alta

According to Fortune magazine, Layer 1 blockchain development company Alta, aimed at banks and large financial institutions, announced on Tuesday the completion of a $47.5 million Series A funding round, but did not disclose the company's valuation. This round was led by Index Ventures, with participation from GV (Google Ventures), Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg, and Capital49.Previously, the company had completed a $32.5 million seed funding round, primarily supported by Australian fintech giant Airwallex. Airwallex is currently competing in the global payments market with companies like Stripe.Alta's CEO Loong Wang previously founded a cryptocurrency startup, which he sold in 2021, and then turned to a second startup that uses quantum computing technology to assist in drug development. After that, Wang returned to the cryptocurrency field and co-founded Alta with former Meta executive Catherine Porter. The company was recently renamed from its original name Metal. Porter was involved in Meta's later abandoned cryptocurrency business.In an interview, Wang stated that despite the presence of many so-called Layer 1 blockchains in the market, he still decided to develop a new blockchain because he believes it is the best technology for transferring funds. He also pointed out that existing blockchains do not provide a complete set of privacy protection and compliance tools specifically designed for banks and other large financial institutions.

According to The Block, the newly established cryptocurrency entity Revolut Global Digital Assets Limited under digital bank Revolut has obtained a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) license issued by Gibraltar.Revolut stated that this approval will assist in the expansion of its international cryptocurrency business. The company currently has over 80 million retail customers, of which 16 million are cryptocurrency users.

According to CoinDesk, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has released a discussion paper exploring how decentralized finance (DeFi) can be incorporated into the EU MiCA framework. The MFSA pointed out that while MiCA exempts "fully decentralized" crypto services, many DeFi projects still retain centralized features such as admin keys, governance centralization, and protocol upgrade permissions.The regulatory body is seeking public opinion on whether decentralization should be viewed as a "spectrum" rather than a binary concept, and discussing whether to establish a standardized framework to determine if protocols fall outside the scope of MiCA regulation. Additionally, the document proposes potential legal structures such as DAOs and segregated cell companies, and examines automated compliance mechanisms like custodial agents. The public consultation on this discussion paper is open until July 10.

Gate announced that the Maltese company Gate Technology Ltd has officially obtained a Payment Institution (PI) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) under the EU's Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). This license makes Gate one of the few crypto-native companies in Europe to receive such regulatory approval, laying the groundwork for compliant stablecoin and payment services across the EU.Mr. Giovanni Cunti, CEO of Gate Technology Ltd., stated that this license will support the company's efforts to build a secure bridge between traditional finance and Web3, providing clear regulatory assurance for institutional and retail users. Previously, Gate had obtained a full MiCA license for exchange and custody services.With the PSD2 license, Gate is now expanding its payment service footprint across the EU based on the EU's common framework. This move reflects Gate's commitment to compliance and regulatory transparency, further driving its innovation and development in the European digital asset financial infrastructure sector.Gate has consistently been at the forefront of compliance efforts and investments in the industry, with multiple entities having obtained or completed relevant regulatory registrations, license applications, authorizations, or approvals in jurisdictions such as Malta, the Bahamas, Japan, Australia, and Dubai. Additionally, Gate US holds 33 state-level licenses in the United States, with its compliant operations covering 45 U.S. jurisdictions. The platform will continue to solidify the foundation for robust global development with a high-standard compliance system.

According to Financefeeds, stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK has obtained a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), allowing it to offer digital asset services regulated under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in Malta and expand these services across the European Economic Area (EEA).This license enables BVNK to operate under the EU's unified regulatory framework for crypto and digital asset service providers. BVNK stated that this approval strengthens its role as a regulated bridge between traditional euro payment rails and stablecoin settlements, primarily targeting businesses seeking compliant cross-border settlement solutions.

ChainCatcher news, Gate Group officially announces that its Malta company Gate Technology Ltd (referred to as "Gate Europe") has obtained a MiCA license under the regulation of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and will provide users with trading and custody services for crypto assets under its supervision.Leveraging Malta's pivotal role in the global digital asset industry, Gate Group will continue to expand its presence in Europe. Gate Group founder Dr. Han emphasized, "Compliance and regulation are always at the core of all business. Obtaining the full operational license under MiCA is a key step in Gate Group's expansion process in Europe and highlights our long-term commitment to security, transparency, and user protection. We look forward to growing together with the ecosystem in Malta and Europe and further promoting the local digital economy."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the cryptocurrency exchange platform Gemini has obtained the Malta Crypto Asset Market Regulation (MiCA) license to support the company's ongoing expansion in Europe.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Malta's asset management company Samara Asset Group has disclosed that it holds 525 BTC, worth approximately 57.3 million USD, accounting for 28% of its market value.Samara Asset Group stated that it plans to reduce exposure to traditional markets and attract cryptocurrency investors, using Bitcoin as a reserve asset to ensure capital safety from a long-term investment perspective.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the financial regulatory authority of the European 28-country trade alliance—the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)—has conducted a peer review of Malta's implementation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, with a particular focus on the fast-tracking authorization process for a certain unnamed crypto company.The ESMA Peer Review Committee (PRC) specifically examined the authorization status of the crypto asset service provider (CASP entity), and despite "significant issues remaining unresolved or requiring remediation" at the time of obtaining MiCA authorization, the entity was still approved for authorization.

