OKX Snags European Payments License for Stablecoin and Crypto Card Expansion

Why It Matters

The licence positions OKX to legally scale stablecoin payments throughout the EU, accelerating crypto’s integration into everyday transactions and giving the exchange a competitive regulatory edge.

Key Takeaways

• OKX secured Malta PI license.
• License meets MiCA and PSD2 requirements.
• Enables EU-wide stablecoin payments.
• Supports OKX Card partnership with Mastercard.
• Signals growing regulatory compliance in crypto.

Pulse Analysis

Europe’s crypto regulatory framework is reaching a critical milestone with MiCA and the updated PSD2, both of which demand that firms handling stablecoins obtain a Payments Institution or Electronic‑Money Institution licence. Malta has emerged as a preferred jurisdiction for such authorisations, offering a clear pathway for exchanges to meet EU standards while maintaining operational flexibility. By securing a PI licence, OKX not only satisfies these legal prerequisites but also signals its readiness to operate under the most stringent European financial rules, reducing compliance risk for investors and partners.

The licence directly fuels OKX’s expansion of consumer‑facing products. OKX Pay and the OKX Card, launched in partnership with Mastercard, translate stablecoins—classified as electronic‑money tokens—into everyday spending power. With regulatory clearance, these services can be rolled out across the European Economic Area without interruption, offering users instant, low‑cost transactions while leveraging the liquidity of major stablecoins. This compliance also streamlines onboarding for merchants and banks, who can now integrate crypto payments with familiar AML/KYC protocols.

Industry‑wide, OKX’s move reflects a broader shift toward institutional legitimacy in crypto. As more exchanges secure PI or EMI licences, the market gains credibility, encouraging traditional finance players to engage with digital assets. The endorsement of stablecoins through regulated channels may accelerate their use as a bridge currency for cross‑border commerce, potentially reshaping payment infrastructures. For investors, OKX’s proactive stance suggests a lower regulatory risk profile, positioning the firm as a front‑runner in Europe’s emerging crypto‑payment ecosystem.

OKX snags European payments license for stablecoin and crypto card expansion

The Payments Institution license, gained in Malta, aligns the exchange with European Union regulatory requirements that take effect in March 2026. · By Ian Allison · Edited by Sheldon Reback

Feb 16 2026, 8:00 a.m.

What to know

• The payments institution (PI) license brings OKX into compliance with the Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation and the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2).

• Crypto firms conducting payments with stablecoins, which are legally classified as electronic‑money tokens (EMTs), must hold a PI or electronic‑money institution (EMI) authorization.

Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has obtained a payment institution (PI) license in Malta, aligning with European Union regulatory requirements that take effect in March.

The license allows OKX to continue offering stablecoin‑related payment services across the EU in full compliance with the Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation and the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), the company said in a press release on Monday.

Under the updated PSD2 framework, crypto‑asset service providers engaging in payment activities involving stablecoins, legally classified as electronic‑money tokens (EMTs), must hold a PI or electronic‑money institution (EMI) authorization.

“We have recently launched real‑world payment products, including OKX Pay and our OKX Card, that bring stablecoins into everyday use. Securing a Payment Institution license ensures that these products operate on a fully compliant footing,” said Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe.

At the end of last month, OKX introduced a crypto payment card in Europe in association with Mastercard. The exchange is enthusiastic about stablecoins entering mainstream finance. OKX Ventures, the firm’s innovation investment arm, recently backed stablecoin issuance platform STBL.