Overview
- Zerohash Europe, which secured a Dutch Electronic Money Institution license Monday, became the first MiCAR‑authorized crypto firm with full EMI status.
- The EMI license allows the company to handle electronic money activity across the European Economic Area, enabling compliant payment processing and stablecoin use cases.
- MiCAR covers crypto-asset services across the EU, while European Banking Authority guidance in 2025 with clarifications in 2026 said some stablecoin transactions count as electronic money and require an EMI license.
- With both approvals, Zerohash targets banks, brokerages, payment providers, and enterprise platforms that want crypto and stablecoin features without building their own infrastructure, and it already supports Interactive Brokers Europe from its Amsterdam base.
- The firm is pursuing a U.S. OCC national trust bank charter and is reportedly exploring a $250 million raise after earlier talks with Mastercard fell through, moves that could expand its regulated footprint and help win larger enterprise deals.