Gate secures Malta payment authorization to strengthen European fiat and stablecoin infrastructure
The regulatory approval from Malta provides Gate with authorized account management and transaction processing abilities, working in tandem with the company's MiCA authorization.
Cryptocurrency exchange Gate has obtained a Payment Institution authorization in Malta, operating under the European Union's PSD2 regulatory framework, providing the digital asset platform with an authorized basis to deliver payment services throughout the economic bloc in addition to its already established crypto authorizations.
In a Thursday announcement, the company revealed that Gate Technology, its Malta-registered subsidiary, was granted the authorization by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). According to Gate, the regulatory clearance bolsters its plan to bridge conventional payment systems with Web3 offerings in the European market.
The new authorization complements Gate's current EU cryptocurrency authorizations. The company disclosed on Oct. 1, 2025, that it had secured authorization under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, which permits the firm to deliver exchange and custody operations throughout member countries.
Cryptocurrency firms in the EU that offer payment services involving stablecoins are required to possess either a Payment Institution or an Electronic Money Institution license. Through PSD2 authorization, Gate gains the ability to passport authorized payment services throughout the entire bloc, moving beyond just trading operations into fiat currency and stablecoin payment systems.
According to Gate, its primary exchange platform provides services to over 49 million users worldwide, although the company has not made public any detailed breakdown of its user base specifically within the European Union.
Payments authorization expands EU scope
The PSD2 regulatory framework permits authorized institutions to process payment transactions, enable credit transfers and direct debits, and administer payment accounts throughout the European Union.
Based on the MFSA's publicly available authorization records, Gate Technology has been granted permission to offer payment services as outlined in Malta's Financial Institutions Act, which includes enabling the deposit and withdrawal of cash from payment accounts and executing all necessary operations for account management.
Giovanni Cunti, CEO of Gate, stated that the authorization establishes the company's ability to provide compliant payment solutions for both institutional and retail customers.
The MFSA records verify that the authorization encompasses more than just crypto custody and exchange operations, extending to authorized account management and transaction processing capabilities.
That said, Gate has not disclosed specific details regarding which payment products will be introduced initially or provided a timeline for when enhanced EU services will become available.
Cointelegraph contacted Gate for additional details but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Part of broader EU compliance trend
The authorization obtained by Gate comes after a comparable action by another prominent exchange. OKX secured a Malta Payment Institution authorization on Feb. 16 to facilitate products such as OKX Pay and the OKX Card.
The MiCA framework requires crypto-asset service providers that incorporate stablecoin payments into authorized financial infrastructure to comply with European Union payments legislation. Consequently, Payment Institution authorizations are progressively becoming mandatory for exchanges aiming to provide euro-denominated payment services in conjunction with cryptocurrency trading operations.