OKX has strengthened its presence in Europe by securing a new Payment Institution (PI) license in Malta. The license aligns with European regulations for stablecoin payments, allowing the exchange to offer its services across the European Union. This move comes as OKX aims to expand its products under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The new authorization will help OKX ensure its stablecoin payment services operate within the legal framework across Europe.
OKX’s PI license was granted under the European Union’s payment framework. The license ensures that OKX complies with the MiCA and PSD2 regulations, which are key to offering stablecoin payment services. These regulations require crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to hold a PI or Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorization for stablecoin-related payment activities. By obtaining the PI license, OKX secures a foundation for its growing list of products, including OKX Pay and the OKX Card.
The PI license strengthens OKX’s commitment to building compliant and innovative payment solutions. It ensures that products such as OKX Pay, which enables stablecoin payments, follow the necessary legal guidelines. With this license, OKX aims to meet the regulatory expectations of both the European Union and its members. The license supports the continued rollout of these services in multiple European markets, enhancing cross-border payment efficiency.
The PI license will significantly impact OKX’s flagship products, including OKX Pay and OKX Card. Both products offer users the ability to spend crypto assets and stablecoins for everyday transactions. OKX Pay allows users to make payments using stablecoins such as USDC and USDG, while the OKX Card, launched in January, is a payment card supporting these stablecoins. The exchange sees stablecoins as a major part of its strategy for modernizing financial services.
OKX Europe’s CEO, Erald Ghoos, emphasized the importance of this regulatory approval in his comments. The license ensures that these payment products will operate with full regulatory compliance across Europe. OKX’s focus on stablecoins reflects the company’s view of digital currencies as a means of improving the efficiency of cross-border payments and reducing friction in financial transactions. The stablecoin sector is central to OKX’s strategy for mainstream adoption.
The PI license follows OKX’s previous success in securing a MiCA license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) in early 2025. This regulatory approval lays a strong foundation for OKX’s growth and innovation in the European market. The company also recently partnered with Mastercard to launch a crypto payment card in Europe. OKX Ventures has backed stablecoin projects like STBL to further push the stablecoin ecosystem.
OKX is positioning itself as a leader in bringing stablecoins to mainstream finance. The exchange believes that stablecoins have the potential to modernize money and enhance the global financial system. With this new license in Malta, OKX continues to expand its footprint in the European Union, offering users more options for crypto payments. The exchange’s focus remains on operating within strong regulatory frameworks to provide secure and efficient services.
The post OKX Expands European Footprint with Malta Payment License for Stablecoin Services appeared first on CoinCentral.

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