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The Daily Line

Deep dives

2 min left
Deep dive·Pro— the long read

The Complete Guide to MCA Stacking: Risks, Regulations, and Red Flags

As stacking continues to be the industry's most controversial practice, we break down the mechanics, the legal landscape, and how funders are using technology to detect it.

RT
Rachel Torres
Deals Reporter
September 8, 2026
8 min read · 2d ago
September 8, 2026 · 8 min read
Filed under stacking · risk management · underwriting
  1. 1As stacking continues to be the industry's most controversial practice, we break down the mechanics, the legal landscape, and how funders are using technology to detect it.
  2. 2Position limits in Q4 pricing updates from the top 10 funders
  3. 3Position count is the strongest single predictor of loss in the data — stronger than industry or FICO.

What happened

As stacking continues to be the industry's most controversial practice, we break down the mechanics, the legal landscape, and how funders are using technology to detect it.

Moneyline confirmed the details with 1 people with direct knowledge, who asked not to be named because the matter is not yet public. This story on stacking is developing; we will update it as filings and statements land.

Why it matters

The numbers reframe a debate the industry has had for years on anecdote alone. Position count, not industry or FICO, is the single strongest predictor of loss in the sample — and the gap widens sharply once a merchant crosses into a third position.

By the numbers
default rate at 3+ positions
44.1%
portfolio exposure analyzed
$2.1B
funded files in the sample
78K

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

Underwriters we spoke with were unsurprised by the direction and surprised by the magnitude. Several said they would revisit position limits in the next pricing cycle; two said they already had.

“Stacking isn't a merchant problem. It's an information problem we've chosen not to solve.”
Chief credit officer, top-10 funder

What to watch

  1. Position limits in Q4 pricing updates from the top 10 funders
  2. Whether a shared real-time position registry gains traction
  3. Default curves for 2nd-position restaurant paper through winter

Reporting by Rachel Torres. Tips and corrections: editorial@moneyline.com.

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Discuss in #news-desk

106 comments · 45 members weighing in

Open channel
MT
Mike TorinoFunder·3:30 PM

The position-level default table is the most useful thing I've read this year. Printing it for our underwriting offsite.

JDNP14 repliesLast reply 4m ago
TR
Tony RussoProvider·3:07 PM

Would love the same cut by industry. Restaurants skew every aggregate number in this space.

DMBH1 replyLast reply 13m ago
AK
Amanda KingInvestor·2:44 PM

Sharing this with the team. The newsletter version was good but the full piece has the numbers we needed.

RGCR2 repliesLast reply 22m ago
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
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