A method and apparatus for processing a transaction request associated with a merchant platform system may include: receiving, at a commerce platform system, the transaction request; determining a plurality of account traits associated with the merchant platform system; detecting a first account trait from the plurality of account traits associated with the merchant platform system; in response to determining that the first account trait of the plurality of account traits comprises a first value, processing the transaction request to generate an approval status for the transaction request based on a risk value determined by the commerce platform system with respect to the transaction request; and in response to determining that the first account trait of the plurality of account traits comprises a second value, deferring a determination of the risk value for the transaction request to the merchant platform system.