regulation, stablecoin issuers may fill the retail gap</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



The competing motivations behind CBDCs and stablecoins make deciphering the future of digital currency incredibly complex.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Whether rooted in a desire to surveil citizens, provide financial inclusion or create interbank efficiency, we have yet to see the &#8216;killer app&#8217; of a CBDC (central bank digital currency).



In a recent <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/webinars/will-stablecoins-transform-the-business-of-banking/?source=bc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">webinar</a> asking if stablecoins can transform banking, experts from Checkout.com, Fireblocks and Gemini discussed how incoming stablecoin regulation may impact the trajectory of their government-issued peers — CBCDs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stablecoins vs. CBDCs review</h3>



First, it is important to highlight the main differences between stablecoins and CBDCs. Traditional stablecoins such as USD Coin and Tether are digital tokens that offer price stability through a 1:1 backing to fiat currency. They manage this backing through various reserve holdings of real-world assets. CBDCs on the other hand, are issued directly by governing authorities and do not have reserve requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stablecoin regulation recap</h3>



In June, Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, introduced a <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/bipartisan-crypto-bill-hits-congress-with-focus-on-cftc-jurisdiction-taxes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bipartisan bill</a> that proposes a comprehensive framework for the regulation of digital assets (including stablecoins) in the United States.&nbsp;



In the same month, the European Central Bank (ECB) produced its <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/financial-stability/macroprudential-bulletin/html/ecb.mpbu202207_2~836f682ed7.en.html">report</a> on stablecoins, citing an urgent need to regulate based on their increasing threat to financial stability. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) issued its <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/stablecoin-regulation-ramps-up-across-the-globe-with-new-bis-guidance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">final guidance</a> on stablecoins earlier this month, calling for stablecoins to follow the same settlement rules as traditional finance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CBDCs update</h3>



Meanwhile, a recent BIS survey shows that 90% of central banks are seriously exploring CBDCs. Half have moved beyond the initial research stage, with 65% of central banks expecting to issue a retail CBDC in the foreseeable future.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The difference between retail and wholesale CBDCs</h3>



CBDC types can vary, but bankers group them into a wholesale or retail category. The main difference is the intended adopters. Wholesale CBDCs are only provided to financial institutions with central bank reserves — and retail CBDCs are offered directly to consumers and businesses. Both are government-backed digital currencies designed to eliminate risk and deliver efficiency.



This choice between the two is critical to how a CBDC affects a stablecoin operation and purpose.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Competing central bank motives</h3>



In the <a href="https://bit.ly/3b30Bje" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>-sponsored <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/webinars/will-stablecoins-transform-the-business-of-banking/?source=bc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">webinar</a>, Adam Levine, vice president of corporate strategy at crypto infrastructure company Fireblocks, suggested that the extent of this impact depends upon the outcome a government is looking to achieve.



Levine believes some countries may want greater financial inclusion or a cashless society, while others may be looking to leverage CBDCs to further authoritarian objectives.



Levine leans toward a wholesale vision for CBDCs rather than a retail one. 



&#8220;I think that many of the leading economies over time are going to have a wholesale solution because of all of the benefits of a digitized currency as compared to traditional tech,&#8221; he said.



Stefan Sabo, head of research at crypto platform Gemini, suggested that the development of CBDCs has introduced a complex set of challenges, particularly from the legal system&#8217;s perspective. In terms of the US and Europe, he believes it will be a long path toward implementation.



Sabo sees a pretty different implementation and outcome in the case of China. China has already deployed its e-CNY digital currency on a limited basis. The currency is a type of retail CBDC, and given the authoritarian nature of the government in China, it raises concerns surrounding privacy and surveillance. The Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Bill <a href="https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Lummis-Gillibrand%20Responsible%20Financial%20Innovation%20Act%20%5bFinal%5d.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calls</a> for implementing security measures relative to the use of the digital yuan.



When considering CBDC deployment from a privacy perspective, Sabo doesn&#8217;t think that most central banks would be interested in managing retail client accounts in terms of compliance — know-your-customer and anti-money laundering provisions. &#8220;Those things are serious, massive operations at commercial banks — that seems like quite a challenge&#8221;, he stated. In most cases, central banks are exploring a model where they issue CBDCs, and traditional institutions manage distribution.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bank vs. non-bank stablecoin issuance</h3>



Wolfgang Bardorf, group treasurer at <a href="https://bit.ly/3b30Bje" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>, brought up a critical question that has yet to be answered: “Are CBDCs going to be another digital representation of a centrally backed currency — much like USDC, or will it be a parallel central bank backed currency?”



