Last updated on March 5th, 2026 at 01:52 pm
Gate.io has officially obtained a Payment Institution (PI) license in Malta, marking a major step in the exchange’s strategy to dominate the European stablecoin market.
The license, granted to its subsidiary Gate Technology Ltd by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), allows the platform to offer regulated payment services across the European Union (EU) through passporting rights. This development reinforces the infrastructure for Gate’s USDG stablecoin.
By aligning with the EU’s Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), Gate joins a select group of crypto-native firms capable of bridging traditional fiat rails with Web3 applications under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
Regulated expansion for USDG
The acquisition of the PI license is specifically designed to support the “Global Dollar” (USDG), a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Paxos. While USDG is fully backed 1:1 by high-quality liquid assets like U.S. Treasury bills and cash, the new license allows Gate to legally integrate these digital assets into the bloc’s banking and payment systems.
According to Giovanni Cunti, CEO of Gate Technology Ltd, the license provides a “secure, scalable bridge” between legacy finance and decentralized finance (DeFi). The move follows Gate’s previous achievement of a full MiCA license in October 2025, which already authorized the firm to provide exchange and custody services across all EU member states.
Strategic shift toward PayFi
Gate’s entry into the Global Dollar Network as a first-tier partner signals a broader commitment to “PayFi”—an emerging sector focused on using stablecoins for real-time global settlements. By holding both MiCA and PSD2 permissions, Gate can now offer compliant payment solutions that include regulated account and transaction functionality for both retail and institutional clients.
This regulatory milestone aligns with a broader trend in the industry. For instance, OKX recently obtained a similar license in Malta to support its OKX Pay and card products. As the EU digital finance strategy shifts toward stricter enforcement of retail trading safety, these licenses ensure that stablecoin issuers and distributors meet rigorous anti-money laundering and asset custody rules.
The cryptocurrency industry, as highlighted by previous DeFi Planet reports on regulatory developments, is increasingly prioritizing compliance and transparency. Gate.io’s achievement of EU regulatory milestones and OKX’s increasing Bitcoin holdings, demonstrated through verifiable Proof of Reserves, exemplify this trend. Such compliance-first strategies are crucial for navigating the MiCA transition phase, which is set to reach a critical enforcement point in mid-2026, and are essential for building trust in the future of decentralized finance and stablecoins.
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