What happens when an account reaches a negative balance in Stripe?

When an account reaches a negative balance in Stripe, the merchant must top-up their account to restore it to a positive balance. This topping up process is crucial because it allows Stripe to continue processing transactions on behalf of the merchant without interruption. If the balance is negative, it indicates that there are outstanding charges or refunds that need to be covered.

Maintaining a positive balance is important for the merchant's operations, as it ensures that they are able to process payments and fulfill customer transactions seamlessly. By requiring the merchant to add funds to their account, Stripe ensures that there is enough coverage for any pending transactions, thereby maintaining the integrity and flow of payment processing on the platform.

In contrast, other options do not accurately reflect Stripe's operational procedures. For instance, accounts do not get automatically closed or have their payments halted without prior notice or opportunity for resolution. Ignoring a negative balance would create further complications in account management and payment processing.