licenses

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) filed a lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in federal court on Friday, accusing it of exceeding its statutory authority when issuing national trust bank charters to cryptocurrency companies. The ICBA stated that the OCC is implementing "broad new powers not authorized by the National Bank Act," allowing these companies to enter the U.S. banking system without being subject to the same level of regulatory oversight as community banks, putting small banks at a "serious competitive disadvantage."The ICBA is one of the largest banking advocacy organizations in the United States, primarily representing small institutions. Last month, the organization strongly opposed the Digital Asset Market Structure Bill, which failed to advance in the U.S. Senate, arguing that its stablecoin provisions did not protect community banks from direct competition for deposit accounts. ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey stated that Congress did not establish the national trust charter to provide a "backdoor" for cryptocurrency companies seeking to enter the banking system with the credibility of a federal bank charter, as these companies do not bear the same obligations regarding capital, liquidity, regulation, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance requirements. An OCC spokesperson responded to CoinDesk that the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation.Recently, the OCC has continued to issue trust charters to cryptocurrency companies, but these companies' business models differ from those of typical community banks and do not offer cash deposit accounts that require FDIC insurance. Approved institutions include cryptocurrency banks Protego and Erebor, as well as existing cryptocurrency firms like Coinbase, Circle, and Crypto.com.

Vietnam plans to issue licenses to the first batch of cryptocurrency service providers under a pilot legal framework in 2026, allowing the first digital asset platforms to begin operations. Nguyen Duc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance of Vietnam, met with Mariana Kuhnel, Executive Director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), in Vienna to discuss bilateral cooperation and the exchange of financial regulatory experiences.Vu Thi Chan Phuong, Chairwoman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, stated that the regulatory mechanism will cover service providers and investor transactions, focusing on risk management, investor asset protection, and anti-money laundering. Kuhnel proposed that both parties hold an online technical seminar and strengthen coordination through the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

After successfully obtaining the Money Transmitter License (MTL) in Florida in July, Gate US has now received the MTL license in Massachusetts this month. So far, the platform has obtained 37 state-level compliance licenses in the United States, covering 47 states and regions. Areas without licenses can conduct related business without such qualifications. This approval further solidifies Gate US's regulatory foundation in the U.S. market and marks another important milestone in its implementation of a global compliance strategy and deepening localized operations.Massachusetts requires money transmission institutions to meet strict standards in financial condition, compliance controls, and operations. Gate US has met these requirements and has been granted the license. Currently, Gate US has established a comprehensive compliance service system in key jurisdictions such as Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.Globally, multiple entities under Gate have obtained regulatory registrations, authorizations, and related compliance licenses in various countries and regions, including Malta, the Bahamas, Japan, the United States, Australia, and Dubai. In the future, Gate US will continue to uphold the principles of safety, transparency, and long-term development, deepen compliance efforts in the U.S. market, and continuously provide trustworthy digital asset services to global users.

Jeonbuk Bank has partnered with blockchain payment company Ripple to deploy its cross-border payment system, providing faster and cheaper remittance services for business clients such as import and export companies, tech startups, and online content creators, replacing the traditional transfer method that takes several days via the SWIFT network.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has opened the application portal for crypto licenses. Companies providing virtual asset services on or before March 5 must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) application by September 5, or they will cease operations. PVARA stated that the licensing window is officially open, providing a clear path for businesses to enter Pakistan's regulated virtual asset market.In addition, Laser Digital, a digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group in Japan, has received approval from the Financial Services Agency (FSA) to become the first platform to obtain a crypto exchange license in four years, the last being Binance Japan in October 2022.

According to CryptoSlate, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has required cryptocurrency exchanges and related service providers operating locally to enter a new licensing process by September 5, or they must cease relevant operations. PVARA opened the licensing application portal for virtual asset service providers on August 22 and released regulatory rules for virtual asset services.According to the regulations, service providers that have been conducting cryptocurrency business in Pakistan must submit a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) application. During the application review period, as long as a complete application is submitted on time, they may continue to provide existing services. Businesses that do not submit applications by September 5 must stop relevant services within the regulatory scope, and continuing operations will be considered a violation. PVARA added that this policy does not constitute a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency but establishes a "compliance or exit" regulatory mechanism applicable to exchanges, custodians, and other businesses providing virtual asset services to users in Pakistan.