He goes on to explain that the answer to that question will determine how central banks use USDC in relation to the banking sector. He states that ultimately, that relationship is about injecting and removing liquidity from the system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



But when it comes to managing money supply generally, Bardorf believes &#8220;central banks wouldn&#8217;t want to deal with the whole retail universe.&#8221; He thinks that they would want to rely on bigger players. The question is whether this would have to be banks or not — something that, in his view, is too early to gauge.



Jeremy Allaire, the founder of Circle — the company behind the USDC stablecoin — has <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stablecoin-central-bank-digital-currency-171938235.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long maintained</a> that private sector products such as stablecoin USDC can fulfill the role of a CBDC but both could co-exist if necessary.&nbsp;



Circle just <a href="https://www.circle.com/blog/payment-stablecoin-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> its suggested policy principles relative to stablecoins and digital assets. In it, the company calls to enshrine privacy as a design principle in the issuance and circulation of digital dollar currencies.&nbsp;



Furthermore, it calls for preserving bank and non-bank dollar digital currency issuance as a mechanism to promote competition and level the playing field. The document also points out that CBDCs and stablecoins provide different functionality, and on that basis, they can co-exist.



Some US regulators want banks to have exclusive rights to dollar digital currency issuance. However, Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee have been <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/07/18/stablecoin-bill-wont-force-all-issuers-to-be-banks-congressman-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">working on a bill</a> to accommodate options for both banks and non-banks.



In a recent <a href="https://www.protocol.com/fintech/lummis-crypto-interview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a>, Cynthia Lummis seemed to be coming down in favor of a wholesale CBDC. She expressed that a CBDC should be kept within the central bank and that she wouldn&#8217;t want to see a CBDC cut out financial institutions or be a means of citizen surveillance.



Due to the landscape, some think a wholesale CBDC or no CBDC issuance are the most likely outcomes in the US. That would be more in keeping with the innovation-first ethos the US has established with new technology and, in this case, with stablecoins. Not all governments and regulatory approaches are equal in sharing that ethos. So we are likely to see a variety of implementations worldwide when it comes to CBDC design and the overall regulation of these digital assets.



You can <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/webinars/will-stablecoins-transform-the-business-of-banking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch the full recording</a> of the <a href="https://bit.ly/3b30Bje" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>-sponsored webinar for more insights into stablecoin regulation and its impacts on the banking sector.



This content is sponsored by <a href="https://bit.ly/3b30Bje" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>.



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The Future of CBDC and Stablecoin Coexistence

<div id="highlights-block_62a259cd0d121" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>Stablecoins may provide the settlement technology that powers mass institutional crypto adoption</li>
 <li>Checkout.com now offers merchants an around-the-clock stablecoin settlement solution</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



Stablecoins have the potential to offer the same level of mass blockchain adoption that NFTs offered Web3, but instead of consumers on OpenSea and Rarible, these adopters will be institutions. Supply chains are increasingly global, and with the changing economic environment and rising interest rates, the world now more than ever needs cost-efficient means of settling instant B2B payments across borders — stablecoins can be a powerful solution.



Despite this pressing demand, these institutions are at a crossroads as they wait on regulatory guidelines from <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/?s=yellen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a> and others by the <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/secretary-yellen-stablecoins-pose-significant-risk-to-financial-stability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">end of 2022</a>. Checkout.com Group Treasurer Wolfgang Bardorf offered Blockworks insights on the opportunities of high-quality stablecoins and obstacles to institutional adoption.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Distinguishing high-quality stablecoins from the others</h3>



The word “stablecoin” has been at the center of controversy the past few weeks, mainly due to the collapse of the now infamous algorithmic stablecoin TerraUST. Many like Ethereum&#8217;s co-founder <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/1525512307358347265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vitalik Buterin</a> argue that the phrase &#8216;algostable&#8217; is a &#8216;propaganda term used to legitimize uncollateralized stables by putting them in the same bucket as collateralized ones.&#8217; And for this same confusion, Bardorf emphasizes the importance of distinguishing the high-quality stablecoins from the others:



&#8220;High-quality stablecoins tend to be issued by reputable companies and assurances that they are backed 1:1 by the named currency or asset and will be very reliable and transparent. Specifically, these high-quality coins tend to be backed 1:1 by fiat cash or very high-quality liquid assets and, as such, represent a digital, tokenized means of settling payments at fiat value using blockchain infrastructure.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The stablecoin opportunity</h3>



