Good morning, eComm legend.

If waiting for regulatory clarity were a sport, we'd all have trophies by now. But while some are stuck in a holding pattern, savvy sellers like you are already prepping for what’s next. Because in eCommerce, the only thing worse than fines is surprise fines—and the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) pause isn’t an excuse to hit snooze.

On the bright side, Meta just cracked open a new ad channel, YouTube is turning binge-watchers into buyers, and cross-border logistics just got a much-needed upgrade. If 2024 was the warm-up, 2025 is looking like the boss level—might as well start stacking power-ups now. Let’s dive in.

In today’s agenda:

1) Court hits snooze, but don’t sleep on FinCEN 🥱

2) Meta flips Threads switch: Monetization mode activated.

3) Wix + Youtube = Sales while they watch cat videos 🐱

4) Swap + Avalara + Shopify = Customs clearance, but chill.

1) Court hits snooze, but don’t sleep on FinCEN 🥱

The FinCEN Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) registration is on pause, but don’t get too comfy. Just because the court hit the snooze button doesn’t mean your eCommerce business won’t have to file soon. The fine for missing it isn’t "oops money"—it’s $10,000 plus potential jail time (a lot less fun than an inbox full of spam orders).

What you actually have to do: First, breathe (this isn’t a tax audit). Here’s what’s required once (not if) the CTA goes live:

• Gather ID info for anyone who owns 25%+ of your biz or calls the shots (yes, even your silent-but-deadly investor cousin).

• Keep track of business formation docs—FinCEN wants your legal name, address, and taxpayer ID.

• File through FinCEN’s online portal when required. You’ll have 30–90 days, depending on when your business was formed.

• Stay updated. The Supreme Court is still deciding if this whole thing is even legal. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on March 25, 2025. If the ruling upholds the CTA, FinCEN could restart enforcement as early as mid-2025. Pre-2024 businesses will likely have until January 13, 2026, to file.

Why this matters for eComm: If you’re under 20 employees and making under $5M a year, you’re a target. The good news: this won’t impact how you collect payments, run ads, or ship products—just how much time you waste proving your business is legit. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, check FinCEN’s Small Entity Compliance Guide—because ignorance won’t be a good excuse when the fines hit.

The delay is a temporary win, but assume the worst.

Sources: btlaw.com, abcnews.com

2) Meta flips Threads switch: Monetization mode activated.

Meta is sliding ads into Threads, and yeah, you probably saw this coming. The app blew up past 300 million users, so naturally, Zuck is flipping the switch to “monetize mode.” If you're running an eComm shop, this is another ad opportunity (or headache, depending on how you feel about Meta's ad machine).

What’s happening: Meta started testing ads in Threads, sneaking them into home feeds just like Instagram. Right now, it’s limited to the U.S. and Japan, with only a handful of brands getting first dibs. These aren’t random banner ads from 2005; they blend in like regular posts (because nobody clicks on obvious ads anymore).

Why this matters: Threads might not be a revenue machine yet, but 75% of its users follow at least one brand. That’s a lot of passive shopping behavior. Plus, if TikTok keeps fighting off bans and X keeps... whatever X is doing, Threads could quietly become the go-to platform for engagement-heavy ads.

This isn't a "drop everything and pivot" moment, but it’s a pay attention moment. Meta's playing the long game with Threads, and early adopters could win big. If nothing else, at least you won’t be the last one figuring out how to make it work while your competitors are already cashing in.

Sources: theverge.com, facebook.com

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3) Wix + Youtube = Sales while they watch cat videos 🐱

eCommerce is a jungle, and YouTube just handed you a machete (a digital one, no actual blades). With Wix and Shopify both integrating with YouTube Shopping, you're about to go from “struggling to get views” to “ringing up sales while someone watches cat videos.”

Wix’s move: Wix now lets you tag products in videos, Shorts, and live streams, and there’s even a Store Tab—basically, a mini eCommerce storefront on your YouTube channel. No more begging people to click a link in your description like it’s 2012. Plus, your product descriptions and images sync automatically, so you won’t have to manually update every little thing (because nobody has time for that).

Shopify’s power play: Shopify went even bigger by letting Shopify Plus users get creators to push their products with YouTube’s affiliate program. If you’ve ever wished influencers would talk about your stuff instead of some random protein shake, this is your moment. There’s also a Chrome extension for creators to make tagging easier.

What you need to do:

• Tag products in every video. Don’t just slap them on your store and hope. Tag them. Everywhere.

• Use Shorts because YouTube is pushing them hard (translation: free exposure).

• Check your analytics. If nobody clicks on your tagged items, maybe that three-minute unboxing video isn’t the move.

• Test live shopping. It’s QVC, but for the algorithm age. Show your product, answer questions, and sell in real-time.

• Affiliate game. If you’re on Shopify Plus, find a creator who vibes with your brand and get them selling for you.

The fine print: YouTube Shopping isn’t available everywhere yet, so double-check before you go all-in. Also, in-app checkout is limited, so some customers will still get redirected (but hey, at least they’re already interested).

If you’re on Wix or Shopify, you now have a golden ticket to one of the biggest shopping platforms in the world—embedded inside the biggest video platform in the world. If you don’t use it, you might as well be selling flip phones in 2025.

Sources: wix.com, google.com

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* Executive Cheat Sheet

• FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network): A U.S. government agency that enforces anti-money laundering laws and requires certain businesses to report ownership and financial details to prevent financial crimes.

• Customs Duties: Taxes imposed on imported goods by a country’s government, which eCommerce businesses must calculate and pay when selling products internationally.

• Affiliate Marketing: A performance-based marketing strategy where businesses pay commissions to individuals or influencers who drive sales through tracked referral links.