The regulatory milestone makes Zerohash one of the first MiCA-compliant stablecoin infrastructure providers in Europe — just as Mastercard reportedly advances talks to buy the firm.
Zerohash Gains MiCA Approval in the EU
Zerohash, a leading stablecoin and crypto infrastructure provider, has obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) — a move that makes it one of the first MiCA-approved crypto firms in Europe.
The authorization enables Zerohash to offer stablecoin and digital asset services to banks, fintechs, and payment processors across all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) countries. The firm is now officially listed as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) under the AFM’s public registry.
With this approval, Zerohash Europe is positioned as a key infrastructure backbone for institutions exploring tokenized assets, stablecoin payments, and blockchain-based settlements.
Mastercard Reportedly in Talks for $2B Acquisition
The regulatory milestone coincides with reports that Mastercard is in advanced discussions to acquire Zerohash in a deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to Fortune.
Founded in 2017, Zerohash has built a strong reputation by powering crypto infrastructure solutions for major clients, including Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, and Stripe. The potential acquisition aligns with Mastercard’s growing involvement in the stablecoin and tokenization sectors.
Mastercard’s Expanding Stablecoin Strategy
Over the past year, Mastercard has accelerated its stablecoin initiatives across multiple regions:
- In August, Mastercard announced that it would enable settlements in USDC and EURC for acquirers and merchants in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA).
- Early adopters of the service include Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services, marking the first stablecoin settlement offering under Mastercard’s network in the EEMEA region.
- In September, Mastercard also partnered with Kazakhstan’s central bank and Solana on a stablecoin pilot project for the country’s local fiat currency, Evo (KZTE), issued by Intebix Crypto Exchange and Eurasian Bank under the nation’s Digital Assets Regulatory Sandbox.
The MiCA approval solidifies Zerohash’s standing as a trusted compliance-first infrastructure provider at a time when European regulators are tightening oversight of digital assets.
If the Mastercard acquisition goes through, it could represent one of the largest deals in crypto infrastructure, signaling traditional finance’s growing interest in regulated, institutional-grade stablecoin ecosystems.
Zerohash’s regulatory leap and Mastercard’s rumored acquisition could together reshape Europe’s stablecoin landscape — bridging the gap between digital assets and mainstream finance.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.