The regulatory workaround everyone's debating

Here's the thing—issuers face strict restrictions on paying interest. But that doesn't seal off the whole ecosystem.

Exchanges, wallet providers, fintech apps? They're operating in a different lane. These platforms can absolutely roll out "rewards" programs to users, as long as the money comes from their own operations—not from the issuers themselves.

That's where the friction shows up. When a major exchange (like certain compliance-focused platforms) starts offering yield-bearing products, regulators scrutinize the setup. The question becomes: Is this genuinely funded by platform revenue, or is it a backdoor way for issuers to pay interest?

The loophole isn't really a loophole—it's just the boundary between what issuers can't do and what platforms can. Smart operators are building business models around that line, turning rewards into a competitive edge while staying technically compliant. That's what gets everyone fired up.