#Cryptocurrency #Netherlands #Amsterdam #ZBD #MiCAR

ZBD Secures EU MiCAR License Approval

In a groundbreaking achievement for the digital finance sector, ZBD has announced that it is the first company to receive approval for the EU MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license. This significant development positions ZBD as a frontrunner in crypto innovation and compliance across the European Union. The approval allows the digital payments company to advance its robust native payment platform, forged on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, thus facilitating new market expansions and offering an array of services that meet the rigorous standards set forth by EU regulations.

The approval comes from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and is set to take effect on December 30, 2024. As part of the MiCAR framework, which imposes stringent compliance requirements on crypto-asset service providers, ZBD is now positioned to broaden its service offerings. These include secure storage, management, and transfer of crypto-assets, as well as the crucial ability to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrencies and vice versa. This move reflects ZBD's commitment to upholding high consumer protection standards in its offerings to EU users.

Many corporations, including some of the world’s largest exchanges, are grappling with the rigorous MiCAR requirements. In contrast, ZBD has adeptly navigated these challenges, establishing a strong position in the crypto-asset sector by adopting a comprehensive approach to regulatory compliance. The MiCAR framework opens up unique opportunities for ZBD, enabling it to build upon its strong presence in the U.S. while now venturing into the European market.

"Being the first company to receive the MiCAR license is a monumental step forward for us," said Marca Wosoba, COO of ZBD. "We have cultivated a culture that prioritizes compliance; we view it as a pathway to new features rather than an obstacle. MiCAR has granted us a fantastic opportunity to secure a license valid across the EU, streamlining our regional expansion efforts."

This milestone aligns seamlessly with ZBD's overall ambition to create a digital-native payment infrastructure tailored specifically for the gaming and entertainment industry. Unlike traditional fintech companies that typically start with fiat-centric models and later integrate crypto functionalities, ZBD is turning this approach on its head. The company leverages the Bitcoin Lightning Network from the ground up to enable rapid, cost-effective, and globally scalable payment solutions.

This strategic flexibility empowers ZBD to introduce innovative products to the gaming sector, servicing use cases that traditional financial products struggle to address. For instance, ZBD enables instantaneous reward payouts without any minimum thresholds, allowing players to cash out their winnings immediately, even if they’ve earned just a fraction of a cent. "Having established a stable, revenue-generating business, we have a strong foundation to expand our activities and move closer to our vision of creating a payment entity capable of transferring money instantly in any currency," Wosoba continued. "We’re not simply a crypto or Bitcoin company; we are a digital payment entity that utilizes Bitcoin via the Lightning Network as a core technology within our tech stack."

Pioneering its proactive strategy, ZBD submitted its MiCAR licensing application well ahead of time. Close collaboration with the AFM, which was the first EU body to accept and process such requests, played a crucial role in reaching this key achievement.

With the MiCAR license in hand, ZBD is poised to bring more intricate payment products rooted in Bitcoin to the market and aims to achieve rapid growth throughout the EU in 2025. This accomplishment brings ZBD closer to realizing its ambitious vision as a transformative, digital-native payments company. In keeping with its ethos of developing cryptocurrency features first, while augmenting them with fiat capabilities later, ZBD is also in the final stages of obtaining an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. This would broaden the scope of services ZBD can offer under MiCAR by providing a license for a diverse range of fiat payment solutions in the EU.

About ZBD

ZBD is at the forefront of payment innovation, reshaping the landscape of how money moves over the internet. In the gaming sector, the company has garnered recognition by facilitating real money instant rewards for partners such as Square Enix and 1047 Games. Beyond gaming, ZBD enables unique payment-centric scenarios within interactive entertainment and adjacent industries, from broadcasting money alongside audio in podcast apps like Fountain to implementing instant revenue sharing for advertising innovators like Slice and AdInMo.

In a digital age where seamless transactions are crucial, ZBD stands out as a leader in making money flow online as effortlessly as information. For more details, visit ZBD Official Website.