Blockchain.com, one of the oldest crypto platforms operating a wallet and a blockchain explorer, has received regulatory approval in Europe as it ramps up compliance efforts.
Blockchain.com obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from the Maltese Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the company said on Thursday.
With the license, Blockchain.com is enabled to provide custody and wallet services in 30 European Economic Area (EEA) countries and plans to roll out institutional services, including treasury management.
“Prior to MiCA, the company operated within a fragmented regulatory environment,” a spokesperson for Blockchain.com told Cointelegraph, adding that the license helps it consolidate those services across the EEA under a single regulatory umbrella.
New exec from Malta’s financial association
“Malta’s regulatory clarity and strategic position make it the ideal hub to scale Blockchain.com’s European operations,” Blockchain.com co-founder and CEO Peter Smith said.
To lead its EU strategy, Blockchain.com has appointed Fiorentina D’Amore, a chairperson of the Financial Institutions Malta Association (FIMA), as senior director of EU business operations and CEO of Blockchain.com Malta.
Launched in 2017, FIMA is an association representing licensed financial institutions in Malta, aiming to promote the industry in cooperation with local and EU-wide regulators. With previous experience at major platforms including Bitpanda and eToro, D’Amore will oversee Blockchain.com’s operations across the EU, focusing on strategic growth.
“Leveraging off the momentum of our MiCA license, we will continue to advance the balance of innovation and compliance across the region,” D’Amore said.
Malta stands out in MiCA approach
Malta’s approach to issuing MiCA licenses has attracted both attention and controversy within the EU.
In July, the MFSA came under scrutiny of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), Europe’s primary MiCA supervisory authority, for certain authorization shortfalls. The Maltese regulator later clarified that these issues posed no risk to its MiCA licensing process, underscoring the country’s role as an early adopter of crypto regulation.
Malta also stands out in its stance against EU centralization on crypto supervision.
While member states such as France have called for ESMA to take direct supervision of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), Malta has argued that it is too soon to implement such a major change, with MiCA having been in full force for less than a year.
Related: France turns up heat on Binance and rivals amid EU power struggle: Report
“It is premature to assess its full impact, especially on CASPs, and the MFSA believes that now is not the appropriate moment to introduce additional layers of supervision that could potentially hinder competitiveness and innovation within the digital assets market,” the regulator said in a statement on Sept. 17.
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