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For the last time, the Bahamas has made a huge step toward becoming a world leader in crypto regulation. Apparently, with the introduction of the so-called DARE Act in 2020, the island became a progressive place for fintech startups. By the way, in 2024, the act was updated. It became clearer and, what’s more –...
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Working as PSD and EMD agents offers a much faster route to entering the EU payments space without the tough and exhausting burden of licensing. A great number of fintech startups, cross-border service platforms, as well as crypto-friendly ventures, employ this model to test markets, build traction, and scale responsibly. However, becoming an agent doesn’t...
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If you are starting a firm in Australia, dealing with money, including currency exchange, transfers, cryptos, or anything that has to do with financial transactions, then you are bound to register with AUSTRAC. Otherwise, you won’t meet the country’s anti-money laundering as well as counter-terrorism financing rules. AUSTRAC stands for the Australian Transaction Reports and...
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If you intend to start a financial service that has to do with transferring or exchanging money, or dealing in virtual currencies in Canada, then you are bound to register as an MSB that stands for Money Services Business. Payment partners and banks will always want to make sure you have passed this before doing...
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In the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance, the role of principals from intermediary representatives is very pivotal in enabling financial transactions and gaining access to account information. They represent firms that are duly licensed and act as if a front-facing solution, although they are not a fully licensed entity themselves. The intermediaries work under the...
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New Zealand has long established itself as one of the most stable and prestigious places for conducting international financial business. Registration of a company as a Financial Service Provider (FSP) allows not only to enter the global market, but also to gain full access to a wide range of financial instruments – from investment management...
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For the last time, New Zealand has become an extremely popular place for financial services. This English-speaking country boasts a clear regulatory system and political stability. On the other hand, it doesn’t automatically mean that anybody can easily start a business there. If you are eager to operate legally in New Zealand, you require making...
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New-Zealand is on a fast rise to be one of the most attractive destinations for financial services industries that wish to develop their procedures overseas and be recognized by regulators looking for this operational flexibility. By 2025, registration in the Financial Services Provider register of this country is set to become a trusted platform for...
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Malta is a top player in the European Union regarding the domicile for any fintech or payment institution that seeks to expand business operations on the basis of its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. The hands-off Malta regulatory system, along with access to the full EU single market, provides business lawful certainty and flexibility as...
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ICO fundraising tools established by cryptocurrency start-ups allow them to collect funds through the ever-evolving landscape of digital currencies. The digital fundraising program has attracted both entrepreneurs and depositors because it offers a new form of decentralized wealth generation. What exactly are ICOs, and how do they function through their complex combination of technical systems...
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Frequently asked questions

  • This is any of the below-mentioned legal entities carrying out payment activities and related operations:

    • Authοrized payment institutions (AEMI);
    • Small payment institutions (SPI);
    • Credit unions;
    • E-money institutions (EMI);
    • Retail post office company in the United Kingdom;
    • The Bank of England; and
    • Government organizations, other than when doing public functions.
  • After being approved by any EU Financial Authority, PI can provide the range of belowlisted operations:

    • Placement made by cash or electronic transfer;
    • Converting the account holdings into cash;
    • Payments, including crossborder bank-to-bank funds transfers;
    • Payments in which funds are included in LOC: direct debit, payments carried out a payment card or a similar tool; credit transferring, etc.;
    • Remittances, etc.
  • The main contrast between these approvals is that only E-Money Institutions can provide digital currency or e-wallet or other device. EMI can deliver all the services an API is authorized to offer. 

  • Though there are some similar features between virtual currency and electronic funds, crypto assets are not deemed electronic funds. While e-funds are applied for operations with government-issued and regulated monetary units such as USD and EUR, cryptocurrency is a virtual currency that has no fiat equivalent. If you wish to offer cryptocurrency exchange and cryptowallets, you may be mindful of acquiring a separate authorization.

  • You can become a SPI license holder, if you meet the following criteria:

    • Overall payments as per month in the previous year must not be over 3,000,000 EUR.
    • If you have not been offering services of transactional nature, or have been delivering them for less than one year, forecasted total monthly payment transactions must not be over 3,000,000 EUR.
    • Employees must not have been accused of illegitimate turnover of funds and the transfer of funds to terrorists;
  • The main difference between an API and SPI license is an average monthly turnover in payments.

    If it is under 3,000,000EUR, you can start operation as a SPI. If it exceeds this amount, then you will have to apply as an API.

  • You can acquire a SEMI license, if you meet the following criteria:

    • Proof that when you launch your business, your e-funds business will generate a median number of liabilities regarding e-funds of lesser than 5,000,000EUR.
    • Proof that, in one year preceding the application, the average of payments as per one month was not over 5,000,000EUR.
    • An overlook of how you will safeguard the funds of clientele.
    • Capital obligations must be fulfilled.
    • The max. storage sum on the client payment platform where the e-money is stored must not be over 250EUR.
    • When the business operations of the EMI bring average οutstanding e-funds less than 1,000,000EUR, it shall hold holdings (as a contributed capital) of at min. 50,000EUR. If the sum is over, the institution shall hold initial capital of at least 100,000EUR.
  • The main contrast between these approvals is a volume of payments circulation.

    If your monthly turnover transactions are less than 5,000,000 EUR, you can become a small electronic money institution. If your monthly transaction amount exceeds this, then you will have to apply as an EMI.