Introducing Stripe Connect: Faster, Safer Payouts for Talentblocks Freelancers

Effective Thursday, July 16th, 2026, we're rolling out a major upgrade to how you manage and receive payments on Talentblocks. We've migrated our payment infrastructure to Stripe Connect, giving you direct access to your funds with industry-leading security, faster settlement times, and a more transparent payout experience.

The Problem We Solved

For the past few months, our admin team have been manually handling freelancer payouts. While it worked, this approach had real limitations:

• Freelancers couldn't see real-time payout schedules or detailed settlement information.
• We had to route payouts through multiple intermediaries, adding admin processing strain to our internal teams, and delaying payouts to Freelancers.
• We held raw bank details in our database, which, even though these were encrypted, carried operational and compliance risks.

Our freelancers deserve access to the same payment enterprise-grade infrastructure which powers the world's top companies, which is why we have integrated Stripe Connect. As a world-class payment platform used by thousands of platforms globally, from ride-sharing apps to creative marketplaces, Stripe Connect gives Talentblocks freelancers direct access to a dedicated dashboard where you own your payment experience.

What's New?

1. One-Time Identity Verification (5 Minutes)

To enable Stripe Connect, we're asking you to complete a light-touch identity verification process. To reassure you, this is not a new compliance requirement, it's standard across all modern payment platforms and protects both you and Talentblocks from fraud. Your data flows directly to Stripe over encrypted channels and is never stored on Talentblocks' databases.

The process is as follows:

2. Control Your Payments with Your Stripe Express Dashboard

Once verified, you'll have direct access to your Stripe Express Dashboard - a dedicated control centre for your payments. This simplifies your payout journey and speeds up your earnings.

From this professional, real-time dashboard you can:

• Receive faster settlements, with payouts typically arriving within 1 - 2 business days instead of the previous multi-day process.
• Manage multiple bank accounts instantly, allowing you to add, update, or remove details with zero support tickets needed.
• Download statements and tax reports to easily access detailed transaction history for invoicing and tax filing.

What do you need to do?

As part your migration to Stripe Connect, we need you to action a few items on your end. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Complete your Marketplace Profile

As you may have read from our previous article Freelancer Onboarding Improvement, all bank details and payments have now been migrated to your Marketplace Profile.

To kick off the Stripe onboarding process, head over to the Marketplace Profile in your hamburger menu, and click on the Availability link to begin completing your profile:

Step 2: Begin Stripe Identity Verification

Once you've completed the marketplace onboarding steps from availability through to business details, you should be prompted to complete your identity verification via this screen:

Click on "Add information" and it will load the following screen, enter your phone number, followed by the authentication code sent to your number:

Step 3: Complete Stripe Business Details section

Once you have authenticated, continue through to the Stripe prompts listed below to fill in the rest of the required information. Fret not! We have done our best to pre-fill as much of this information as possible from your existing freelancer profile, so all you will need to do is click through and fill in any missing details.

Step 4: Verify your Identity & Confirm Bank Details

The below screen should load, click on Start Verification to begin the identity verification process. Follow the Stripe prompts - this should take less than 5 minutes.

• Verify: Upload a valid government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or national ID).
• Submit: Review Stripe's terms and click "Accept and Submit Verification."

Step 5: Review and submit details

Once you've completed the submission of your identity documents, a final screen will appear, asking you to review all of the information provided, check all of your details, fill in any sections flagged as "Incomplete" in red and then click Agree and Submit:

Step 6: Wait for Approval & navigate to the Stripe Dashboard!

Stripe will review your information. Most verifications happen instantly, but some may take a few hours.

Once you see the "Verification Complete" status below, click on "Go to Stripe Dashboard" to view your newly onboarded Stripe account.

What's Happening to My Talentblocks Profile?

This migration means the old Payment Details screen in your Talentblocks Profile Settings will no longer exist, instead, you can find your payment details by clicking on the Settings section on the bottom left-hand side of the Stripe dashboard and scrolling down to the Payout details section. From there you can edit your bank account details at any time.

FAQ

When does this happen?

The rollout begins Thursday, July 16th 2026. You'll receive an email invite and can verify at your own pace. We recommend completing verification by July 31st to avoid any interruption to payouts.

Why did we make this change?

At Talentblocks, we want to give you tools that empower you, not restrict you. Moving to Stripe Connect upgrades your experience in three key ways:

• Bank-Grade Security: Stripe is PCI-DSS Level 1 certified (the highest standard in payments). Because your data flows directly to Stripe over encrypted channels, Talentblocks does not store your raw bank details, drastically reducing security risks.
• Faster, Direct Payouts: By utilizing Stripe's direct connections to Australian banks, we've eliminated unnecessary intermediary steps. Your funds settle much faster, typically arriving in 1 - 2 business days.
• Total Self-Service Control: You no longer need to submit support tickets to manage your financial profile. Your real-time dashboard lets you update bank details, track scheduled payouts, and download tax documents instantly.
• Industry-Standard Reliability: Thousands of the world's top platforms (like Uber and Shopify) rely on Stripe. By aligning with this infrastructure, we ensure your payment experience is transparent, scalable, and built on best practices.

In short: This upgrade makes payments on Talentblocks faster, safer, and completely under your control.

Will there be any interruption to my payouts?

No. We've worked closely with Stripe to ensure a seamless migration. Your existing payout schedule won't change during the transition. Once you're verified on Stripe Connect, all future payouts will flow through the new system without any gaps.

What if I don't verify?

Identity verification is required to use Stripe Connect and to receive payouts. We strongly recommend completing it by July 31st. If you have concerns or run into issues, reach out to our support team, we're here to help.

Is my identity data secure?

Yes. Stripe uses industry-leading encryption and is PCI-DSS Level 1 certified. Your ID is verified and then securely deleted from Stripe's systems after verification is complete, only a verification token is retained. Your data never touches Talentblocks servers.

How do I contact support if I have issues?

You have two options:

• Contact Talentblocks support either via our chatbot or email hello@talentblocks.com (for platform-specific questions) or
• Contact Stripe support directly (for account and payout questions). Stripe's support team is available 24/7 in your dashboard and handles payment-specific issues.

What if my verification is rejected or pending?

If your verification is pending, check back in a few hours, most verifications complete instantly or within 24 hours. If it's rejected, Stripe will tell you why and how to fix it (e.g., your ID photo was blurry, or info didn't match). You can resubmit immediately. If you're stuck, contact Stripe support, they're available 24/7.

Can I delete or change my Stripe account after verification?

Yes. Your Stripe Express account is yours to manage. You can update account details or contact Stripe support if you need to make changes. For account deletions or complex changes, contact Stripe directly.

We're excited about this upgrade and confident it will improve your experience on Talentblocks. If you have questions, our support team is here to help.

Welcome to the future of Talentblocks payouts!