According to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Victory Securities Limited has been reprimanded and fined HKD 1.7 million for violating regulatory requirements, and its responsible personnel's licenses have been temporarily revoked.Previously, Hong Kong Victory Securities announced in February this year that it would close all virtual currency trading functions for users with mainland Chinese identities, retaining only withdrawal permissions and no longer supporting deposits and new transactions. The platform's gradual tightening of services for mainland users includes previous measures such as prohibiting purchases and suspending new address verification, aimed at complying with the regulatory requirements of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and relevant policies in the mainland.

The stablecoin payment and issuance infrastructure Bridge officially announced that it has successfully obtained authorization as a crypto asset service provider under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in Luxembourg, as well as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. With this dual license, its compliant business scope will cover all 27 EU member states.It is reported that this move will significantly expand Bridge's stablecoin service capabilities in the European market. Based on the new license, European businesses and developers can now provide their customers with a real-name virtual IBAN and euro accounts that are universally applicable across the EU through a single integrated interface. In addition, businesses will also be able to compliantly issue customized euro stablecoins for use in scenarios such as cross-border fund transfers and efficient low-cost settlements between institutions.

According to Livecoins, the Chilean Financial Market Commission (CMF) announced the cancellation of the registration qualifications of the cryptocurrency platform Plusspay, due to its investigation revealing connections with the Venezuelan criminal organization "Tren de Aragua," which was used to provide financial support to the gang.In addition to Plusspay, several other institutions, including Pixeltec and Iuinvest, that failed to submit complete information on time as required by the Financial Technology Law (Lei Fintec) have also had their qualifications to provide services in the Chilean market revoked. These institutions are prohibited from expanding their customer base and may only conduct operations related to clearing services and returning frozen funds to existing users. Regulators emphasized that payment and cryptocurrency service providers must enhance transparency to prevent money laundering and illegal fund flows.

According to Bits.media citing data from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), as of June 29, 244 companies in the EU have obtained MiCA crypto licenses, with Germany leading with 57 companies (about 23%), followed by France with 26 companies (about 11%). Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Romania have not issued any MiCA licenses, and Poland has yet to establish a licensing system for crypto exchanges, with related legislation having been vetoed by the president three times.Germany, France, and the Netherlands (along with Luxembourg and Ireland) account for about 72% of the EU's financial assets, which is also why MiCA licenses are highly concentrated in these countries. France has recently accelerated its approval process, issuing 5 licenses in the week from June 18 to 22, nearly half of the total 11 issued in the EU during the same period. MiCA requires crypto companies to obtain a license in at least one EU country by July 1 in order to legally serve the markets of the 27 countries; those without a license must cease operations in the EU.

According to Bits.media, Fidan Tofidi, the head of the Financial Technology and Innovation Department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, stated that the regulatory bill for the country's virtual asset market has been drafted and submitted for review, with formal legislation expected within the year. The bill requires all companies engaged in cryptocurrency asset business to obtain a license issued by the central bank, and unauthorized operations within the country are prohibited. Licensed institutions will be subject to ongoing supervision. The regulatory framework will cover compliance requirements such as anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and customer identity verification (KYC), and will be incorporated into Azerbaijan's financial market development strategy for 2027-2030.

According to the latest social media news from CoinGecko, Gate is competing with platforms like Coinbase and OKX for the increase of EU users. Gate continues to advance its European compliance process, and Gate Group's Malta entity, Gate Europe, has obtained European MiCA and PI licenses under the supervision of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), strengthening its global compliance framework.In addition, relying on a rich array of trading products, robust platform services, and global operational capabilities, Gate actively meets the growing demand for digital asset trading in the European market. This layout not only enhances Gate's localized service capabilities in the European market but also provides solid support for the platform in terms of user trust, fund security, compliance operations, and long-term market expansion, highlighting its compliance competitive advantage among global crypto trading platforms.

According to lesechos, the MiCA regulation will officially take effect on July 1, 2026. Cryptocurrency service providers that do not obtain this license will be unable to offer new services in the EU. Currently, a total of 230 MiCA licenses have been issued in Europe, with Germany leading with 56 authorizations, followed by the Netherlands with 26, France with 21, Malta with 15, Cyprus with 13, and Ireland with 12.In France, approximately 40% of regulated cryptocurrency service providers had not submitted license applications previously. The increase in compliance requirements has led some smaller traditional cryptocurrency institutions to face the prospect of being acquired or going out of business.

According to Cointelegraph, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced an extension of the temporary enforcement exemption period for digital asset businesses applying for an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license until September 30, 2026, extending the previous deadline of June 30 by three months.This extension also broadens the scope of the exemption, including digital asset businesses operating through authorized representatives or arrangements with licensed company intermediaries in the transitional protection period. ASIC stated that since the update of the digital asset regulatory guidelines in October 2025, approximately 30 license applications have been received.It is noteworthy that this extension is independent of Australia's "Digital Asset Framework," which was passed by Parliament in April this year and is scheduled to officially take effect on April 9, 2027. ASIC warned that businesses licensed under the current guidelines may still need to obtain additional authorizations after the new framework is implemented.

