Why Not Having a Credit Card Can Be a Major Obstacle, Especially Online

When a judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague finds herself unable to pay for her morning coffee in Berlin because her credit card was canceled overnight, it’s not just a personal inconvenience—it’s a signal flare for how deeply intertwined global finance remains with U.S. Policy, even for Europeans who oppose those very policies. Beti Hohler, one of the ICC judges sanctioned by the United States in June 2025, described this reality in an interview with “Die Zeit,” noting that within 24 hours of the sanctions being enacted, her access to credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal vanished—not because she violated any European law, but because these services are operated by American companies that preemptively comply with U.S. Extraterritorial sanctions out of fear of secondary penalties. Her account at a European bank where she had been a customer for decades was similarly closed immediately, illustrating what she termed “overcompliance” by financial institutions that choose to err on the side of caution, even when the EU does not recognize the validity of these sanctions outside U.S. Borders.

This isn’t merely an abstract concern about sovereignty; it’s a tangible disruption to daily life that reverberates far beyond the halls of international justice. Consider Austin, Texas—a city where the global and the local collide in unexpected ways. Home to major technology firms, a growing number of international consulates, and a vibrant community of expatriates and digital nomads, Austin residents regularly engage in cross-border transactions, whether paying for software subscriptions hosted in Europe, booking accommodations through international platforms, or sending remittances to family abroad. If similar sanctions were to impact individuals connected to international institutions based in Austin—such as scholars affiliated with the Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas, researchers at the Texas International Law Consortium, or consultants working with the U.S. Agency for International Development who collaborate with ICC prosecutors—the ripple effects could disrupt everything from routine online purchases to professional travel bookings. The same overcompliance Hohler describes could lead Austin-based banks or payment processors to freeze accounts or decline transactions preemptively, not due to any proven violation, but because of perceived risk associated with certain international affiliations.

The second-order effects are equally significant. Local businesses that rely on international clientele—such as hotels near the Austin Convention Center, restaurants on South Congress Avenue frequented by visiting delegations, or co-working spaces in the Domain that host global freelancers—might find their payment systems suddenly unreliable for certain customers. Imagine a French researcher attending a conference at the LBJ Presidential Library unable to cover her hotel stay because her European-issued card is declined, or a Brazilian entrepreneur participating in SXSW unable to pay for a rideshare because her digital wallet is linked to a sanctioned entity. These scenarios aren’t speculative; they reflect the very mechanisms Hohler warned about, where the chilling effect of overcompliance creates unintended barriers in an increasingly interconnected economy.

Historically, Austin has positioned itself as a bridge between cultures and economies—hosting events like Austin City Limits that draw global audiences, fostering startup ecosystems with international venture capital, and maintaining sister-city relationships with places like Angers, France, and Gwangju, South Korea. The city’s identity thrives on fluid exchange. Yet, as financial systems grow more cautious in the face of geopolitical tensions, even cities celebrated for their openness can experience friction in the most mundane transactions. This dynamic underscores a growing trend: the localization of global policy impacts, where decisions made in Washington, D.C., or The Hague can alter the lived experience of someone trying to split a bill at a food truck park on East 6th Street.

Given my background in analyzing how macro-level geopolitical shifts manifest in community-level economic behavior, if this trend impacts you in Austin, here are the three types of local professionals you need to understand and potentially consult:

First, seek out International Financial Compliance Advisors who specialize in navigating the intersection of U.S. Sanctions law, EU blocking statutes, and extraterritorial financial regulations. These professionals—often found within boutique law firms or specialized consultancies near downtown Austin—can help individuals and businesses assess whether their international transactions or affiliations carry unintended risk under current regimes. Seem for advisors with credentials in international economic law, experience advising clients with dual-nationality or cross-border holdings, and a track record of interpreting OFAC guidelines in context with EU regulations like the Blocking Statute (Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96). They should offer clear, practical guidance on structuring payments to minimize exposure to overcompliance whereas remaining fully compliant with both U.S. And EU law.

Second, consider engaging Global Payment Systems Consultants who understand the technical and operational nuances of alternative payment infrastructures. These experts—frequently affiliated with Austin’s growing fintech sector or embedded in innovation hubs like Capital Factory—can evaluate whether your reliance on U.S.-based payment processors (such as Stripe, PayPal, or Square) creates vulnerability and recommend resilient alternatives. Ideal candidates will have demonstrable experience integrating non-U.S. Payment methods (like SEPA, Pix, or UPI) into e-commerce platforms, knowledge of multi-currency accounting software, and familiarity with emerging decentralized finance tools that reduce dependence on traditional card networks. They should prioritize solutions that maintain PCI DSS compliance while expanding payment inclusivity for international customers.

Third, connect with Cross-Border Business Continuity Planners who help organizations stress-test their operations against geopolitical financial shocks. These professionals—often found within risk management practices of mid-sized accounting firms or specialized resilience consultancies in the Austin-Round Rock corridor—can develop scenarios where key customers, suppliers, or employees face sudden payment restrictions due to sanctions adjacency. Look for planners with backgrounds in international business continuity (ISO 22301 certification is a strong signal), experience conducting tabletop exercises for financial sanctions scenarios, and partnerships with local chambers of commerce that serve international communities. Their value lies in transforming abstract warnings—like Hohler’s—into actionable protocols, such as maintaining secondary banking relationships in jurisdictions less prone to overcompliance or establishing invoicing workflows that accept bank transfers as a primary fallback.

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