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, informed sources say that Coinbase and Gemini are expected to obtain EU crypto licenses from Luxembourg and Malta respectively, authorized to operate across 27 countries under the MiCA regulations.This move has sparked regulatory divergence in Europe, with some countries expressing doubts about Malta's rapid approvals for OKX, Crypto.com, and Gemini, fearing a "race to the bottom" in regulation. Officials from France's AMF and ESMA have also expressed concerns about uneven enforcement. Meanwhile, Coinbase is expanding its small team in Luxembourg to strengthen compliance efforts.

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, the two largest cryptocurrency companies in the world are about to obtain licenses to operate across the EU, while the divergence in the speed and strictness of approvals by regulators in some countries is increasing.Under the new EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, member states can issue licenses allowing crypto companies to operate across the 27 EU member states. Gemini is about to receive a license from Malta, and Coinbase is also about to receive approval from Luxembourg.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the government of Gibraltar has announced its plan to establish the world's first clearing and settlement rules for cryptocurrency derivatives, creating a regulatory framework to enhance market integrity and reduce major risks. Over the past six months, the Gibraltar government has collaborated with the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) and the cryptocurrency exchange Bullish to develop a framework that adapts traditional financial clearing regulations to the virtual asset market.Bullish stated on Tuesday that this framework will allow recognized clearinghouses to clear and settle virtual asset derivative contracts; many virtual asset exchanges have been performing this function, but the lack of regulatory oversight may lead to issues in the clearing process. The proposed system will allow for the establishment of independent clearinghouses, which will have "higher transparency and capital adequacy."

ChainCatcher news, according to Finance Magnates, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has issued a public warning that scammers are forging documents from the Maltese financial regulatory authority to extort money from traders under the pretense of fictitious market manipulation fines, urging users to remain vigilant.This scam primarily targets Bitcoin and Ethereum traders. The MFSA stated that fraudsters send fake documents to individuals involved in BTC and ETH trading, claiming they have been fined for alleged market manipulation and threatening regulatory action if they do not comply. The MFSA confirmed that these threats are entirely fabricated and that the related documents have no legal validity. These forged letters meticulously mimic the MFSA's logo in an attempt to deceive recipients into making payments.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the American Web3 gaming company Ready Games has won a legal battle against its Gibraltar subsidiary Ready Maker and its CEO Christina Macedo. The Gibraltar Supreme Court has ordered the freezing of approximately 440 million PLAY tokens (about $7 million), which accounts for about half of the circulating supply. Ready Games founder David Bennahum stated that its subsidiary violated the trust agreement by unlawfully claiming ownership of the company and the PLAY tokens.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has received in-principle approval for an investment firm license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). This license will allow Gemini to offer regulated futures and options trading services to professional traders and institutions in the EU and the European Economic Area under the framework of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II).Mark Jennings, Head of Gemini Europe, stated that this is an important step in the company's European expansion strategy for 2025. Currently, Gemini is engaged in multiple operations in Europe, including spot trading of over 90 digital assets, an ActiveTrader platform with more than 80 trading pairs, and over-the-counter trading services for institutional traders.Previously, Gemini had chosen Malta as its business center for the EU's regulatory framework for crypto assets (MiCA).

ChainCatcher news, the number of European crypto tax-free countries will decrease by 2025. Countries currently considering taxation include Portugal, Malta, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, Romania, Slovenia, Estonia, and others.

ChainCatcher news, cryptocurrency exchange Gemini announced that it will establish a dedicated compliance center in Malta to ensure compliance with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. This initiative follows Gemini's receipt of its sixth European Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration certificate issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) in December 2024.Gemini stated that Malta actively supports fintech innovation and the crypto ecosystem, providing an ideal environment for its operations in Europe.

ChainCatcher message, according to the official announcement, the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb will list Altair (ALT) and Swell Network (SWELL) on the KRW market, with trading expected to start today at 16:00.

ChainCatcher news, according to Lookonchain monitoring, a certain whale lost 6.76 million dollars due to betting on Harris's victory, and subsequently changed the username to "theRealTaylorSwift".It is reported that the famous singer Taylor Swift is a supporter of Harris.