Regulatory changes we're tracking and practical guides from the team that prepares the applications.
Company formation
Second passports and residence permits in 2026: what changed for St Lucia, Vanuatu and Caribbean passports, and the residency routes that work — Malaysia, Labuan, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Mauritius.
iGaming
How to start an online casino, sportsbook or iGaming company in 2026: which licence fits — Malta, Estonia, Gibraltar, Curaçao, Mauritius, Vanuatu or a Costa Rica company — payments, prediction markets and what's changed.
Payments & EMI
Complete guide to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) merchant acquiring registration. Malaysia processed 18.4 billion e-payment transactions in 2025 — 25% YoY increase. Stripe, ShopeePay, TNG Digital, Razer licensed. BNM vs MAS distinction explained. Multi-jurisdiction ASEAN payment strategy. Zitadelle AG Malaysia office.
Company formation
Complete guide to Labuan company formation — 3% trading tax, 0% holding rate, 70+ DTAAs, LBATA substance requirements, VASP Act 2025, UAE-Malaysia CEPA October 2025, LFSA fee revision January 2026, annual 15 January fee deadline, banking, and annual compliance. By Zitadelle AG from our Labuan office.
iGaming
Side-by-side comparison of the Malta MGA, Estonia EMTA, and Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner iGaming licences in 2026. State fees, GGR tax rates, minimum capital, timelines, and pros and cons — verified against official government sources.
Company formationUpdated
Complete 2026 guide to setting up an offshore or international company — jurisdiction selection, corporate bank account opening (Swiss, EU, Asian), private banking for directors, payroll, accounting, and compliance.
Crypto & MiCA
Complete 2026 guide to starting a VASP or CASP crypto company — MiCA CASP deadline July 2026, Dubai VARA, Mauritius VAITOS, Seychelles, Cayman, Labuan, El Salvador. Business models, technology stack, Travel Rule, and realistic cost breakdowns.
Payments & EMIUpdated
The complete 2026 guide to starting an EMI or PSP payment company — license types, jurisdiction comparison (Lithuania, Singapore, Mauritius, Labuan, Canada), technology stack, capital requirements, and realistic budgets from USD $50,000 to USD $500,000+.
Investment licensingUpdated
The complete 2026 guide to starting a forex broker — business model, jurisdiction comparison across every tier, company structure, technology stack, AML/CFT, realistic cost breakdown, and timelines from SVG to CySEC.
Company formationUpdated
A 2026 guide to the best jurisdictions for setting up a holding or investment holding company — from Singapore and the Cayman Islands to hidden gems like Estonia and Labuan. Updated tax data, substance requirements, and practical comparisons.
Regulatory updatesUpdated
47 new CIF licenses approved in 2025, €2.3M in fines, Triangleview suspended, new sanctions regime from August 2025. ESMA CSA 2026 inspections running now. Full guide including offshore counterpart structures in Mauritius and Seychelles.
Investment licensing
CMA Category 1 (full brokerage, AED 10M) vs CMA Category 5 (introduction, 3–6 months) vs DFSA Category 3A (USD 500K, 12–14 months) vs DFSA Category 4 (USD 30,000, 4–6 months). The four UAE licence pathways for CFD and FX firms explained.
Investment licensingUpdated
A Category 5 licence from the UAE's CMA lets you market only to professional investors, and the thresholds are specific: AED 35 million for trustees, AED 25 million for joint ventures, AED 15 million for family offices. Marketing outside those limits is where enforcement lands.
Crypto & MiCA
The Swiss Federal Council proposed two new FINMA license categories for crypto in October 2025 — the biggest shake-up to the Swiss framework in years. Crypto Valley hosts 1,749 companies. VQF SRO membership costs CHF 4,000–6,000 and takes 8–12 weeks. What the new rules mean, who is moving to Switzerland, and why the SRO route remains the smartest entry point for most crypto operators.
Company formation
The Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 came into force January 2026. CRS 2.0 activated. Tokenised funds framework published. 17,741 private funds registered. Full guide to Cayman company formation, exempted companies, and CIMA licensing in 2026.
Crypto & MiCA
March 31, 2026 changed everything for crypto businesses in Australia. AUSTRAC's expanded regime, the Crypto Travel Rule, enforcement actions against Cryptolink/Binance/Revolut, and 32% of Australians now owning crypto. Complete guide to DCE registration.
Regulatory updatesUpdated
Kalshi hit $43 billion in trading volume in 2025. ICE just poured $2 billion into Polymarket. Robinhood is building its own exchange. This is no longer a niche — and the window to build internationally is open right now.
Crypto & MiCA
B2BINPAY, Binance, Tether, Freedx, and Finprime.pro are CNAD-licensed. Why the El Salvador DASP is gaining traction with non-EU, non-US crypto operators targeting LatAm and emerging markets.
Investment licensing
IC Markets, Admirals, ATFX, Fusion Markets, XM, FXTM all hold FSA Seychelles licenses. Why the license works for offshore forex and CFD brokers targeting non-EU markets, and how the 2024–2025 regulatory reforms changed the picture.
Investment licensing
Exness, FXTM, FP Markets, IC Markets, Tickmill, FxPro and ATFX all hold FSCA FSP licenses. Why the South Africa FSP is Africa's most credible financial services authorization, what the 2024–2025 reforms changed, and how to acquire an existing licensed entity.
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