According to a report by Reuters, Binance's head for Europe and the UK, Gillian Lynch, stated that despite setbacks in its attempt to apply for a European Union cryptocurrency operating license in Greece, Binance still plans to remain in the EU and will seek to obtain local operating permits again.Lynch said, "Binance will not leave Europe." She mentioned that Binance may just need to obtain authorization through different paths, and if not in Greece, the company will look for other alternatives. Binance currently has only one week left before its existing European operating license expires, and if it cannot obtain a new license, it may need to gradually shut down its EU operations.Two informed sources said that Binance had communicated with regulators in Ireland, Latvia, and Greece, but faced resistance in all three countries. The sources indicated that regulatory officials were concerned about Binance's past penalties related to money laundering issues, its complex international structure, and what they perceive as a risk-seeking culture. Lynch stated that Binance is unclear why it was not approved, as it previously believed that the Greek regulators planned to issue licenses.She also mentioned that Binance has contacted four or five regulatory agencies but only submitted a formal application to Greece. Regarding Binance's past issues, Lynch stated that the company has invested in compliance and internal controls, hiring about 1,500 compliance personnel, and claimed that there are no unresolved issues with its license application.

According to Premium Times, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at regulating cryptocurrency, protecting investors, and strengthening the digital economy. The bill passed its second reading and has been submitted to the Capital Market Committee for further review, with a report due in four weeks.The bill was introduced by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for virtual assets, digital assets, and virtual asset service providers. It mandates that cryptocurrency exchanges apply for licenses and comply with transparency and regulatory requirements. Chief Whip Tahir Monguno stated during the debate that although Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rates in Africa, it has fallen behind several African nations in regulating the digital financial ecosystem. The lack of a clear legal framework exposes investors to risks and allows illegal activities to thrive in the industry.

The tokenized asset platform RootData has released the "Exchange Tokenized Asset Provider and License Map," systematically sorting the paths and regulatory licenses of providers and brokers in mainstream exchanges such as Binance, Gate, Bitget, and Bybit for products like real stocks, TradFi stocks, CFD contracts, and tokenized stocks. The map shows that the current stock-type assets on exchanges have gradually formed a three-tier structure: real stock spot mainly relies on a regulated brokerage system for securities execution and custody; TradFi stocks are primarily based on CFDs/Perps; tokenized stocks are mainly supported by solutions like Ondo and xStocks. Among them, Binance currently accesses Alpaca Securities through Nest Trading to provide real US stock/ETF exposure and has launched Ondo stock tokens in the Alpha zone, with plans to introduce bStocks later; Gate's real stock collaboration is with AIpaca, CFDs adopt the MT5 model, and perpetual contracts are self-operated by the platform; Bybit currently mainly uses the Backed Finance (xStocks) solution; Bitget provides 1:1 US stock/ETF tokenized products through its own Reality (rToken) brand. RootData believes that as the tokenized stock market heats up, competition among exchanges is gradually shifting from merely launching products to underlying broker capabilities, real securities custody, and regulatory license capabilities, with licensed brokers like Alpaca Securities strengthening their infrastructure roles across multiple platform ecosystems.

According to Bloomberg, Senator Elizabeth Warren has questioned the decision by financial regulators to allow cryptocurrency companies into the banking system. The Massachusetts Democrat wrote to Jonathan Gould, head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), pointing out that the regulator has approved at least 9 national trust charters for crypto companies that "seem to be unqualified." Warren stated that these charters "appear to far exceed the narrow scope of activities permitted by law," constituting a "clear violation of the National Bank Act." She questioned whether the OCC adhered to relevant legal provisions during the approval process and requested clarification on the compliance of these cryptocurrency companies in obtaining banking charters.

Legendary Labs and Jinlian Capital Foundation today announced the official strategic merger. Both parties will integrate resources and technological advantages to jointly promote the globalization of Legendary Space and the upgraded development of the Web3 prediction ecosystem (PredictFi).It is reported that Legendary Space has currently obtained digital lottery and online gaming operation licenses from 7 countries in Central America, including the blockchain online digital lottery license in El Salvador. The project is currently preparing to launch a decentralized prediction game for the World Cup, relying on the underlying technology of the FAB ecosystem. The officials stated that in the future, both parties will continue to explore fields such as AI integration and multi-chain interoperability.