OKX obtains European payments license to expand stablecoin services

OKX has received a Payment Institution (PI) license in Malta, allowing the exchange to operate stablecoin services in full compliance with EU rules taking effect in March 2026. The license places the company in the category of providers regulated under MiCA and the updated PSD2 directive, which requires issuers and operators of electronic money tokens to hold PI or EMI status.

The company said the license is a key step in expanding its product suite. In recent months, OKX has rolled out several offerings aimed at making stablecoins a tool for everyday payments, including OKX Pay and the OKX Card, developed in partnership with Mastercard. With PI status, the exchange can now scale these products across Europe without regulatory barriers.

OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos said the license provides a “fully compliant” infrastructure for new payment services and makes it easier to integrate stablecoins into traditional financial processes. The exchange is also investing in electronic-money infrastructure—through OKX Ventures, it has backed the stablecoin-issuance platform STBL.

The license reinforces OKX’s strategy in the EU: expand stablecoin adoption and accelerate the integration of crypto payments into the traditional financial system. As interest in digital currencies grows across Europe, the company expects rising demand for payment products and crypto cards.

OKX sees 2026 as a year of accelerated convergence between traditional and on-chain finance. With the EU’s new regulatory framework, including MiCA, Europe is becoming one of the most important regions for crypto companies willing to operate under strict oversight. Securing PI status positions OKX to anchor itself in this transition and continue its expansion in digital payments.