One of the significant drawbacks of the use of bitcoin in payments is its volatility. Stablecoins instead focus on making the infrastructure features available without the volatility. The high-quality collateralized stablecoins are resilient to price volatility yet can immediately settle payments 24/7. According to Bardorf, this is a big deal for the tech industry:&nbsp;



&#8220;There is currently something of an &#8216;arms race&#8217; among tech companies and ecommerce companies — and indeed any business for whom liquidity and working capital are vitally important — to achieve faster settlements and 24/7 settlement capabilities.&#8221;&nbsp;



Bardorf points out that 24/7 settlement is “something that remains unachievable in many fiat transactions.” Establishment banks rely on the SWIFT payments network for international payments. This legacy infrastructure can involve up to four intermediaries. With each intermediary comes cost implications, with the knock-on effect of high fees and a delayed transfer process.



Settlement times can extend to as many as five days. When it comes to the international remittances sector of the payments industry, <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/01/World-Social-Report-2020-FullReport.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">costs can range from 5% to 10%</a>. The remittance market, in particular, is ripe for disruption by stablecoin-based solutions. In 2021, <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/11/17/remittance-flows-register-robust-7-3-percent-growth-in-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transaction volume</a> relative to cross-border remittances amounted to $589 billion. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Corporate treasuries and stranded liquidity</h3>



The role of a corporate treasurer is not an easy one. Cross-border movement of funds can implicate FX risk, high fees and other complexities. Bardorf emphasized that “the current system also leads to centralized bottlenecks which trap liquidity. Stablecoins provide a solution to this problem.”



In a <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/ifdp/files/ifdp1334.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent report</a>, the Federal Reserve recognized the role that stablecoins can play in this scenario, referring to the greater efficiency in reducing the time frame for transfers and direct real-time settlement. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Scaling and regulatory obstacles to stablecoin adoption&nbsp;</h3>



Bardorf argues that the first obstacle in institutional adoption is stablecoin scalability:



&#8220;Stablecoin utility starts to stall if participants can&#8217;t monetize it easily. That is to say, if a business cannot pay its suppliers in stablecoins, then they will need to go through the process of converting back to fiat before they can make any use of their money. This hurdle binds them by the constraints of the fiat currency infrastructure. The total utility of stablecoins for corporate treasury depends upon a widespread adoption at the wholesale level.



But scaling isn&#8217;t the only obstacle. Bardorf states that corporate treasurers “have to consider credit, regulatory and system risk before implementing new infrastructures.” It&#8217;s all about long-term viability. Bardorf notes that “any change in the payment system and infrastructure at the corporate level will be an operational upheaval,” so regulatory clarity isn&#8217;t optional.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overcoming institutional obstacles&nbsp;</h3>



Despite these obstacles sounding like a chicken or egg problem, Bardorf reassures that industry leaders can address them through building corporate treasurer trust:



&#8220;I predict that the treasury community is likely to help us get to a point where the regulators can say confidently and comfortably, &#8216;This is something we can live with,&#8217; especially with an open and honest dialogue about the benefits and regulatory risks.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Bardorf argues that because “corporate treasurers don&#8217;t want to work with non-transparent versions of stablecoins, they will be driving very clearly towards high-quality, robust, and transparent stablecoins, and if anything, the corporate treasurer&#8217;s demand will be helping to forge ever-better, more reliable stablecoins.&#8217;&nbsp;



Ultimately it is the corporate arms race to provide immediate 24/7 global settlements that will push institutions and central authorities to stablecoin adoption. In fact, Checkout.com recently announced a major milestone in that race. They now offer merchants an around-the-clock <a href="https://www.checkout.com/solutions/crypto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stablecoin settlement solution</a> powered by Fireblocks’ new crypto payment technology. Jess Houlgrave from Checkout.com <a href="https://www.checkout.com/resources/blog/checkout-com-makes-around-the-clock-liquidity-a-reality-with-stablecoin-settlement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> that the near-instant 24/7 settlement of fiat transactions in stablecoins will include “weekends and holidays — increasing access to cash flow and significantly reducing operational costs for businesses in the digital economy.”



There is no question that blockchain technology succeeded in providing a digital store of value. With it came programmable currencies and DeFi. The next paradigm shift is the ability to transact and settle digitized value on a global scale. Regulated stablecoins with the help of institutional adoption can achieve that vision. And it won’t just bring cost efficiency to the worldwide payment system. It has potential to usher in even greater web3 adoption by providing industry-compliant payment channels to GameFi, SocialFi and the metaverse.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



This content is sponsored by <a href="http://checkout.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Checkout.com</a>.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



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