Cryptocurrency exchange Gate.io has achieved a significant regulatory milestone by obtaining a Payment Institution license under the European Union's revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) in Malta. The license was granted to its Malta-based entity, Gate Technology, by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
This authorization enables Gate to passport regulated stablecoin payment services across all 27 EU member states, expanding its offerings beyond the crypto exchange and custody services it was already permitted to provide under its previous Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation approval from October 1, 2025.
The PSD2 license is a critical requirement for crypto companies wishing to offer stablecoin payment services within the EU. It allows Gate to integrate stablecoins into traditional financial infrastructure by executing payment transactions, facilitating credit transfers and direct debits, and maintaining payment accounts. According to the MFSA's public authorization catalogue, Gate Technology is permitted to enable cash placement and withdrawal from payment accounts and carry out all related operational activities.
Gate CEO Giovanni Cunti stated that the license positions the company to deliver compliant payment solutions to both institutional and retail clients. "This approval supports our strategy of linking traditional payment infrastructure with Web3 services in Europe," the company noted in its announcement.
The development signals accelerating institutional adoption of stablecoins, as banks and financial firms can now partner with Gate to offer compliant crypto payment services. This reduces regulatory hurdles that have historically slowed crypto adoption in Europe and could spark broader innovation in the continent's payment landscape.
Gate's approval follows a similar move by competitor OKX, which obtained its own Malta Payment Institution license on February 16, 2026. Under MiCA, crypto-asset service providers integrating stablecoin payments into regulated financial rails must align with EU payments law, making such approvals increasingly essential for exchanges seeking to offer euro-denominated payment flows alongside crypto trading.
While Gate serves over 49 million users globally, it has not disclosed specific breakdowns for EU users or detailed which payment products will launch first under the new license.
