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FinTech

The principle of Open Finance promotes an ecosystem where the customers of financial services allow some of their data to be utilised for the creation of more innovate financial solutions. The EU’s second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) is moving towards its third version, namely PSD3. In this insight briefing, we analyse how the proposed PSD3 could enhance the principle of Open Finance in the fintech sector.
Fintech Insights #3 –
Open Finance in the Proposed PSD3 FinTech

Fintech Insights #3 –
Open Finance in the Proposed PSD3

Open Finance is becoming a pivotal element in the evolution of the European Union's regulatory framework for payment services, most notably embodied in the anticipated Third Payment Services Directive (“PSD3”). The European Banking Authority (“EBA”) has proposed significant revisions to the current legislation, many of which aim to further the objectives of enhancing competition, facilitating innovation, increasing payment transaction security, protecting consumers, and creating a unified EU retail payments market​. The second version of the Payment Services Directive1 (“PSD2”) was last updated in 2015 and came into force in 2018. PSD2 not only offers clear guidelines to the payment service…
Mario Mizzi
24th May 2023
Fintech Insights #2 –
Maltese EMIs FinTech

Fintech Insights #2 –
Maltese EMIs

Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) are financial institutions that offer electronic money services to customers. Legislation on EMIs is partially harmonised in the EU as there is only an Electronic Money Directive (Directive 2009/110/EC) (“EMD”) rather than a regulation. In Malta, the EMD is transposed in the Financial Institutions Act, Chapter 376 of the Laws of Malta. Article 2 of the EMD defines electronic money as “electronically, including magnetically, stored monetary value as represented by a claim on the issuer which is issued on receipt of funds for the purpose of making payment transactions as defined in point 5 of Article…
Mario Mizzi
10th May 2023
In this series of briefings on financial technology law, we will share insights on the current and proposed EU laws that seek to regulate financial services being provided through digital means.
Fintech Insights #1 –
Introductory Briefing FinTech

Fintech Insights #1 –
Introductory Briefing

The progression of online financial ecosystems supporting any modern economy hinges on the citizens’ use of new financial technologies. In Malta, the word ‘fintech’ is neither defined by law nor found in the jurisdiction’s primary legislation. Yet, local stakeholders on the island commonly limit the meaning of the word to blockchain-based finance. In reality, at EU level (and to a certain extent, globally), fintech comprises all those banking and digital payment solutions which make use of the internet and other electronic means rather than using ink and paper. These include electronic money institutions, payment service providers, and banks using any…
Mario Mizzi
4th May 2023
The Parliament of the European Union has approved the ‘Markets in Crypto Assets’ regulation
EU Parliament approves MiCA FinTechLegal Updates

EU Parliament approves MiCA

The European Parliament gave its final approval to the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (‘MiCA’) on 20 April 2023. The regulation forms part of the EU’s broader digital financial package whose aim is to encourage the use of fintech while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability across the EU. MiCA is the first harmonised EU framework for regulating crypto-assets and is applicable across Member States without national transposition. The regulation introduces three sub-categories of crypto-assets, namely asset-referenced tokens, e-money tokens, and other crypto-assets, which includes utility tokens and other cryptocurrencies. MiCA has three distinct regulatory regimes for issuers of stablecoins, non-stablecoins,…
Mamo TCV Advocates
21st April 2023
Mamo TCV FinTech
Agreement Reached on Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) FinTech

Agreement Reached on Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA)

On 30 June 2022, the Council of the European Union (EU) announced1 that the Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the proposed markets in crypto-assets regulation (MiCA).  More details here.  The aim behind the proposed regulatory framework is to bring legal and regulatory certainty for crypto-asset operators across the EU.MiCA forms part of the Digital Finance Package proposed by the European Commission (EC) to fulfil its Digital Finance Strategy, which aims at developing a holistic approach across the EU to foster innovation, whilst ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The Digital Finance Strategy sets out…
Martha Chetcuti
11th August 2022
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Applying for a Virtual Financial Asset Licence in order to Operate a Crypto-Exchange FinTech

Applying for a Virtual Financial Asset Licence in order to Operate a Crypto-Exchange

Malta is the first country in the world to create and implement a fully comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The stable system and forward approach that Malta offers creates the ideal setting to attract further investment. In fact, Malta has attracted some of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges who have relocated or set up offices on the island. The Maltese legal framework consists of three main pieces of legislation, namely:i. The Virtual Financial Assets Act (the "Act");ii. The Malta Digital Innovation Authority Act; &iii. The Innovative Technology Arrangements and Services Act.The most important and relevant…
MamoTCV
11th December 2019