Ask HN: Receive Payments as an Independent Contractor

[OulaX]

Hello,

I'm an Iraqi software engineer, working as an independent contractor for a US-based startup. I've been with the same company for 2 years, and I've faced lots of difficulties receiving my salary. My employer has been very patient and flexible with the whole situation, however, I'm out of alternative solutions, and I was looking for your help.

Things I've tried so far: * My employer used Plane (Formerly Pilot) as an EOR and payroll solution, I added in my local bank and transfers were being made there. Plane stopped sending payments to Iraqi accounts.

* I started using MoneyGram and WesternUnion and after a while both got sanctioned locally.

* I started using my cousin's Turkish bank account, and once he was receiving the payment he was forwarding it to me using a middle man, however, the process was cumbersome for my cousin to do and eventually his bank asked him where the money is coming from, which put us in a difficult spot.

At the moment I'm fully stuck, we thought about crypto, but I have no idea how that works! I can sell crypto p2p on OKX and Binance, but my employer can't make a payment there he can make a payment to Coinbase though which I can transfer to Binance or OKX and use a p2p trade.

But, I'm sure there's a better alternative and that's why I am here! I would REALLY appreciate it if you provide me guidance.

[conductr]

This is actually the best real life use case of crypto I've ever seen. You need to just figure that out. If he has to use Coinbase, that's fine do it that way. Anything related to a traditional bank or money transfer service (WU/MG) is going to constantly be subject to interruption or stoppage. The US scrutiny over transfers to your country is too high for US banks to want to support it. The other option would be to setup something that is outside your country (eg. a bank account in another less sanctioned country/region) and you will need to be responsible for patriating the funds to your locale. I think that will be complex and risky too.

[ratg13]

Establish a company in Estonia and use it for your business operations

https://www.e-resident.gov.ee/

[not_your_vase]

Crypto is being regulated more and more.. it might work today, but you will have the same question in two years.

Can you get cash in an envelope through post?

[sqwrell]

Bitcoin. If kids can figure out how it works - so can you - you're a software engineer !!