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Crypto exchange Gate.io has secured a Payment Institution authorization in Malta, giving its EU subsidiary the legal footing to execute regulated payment transactions — including credit transfers, direct debits, and payment account operations — across all EU member states under the bloc’s PSD2 framework.
Announced Thursday, the approval gives Gate’s Malta-based subsidiary, Gate Technology, the legal footing to provide services such as credit transfers, direct debits and payment account operations across EU member states. The Gate.io Malta License effectively bridges traditional financial rails with the company’s existing crypto offerings, positioning the exchange for deeper integration into Europe’s regulated payments ecosystem.
According to Gate, the license was granted by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), a regulator that has become a focal point for crypto firms seeking EU-wide passporting rights. The company described the authorization as a strategic step toward linking fiat payment infrastructure with Web3 services for both retail and institutional clients.
“This approval strengthens our ability to deliver compliant payment solutions that meet European regulatory standards,” said Gate CEO Giovanni Cunti, adding that the Gate.io Malta License enhances the firm’s capacity to serve clients seeking regulated access to both fiat and digital assets.
Under the EU’s revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2), licensed payment institutions can execute transactions, manage payment accounts and facilitate credit transfers and direct debits throughout the bloc. With the Gate.io Malta License, Gate is now able to passport these services beyond Malta, offering regulated payment functionality across multiple EU jurisdictions.
Public records from the MFSA confirm that Gate Technology is authorized under Malta’s Financial Institutions Act to provide core payment services. These include enabling cash to be placed on and withdrawn from payment accounts, as well as carrying out all operations required for account maintenance and transaction execution. The listing underscores that the Gate.io Malta License extends beyond crypto custody and exchange activity into full-scale payment operations.
This development adds a payments layer to Gate’s existing European crypto permissions. In October 2025, the exchange announced it had obtained authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), allowing it to provide exchange and custody services across member states. Combined with the Gate.io Malta License, the approvals give the company a broader regulatory toolkit to operate at the intersection of crypto trading and payments.
The regulatory logic behind the Gate.io Malta License reflects a broader EU requirement: crypto firms that want to offer stablecoin-based payment services must comply with both crypto-specific rules and traditional payments law. Under PSD2, companies facilitating euro-denominated transactions or stablecoin payments tied to fiat rails must hold either a Payment Institution or Electronic Money Institution authorization.
As a result, the Gate.io Malta License is not just an incremental approval but a prerequisite for expanding into fiat and stablecoin payment infrastructure. Industry observers note that this dual compliance model is quickly becoming standard for large exchanges seeking to operate beyond trading and into real-world payment use cases.
Gate has not yet disclosed which payment products will be launched first under the new authorization, nor has it provided a timeline for rolling out expanded EU services. Still, the presence of the Gate.io Malta License signals that the exchange is laying groundwork for deeper participation in regulated payment flows.
Gate’s approval comes amid a wider trend of major crypto platforms securing EU payment licenses. Earlier this month, OKX obtained a Malta Payment Institution authorization to support products such as OKX Pay and the OKX Card. The move highlighted how exchanges are racing to align with EU payments law as MiCA reshapes the region’s crypto landscape.
Within this context, the Gate.io Malta License places Gate among a growing group of exchanges positioning themselves as regulated financial service providers rather than pure trading venues. Analysts say this shift reflects both regulatory pressure and commercial opportunity, as exchanges look to capture transaction-based revenue from payments and remittances.
“Payment licensing is quickly becoming a competitive differentiator in Europe,” said a senior compliance consultant familiar with EU crypto regulation. “Firms with both MiCA approval and PSD2 authorization, like those holding the Gate.io Malta License, are better placed to integrate crypto into everyday financial activity.”
Gate says its flagship exchange serves more than 49 million users worldwide, although it does not publicly break out EU-specific user figures. Even so, the acquisition of the Gate.io Malta License underscores the strategic importance of Europe to the company’s long-term growth plans.
By securing regulated access to payment services, Gate can move beyond crypto-to-crypto trading and into euro-denominated transactions, on-ramps, off-ramps and potentially stablecoin settlement services. These capabilities are increasingly seen as essential for exchanges seeking mainstream adoption in tightly regulated markets.
The MFSA’s confirmation that the Gate.io Malta License covers payment accounts and transaction functionality reinforces the breadth of the approval. It also highlights Malta’s continued role as a regulatory gateway for crypto firms seeking EU-wide operations.
Cointelegraph reached out to Gate for further details on product launches and rollout timelines but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Ultimately, the Gate.io Malta License reflects a broader evolution in Europe’s crypto sector. As MiCA standardizes crypto regulation and PSD2 governs payment activity, exchanges are increasingly required to operate like hybrid financial institutions.
For Gate, the approval marks another step toward embedding crypto services within regulated financial infrastructure. For the wider market, the Gate.io Malta License serves as further evidence that payments, not just trading, will define the next phase of crypto adoption in the European Union.
