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How One Developer Built an Affiliate Marketplace Without Touching a Single Payment

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Developer behind jo4 built a fully functional affiliate marketplace using 14 database tables, 27 services, and 146 source files — without processing a single payment. The platform connects brands and publishers, tracks conversions, and calculates commissions, but deliberately avoids holding or moving money to stay clear of financial regulations. Stripe Connect OAuth is used solely to verify that webhook events originate from a brand's legitimate Stripe account, not to initiate transfers or payouts. Fraud detection flags suspicious conversions based on velocity, click-to-conversion timing, and IP clustering, with final decisions left to the brand. Monthly settlements are handled via a scheduled ledger entry, while actual payments between brands and publishers happen externally through wire transfers or services like PayPal.

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How One Developer Built an Affiliate Marketplace Without Touching a Single Payment · ShortSingh