Strike verifies a business the way a bank does before it opens a business checking account. It checks the company, then it checks each person behind it. Gather the papers below before you start and the whole application goes in one sitting. For the screen-by-screen signup, see how to set up a Strike business account.
What Strike publishes about business verification
Strike's developer docs list four parts to business verification (Strike account overview, read Nov 11, 2026):
- Basic business information: name, address, EIN and incorporation details.
- Documents, such as tax or banking documents and relevant licenses.
- Identity verification for owners and operators. Each person gets a separate email and provides their name, address and a government-issued photo ID.
- A description of your intended use of the Strike API, if applicable.
Strike's help center adds that a business account needs documentation for each owner, plus the company's name, location, website and intended use of the account (How do I create an account?, read Nov 11, 2026).
Strike's examples are examples, not a closed list. The checklist below covers what riverArk merchants are asked for most.
The core checklist
| Document | What it is | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| IRS EIN letter | Proof of your federal tax ID: the CP 575 notice the IRS sent when you applied, or Letter 147C | Your records, your IRS Business Tax Account, or by phone from the IRS (below) |
| Formation documents | The filing that created the business with your state | Your state's business filing office, often the Secretary of State |
| Business tax or bank document | A recent document showing the business name and address, such as a business bank statement or business tax return | Your bank or your accountant |
| Licenses | Any license your business holds | The agency that issued it |
| Owner and operator IDs | A government-issued photo ID for each person | Each person uploads their own |
By entity type
LLC
- EIN letter (CP 575 or 147C).
- Articles of organization. The SBA describes these as "a simple document that describes the basics of your LLC," usually naming the company, its address, its members and its registered agent (SBA: Register your business, read Nov 11, 2026).
- A recent business tax or bank document and any licenses.
- An ID check for every owner and operator.
Corporation
- EIN letter (CP 575 or 147C).
- Articles of incorporation, which the SBA says every state requires when you incorporate (SBA: Register your business, read Nov 11, 2026).
- A recent business tax or bank document and any licenses.
- An ID check for every owner and operator.
Sole proprietor
Strike's published business requirements list an EIN and incorporation details, and they do not name which entity types Strike accepts. If you operate as a sole proprietor with no LLC or corporation, email support@strike.me before you apply and ask whether a business account is open to you. Two IRS points help that conversation:
- A sole proprietor can get an EIN. The IRS says you can request one for banking or state tax purposes even if you do not need one for federal tax (IRS: Employer identification number, read Nov 11, 2026). Applying is free (SBA: Get federal and state tax ID numbers, read Nov 11, 2026).
- A trade name (DBA) is not a formation document. It registers a name, not a company.
Finding your EIN letter
The EIN letter trips up more applications than any other document, because the original CP 575 arrived once, years ago, by mail.
- CP 575. The notice the IRS issues when it assigns your EIN. Check your files, your formation kit, or with whoever filed for you.
- Digital CP 575. Eligible IRS Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP 575, which the IRS says can stand in for the original notice and for Letter 147C (IRS: Employer identification number, read Nov 11, 2026).
- Letter 147C. Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and request Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned. The IRS verifies your identity and provides the number if you are authorized to receive it (IRS: Employer identification number, read Nov 11, 2026).
Whichever you upload, the legal name on it must match the legal name you type into Strike and the name on your business bank account.
Owner and operator identity checks
Strike sends each owner and operator a separate verification email. Each person confirms their name and address and uploads a government-issued photo ID. Strike's help center says identity requirements vary by jurisdiction and can include date of birth, a tax ID number and a live selfie (How do I create an account?, read Nov 11, 2026).
Two things save time here:
- Warn everyone first. An unopened owner email is the number one reason a Strike business approval stalls. Send your partners a text the moment you submit.
- Existing Strike users skip a step. An owner who already has a verified personal Strike account does not need to verify again, as long as the ID used for that account has not expired.
Why reviews stall, and the fix
| What happens | The fix |
|---|---|
| An owner never opens the email | Ask them to search inbox and spam for Strike; correct the address through Strike support if it was mistyped |
| The business type is financial services, money services or crypto trading | Those trigger a stricter review. Pick what you actually sell: retail, food and beverage, services. Ask Strike support to correct it if you already submitted |
| The legal name differs between the EIN letter, the form and the bank | Use the exact IRS legal name everywhere, including "LLC" or "Inc." |
| The address on formation documents is out of date | Upload a current business tax or bank document showing the address you entered |
| A scan is cropped or unreadable | Rescan the full page, in color, all four corners visible |
| An owner's ID has expired | Renew it before that person verifies |
| Developer use of the riverArk API or a custom integration | Expect extra questions; describe what you sell and that customer payments land in your account |
With complete documents, approval usually takes one to two days.
Sending documents to Strike support
Write to support@strike.me from the email address on your Strike account, or use Account, then Help in the app. Strike asks you not to attach ID or financial records to a first email; it sends a secure upload link when it needs a document (How do I contact support?, read Nov 11, 2026).
After approval
Link your business bank, then connect Strike to riverArk by entering your Strike username at ark.riverark.io under Settings, then Merchant Account. Customers can then pay from Cash App, Strike or any app that pays a Lightning invoice, and the money lands in your own Strike account. riverArk never holds your money. For the full picture, read how to accept Bitcoin.
FAQ
What is the most important document for Strike business verification?
Your IRS EIN letter, CP 575 or Letter 147C. It ties your legal name to your EIN, and everything else has to match it.
I lost my CP 575. What now?
Download a digital CP 575 from your IRS Business Tax Account if you are eligible, or call 800-829-4933 and request Letter 147C.
Does every owner have to verify?
Yes. Each owner and operator gets a separate email and provides their name, address and a photo ID.
Can a sole proprietor open a Strike business account?
Strike's published pages do not say which entity types it accepts. Ask support@strike.me before you apply.
How long does verification take?
Usually one to two days with complete documents. Strike's help center says to contact support if verification runs past 24 hours.
riverArk does not give investment, tax or legal advice. You can settle every sale in US dollars.