Stablecoin issuer Paxos will acquire the Finnish E-money institution Membrane Finance. While subject to regulatory approval, the move will expand Paxos’ globally regulated platform into the European Union (EU).
Paxos, the world’s leading regulated blockchain and tokenization infrastructure, agreed to acquire Membrane Finance, a Finnish-based and regulated Electronic Money Institution (EMI). The deal is subject to regulatory approval, but if granted, it will make the stablecoin issuer a fully licensed EMI in Finland and the European Union (EU).
Acquisition Will Expand Paxos’ Reach Into the EU
Stablecoin issuer Paxos announced today that it agreed to acquire Membrane Finance, an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) based and licensed in Finland. In a press release, Paxos said the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval but will make the platform a fully licensed EMI in Finland and the EU when finalized.
Membrane Finance holds a Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority license, which is recognized in 30 countries across Europe, granting Paxos regulatory access in these countries. Paxos is the leading regulated issuer of USD-backed stablecoins available to retail and institutional users in numerous jurisdictions worldwide. The acquisition of Membrane will allow Paxos to expand its platform to serve customers European customers under regulatory compliance.
The platform explained that it would make its portfolio of assets and tokenization solutions compliant with the EU’s landmark Markets in Crypto Asset (MiCA) regulatory framework.
Walter Hessert, Head of Strategy at Paxos, commented on the importance of stablecoins.
“Stablecoins offer a global solution to challenges that countless people and companies feel when it comes to money movement and payments. Stablecoins are becoming increasingly more prevalent throughout the market as more use cases emerge for everyday users. The Paxos platform offers the safest, most compliant stablecoins and stablecoin infrastructure globally. With Membrane, we expect to extend our reach to EU customers looking to benefit from stablecoins.”
Companies Rush to Get In Line with MiCA Regulations
The MiCA legislation introduces a comprehensive framework for licensing and regulating cryptocurrency businesses operating within the EU to establish clear guidelines for crypto-related activities and improve the integrity of digital assets. The framework requires crypto exchanges and wallet providers seeking to operate within the EU to do so under a license issued under MiCA. MiCA also includes strict regulations relating to stablecoins and mandates that stablecoin issuers must hold appropriate reserves. The framework has been enacted in stages throughout the year, and the rules relating to stablecoins took effect at the end of June 2024. The remaining rules under MiCA will take effect at the end of the year.
Paxos is rapidly expanding its global reach, recently receiving in-principle approval from the Abu Dhabi Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to introduce stablecoins to the United Arab Emirates.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
