Zerohash Europe has secured regulatory approval from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, placing it among the first crypto infrastructure providers authorized under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation.
The license allows Zerohash to operate across all 30 European Economic Area countries, serving banks, fintech firms, and payment platforms building stablecoin and tokenization products.
The Dutch regulator confirmed Zerohash’s registration as a crypto-asset service provider over the weekend. With that status, the company can act as core plumbing for institutions launching tokenized assets, stablecoins, and blockchain-based financial services throughout Europe. For enterprises navigating MiCA’s new compliance regime, early authorization matters.
Mastercard Deal Talks Add Strategic Weight
The timing is notable. Reports surfaced this week that Mastercard is in advanced talks to acquire Zerohash, with the deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. Fortune cited sources familiar with the negotiations, describing the discussions as serious and late stage.
Founded in 2017, Zerohash has quietly become one of the most trusted infrastructure providers in crypto. Its client roster includes Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, and Stripe, positioning the company at the intersection of traditional finance and on-chain settlement. A MiCA license only strengthens that appeal.
Mastercard has been steadily expanding its stablecoin footprint. In August, the payments giant rolled out stablecoin settlement for merchants and acquirers across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa using USDC and Euro Coin. Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services were the first adopters, marking Mastercard’s initial stablecoin settlement launch in the EEMEA region.
The company also partnered with Kazakhstan’s central bank and Solana in September on a regulatory sandbox pilot. The initiative introduced the Evo stablecoin, pegged to the tenge, with local institutions including Intebix Crypto Exchange and Eurasian Bank participating through issuance of the KZTE stablecoin.
Why the License Matters
MiCA represents Europe’s most comprehensive attempt to standardize crypto regulation. Infrastructure providers that move early gain a clear edge. Zerohash’s authorization gives institutional clients regulatory certainty, passporting rights across the EEA, and a compliant foundation for digital asset services at scale.
As tokenization and stablecoin settlement shift from experimentation to production, compliant infrastructure is becoming non-negotiable.
Zerohash’s early MiCA approval, combined with growing interest from Mastercard, signals how quickly crypto plumbing is being absorbed into the core of global payments.
