Blockchain.com secures MiCA license, hires Malta insider to head EU expansion

Blockchain.com, one of many oldest crypto platforms working a pockets and blockchain explorer, has acquired regulatory approval in Europe because it steps up compliance efforts.

Blockchain.com has obtained a Markets in Crypto-Belongings Regulation (MiCA) license from the Malta Monetary Providers Authority (MFSA), the corporate mentioned on Thursday.

The license will permit Blockchain.com to supply custody and pockets providers in 30 European Financial Space (EEA) nations and plans to roll out institutional providers together with treasury administration.

“Previous to MiCA, the corporate operated inside a fragmented regulatory atmosphere,” a Blockchain.com spokesperson advised Cointelegraph, including that the license helps it consolidate these providers within the EEA below one regulatory umbrella.

New director of Malta’s monetary affiliation

“Malta’s regulatory readability and strategic place make it the perfect hub to scale Blockchain.com’s European operations,” mentioned Peter Smith, co-founder and CEO of Blockchain.com.

To guide its EU technique, Blockchain.com has appointed Fiorentina D’Amore, President of the Monetary Establishments Malta Affiliation (FIMA), as Senior Director of EU Enterprise Operations and CEO of Blockchain.com Malta.

FIMA’s members quantity greater than twenty firms, together with crypto outfits like Bitpanda, Tether-related StablR, and extra. Supply: FIMA

Established in 2017, FIMA is an affiliation representing acknowledged monetary establishments in Malta, with the intention of selling the sector in collaboration with native and EU-wide regulators. With earlier expertise at main platforms together with Bitpanda and eToro, D’Amore will oversee Blockchain.com’s operations throughout the EU, with a concentrate on strategic development.

“By leveraging the momentum of our MiCA license, we’ll proceed to advance the steadiness between innovation and compliance throughout the area,” mentioned D’Amore.

Malta distinguishes itself by means of the MiCA strategy

Malta’s strategy to issuing MiCA licenses has attracted each consideration and controversy throughout the EU.

In July, the MFSA got here below scrutiny by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), Europe’s high MiCA supervisory authority, as a consequence of sure authorization shortcomings. The Maltese regulator later clarified that these points didn’t pose a threat to the MiCA licensing course of, underscoring the nation’s function as an early adopter of crypto regulation.

The MFSA opposed the centralization of CASP supervision in September 2025. Supply: MFSA

Malta can also be notable in its stance in opposition to the EU’s centralization in crypto supervision.

Whereas member states similar to France have referred to as on ESMA to instantly supervise crypto asset service suppliers (CASPs), Malta has argued that it’s too early to make such a serious change as MiCA has been totally in power for lower than a yr.

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“It’s untimely to evaluate its full affect, particularly on CASPs, and the MFSA believes that now just isn’t the proper time to introduce extra layers of supervision that might probably hinder competitiveness and innovation throughout the digital belongings market,” the regulator mentioned in an announcement on September 17.

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