HomeChannelsNewsDealsDirectoryDataEventsJobs
4Inbox4ActivityAsk
  • Home
  • Channels
  • News
  • 4Inbox
  • You
News
LatestBreakingDeep divesRegulatoryFunder spotlightsBroker storiesOpinionFintech
Formats
PodcastVideoReports
Subscribe
The Daily Line

Opinion

2 min left
Opinion— argued

Opinion: Why the MCA Industry's Obsession with Speed Is Creating Bad Outcomes

The race to fund deals in under 4 hours is leading to sloppy underwriting, inflated defaults, and merchant experiences that invite regulatory scrutiny.

SC
Sarah Chen
Market Analyst
September 9, 2026
8 min read · 2d ago
September 9, 2026 · 8 min read
Filed under opinion · underwriting · speed
  1. 1The race to fund deals in under 4 hours is leading to sloppy underwriting, inflated defaults, and merchant experiences that invite regulatory scrutiny.
  2. 2Trade-group positioning ahead of federal comment deadlines
  3. 3The argument: shaping a single standard beats fighting a nine-state patchwork.

What happened

The race to fund deals in under 4 hours is leading to sloppy underwriting, inflated defaults, and merchant experiences that invite regulatory scrutiny.

Moneyline confirmed the details with 2 people with direct knowledge, who asked not to be named because the matter is not yet public. This story on opinion is developing; we will update it as filings and statements land.

Why it matters

The industry's reflex has been to fight each bill state by state. That strategy has produced a patchwork that is costlier to comply with than any single standard would have been — and it has ceded the narrative to critics.

By the numbers
of brokers favor a code of conduct
71%
federal rule on the table
1
states moved in 18 months
5

The numbers behind it

The figures below come from Moneyline's data desk, drawn from verified member submissions and public filings. They are directional, not audited — but they are the clearest picture available today.

What we're hearing

Reaction in the community has been split along predictable lines: funders broadly supportive, some ISOs wary of anything that adds friction at the point of sale.

“If we don't write the rules, someone who has never funded a deal will write them for us.”
From the essay

What to watch

  1. Trade-group positioning ahead of federal comment deadlines
  2. Whether a voluntary code of conduct gets real signatories
  3. State bills that copy the strictest existing provisions

Reporting by Sarah Chen. Tips and corrections: editorial@moneyline.com.

opinionunderwritingspeedqualitydefaults
511 online now

Discuss in #news-desk

104 comments · 44 members weighing in

Open channel
AK
Amanda KingInvestor·3:38 PM

Agree with the diagnosis, not the prescription. Self-regulation only works if the big shops actually sign on.

MTTR20 repliesLast reply 4m ago
DM
David Martinez·3:15 PM

This is the conversation the trade groups should have had in 2022.

SCMJ3 repliesLast reply 13m ago
BH
Brandon HayesFunder·2:52 PM

Editors — can you do a follow-up with the funder side? Would love to hear their read.

AMAdd to the conversation…↵
On this page
  1. What happened
  2. Why it matters
  3. The numbers behind it
  4. What we're hearing
  5. What to watch
Related
  • Fintech
    Greenbox Capital Launches AI-Powered Underwriting Platform for Sub-$50K Advances
    8h ago
  • Opinion
    Opinion: The MCA Industry Needs to Stop Fighting Regulation and Start Shaping It
    17h ago
  • Deep dive
    The Complete Guide to MCA Stacking: Risks, Regulations, and Red Flags
    2d ago

More in opinion

See all
Opinion

Opinion: The MCA Industry Needs to Stop Fighting Regulation and Start Shaping It

17h ago·10 min read
Opinion

Opinion: It's Time for the MCA Industry to Create a Self-Regulatory Body

4d ago·4 min read
Opinion

Opinion: Syndication Is the Future of MCA — Here's Why

6d ago·8 min read