The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) provides in Article 70(4) that a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) offering payment services related to its crypto activities must either obtain a payment institution authorisation itself or partner with an authorised payment service provider (PSP) under PSD2. This reflects the “dual nature” of certain crypto-assets: notably, MiCA classifies e-money tokens (i.e. stablecoins) as electronic money, meaning they are not only crypto-assets under MiCA but also “funds” under the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). In practice, this dual status raised uncertainty about whether CASPs dealing in stablecoins need a separate PSD2 licence in addition…
Following the European Commission’s earlier rejection, the Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on ICT Subcontracting have been published in the EU Official Journal on 2 July 2025. The RTS will enter into force 20 days after publication, which means that they will come into effect on 22 July 2025. Financial entities and ICT providers must ensure to update their contractual arrangements to fulfil the conditions set out in the RTS to ensure compliance by 22 July 2025. To receive updates on this important development and related news please visit our website and consider subscribing to our newsletter. This document does not purport…
As the digital economy continues to expand, businesses must ensure that their products and services are accessible to everyone — including persons with disabilities. Two key EU laws are shaping accessibility obligations in Malta: the European Accessibility Act and the Web Accessibility Directive. These legal frameworks place important compliance responsibilities on entities with an online presence, particularly those operating in retail, e-commerce, consumer electronics, financial services, and other industries that rely heavily on websites and mobile applications to serve customers. What is the European Accessibility Act? The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) will come into force in Malta on…