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Journalist
Hassan Shittu
Journalist
Hassan Shittu
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Zerohash Europe has become one of the latest companies of course the authorization under the mark of the European Union Markets in the Regulation of Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, winning approval from the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM).
The license allows Zerohash to provide regulated crypto-asset and stablecoin infrastructure services throughout the European Economic Area (EEA), a milestone that places the company among the first fully-fledged service providers under Europe’s unified regulation for digital assets.
Is Zerohash Building the Rails for Europe’s Stablecoin Future?
The approval gives Zerohash explicit permission to offer embedded crypto and stablecoin services to institutional clients through its B2B2C model.
The Chicago-based firm was founded in 2017 and already serves major partners including Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, Securitize, Stripe, Worldpay and Public.com.
With the license in hand, Zerohash plans to help banks, fintechs and payment companies integrate stablecoin transactions and digital asset services directly into their existing platforms.
The AFM’s authorization process is among the strictest on the block. Crypto-asset service providers must submit detailed business plans, be subject to adequate and appropriate governance and assessments, and comply with anti-money laundering rules under the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act.
Companies must also demonstrate operational resilience, maintain robust monitoring systems to prevent market abuse, and hold minimum capital reserves ranging from €50,000 to €150,000, depending on their services.
Zerohash’s European license builds on its global licensing footprint in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Australia and Latin America.
At the beginning of this year, the company carry out a $104 million Series D-2 financing round backed by Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley and others.
Meanwhile, Mastercard is It is said to be in advanced discussions to acquire Zerohash for between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, a deal that could mark one of the payment giant’s biggest bets on stablecoins and on-chain liquidation.
Over 50 Companies Now Licensed Under MiCA as a Stablecoin Company Joins a Growing List of Companies
Zerohash joins a growing list of companies licensed below MiCAthe EU’s first comprehensive crypto regulation.
In July, about 53 entities were approved in the block of 30 countries, including Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com, Robinhood, Societe Generale and Circle.
The framework, which became applicable to stablecoin issuers in mid-2024 and will extend to all crypto service providers by the end of 2024, aims to harmonize rules across the EU, protect consumers and enhance financial stability.
Germany, the Netherlands and Malta currently lead in licensing activity. Coinbase has received approval in Luxembourg earlier this year, while BitGo and Bybit obtained licenses in Germany and Austria, respectively.
The uniform authorization allows these companies to operate in all member states without submitting separate applications in each jurisdiction.
The introduction of MiCA has also reignited the debate on Europe’s wider digital payments agenda.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has supported strict limitations on multi-issue stablecoinsjointly managed tokens inside and outside the block, warning that they could squeeze local reserves during redemption runs.
ECB President Christine Lagarde called for stricter rules on non-EU stablecoin issuers to close regulatory loopholesciting risks to financial sovereignty as dollar-backed tokens dominate 99% of the $230 billion global stablecoin market.
At the same time, Europe’s push for the digital euro is gaining momentum. Piero Cipollone, member of the ECB’s executive committee said in September that the project could launch by 2029following recent agreements between euro area finance ministers regarding holding limits and design principles.
Legislators are now finalizing the legal framework, with a parliamentary position expected by May 2026.
