Insights
Notes from the practice
Commentary on cross-border structuring, banking, residence, tax and regulatory change. Articles more than 24 months old carry a note saying so.
Fintech
36 articles

Fintech
DeFi Regulation and Offshore Structures in 2026
DeFi regulation is closing the gap on decentralised finance. We explain the emerging rules and how offshore structures fit a compliant DeFi business.

Fintech
The Travel Rule and VASP Compliance: A Practical Guide
A practical guide to Travel Rule and VASP compliance: what the rule requires, thresholds, the sunrise problem, and how crypto businesses prepare.

Fintech
How to Structure a Crypto OTC Desk: A Complete Guide
A complete guide to structuring a crypto OTC desk: licensing, entity choice, banking and settlement, counterparty risk, and compliance essentials.

Fintech
Tokenising Real-World Assets: Offshore Structuring Guide
A structuring guide to tokenising real-world assets offshore: legal wrappers, SPVs, securities treatment, jurisdiction choice, and investor compliance.

Fintech
Best Jurisdictions for a Web3 Company: 2025 Guide
A 2025 guide to choosing the best jurisdiction for a Web3 company: regulation, token treatment, tax, banking access, substance, and common mistakes.

Fintech
Gibraltar DLT Provider Licence: A Practical Guide
How the Gibraltar DLT provider licence works, who needs it, the regulatory principles, capital and substance expectations, and common pitfalls.

Fintech
Open Banking APIs for Offshore Fintech: A Guide
How offshore fintechs can use open banking APIs for payments and data, the licensing and access realities, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Fintech
CBDC Impact on Offshore Banking: What to Know
How central bank digital currencies could reshape offshore banking, privacy, cross-border payments and structuring, and what to plan for now.

Fintech
PSP Licence in the EU: A Jurisdiction Comparison
Compare PSP licence options across the EU: payment vs e-money institutions, passporting, capital and substance, and how to choose a jurisdiction.

Fintech
IBAN Assignment for Offshore Fintechs: A Practical Guide
How IBAN assignment works for offshore fintechs, why your own IBAN range matters, and the licensing, sponsor-bank and compliance realities behind it.

Fintech
EMI Licence in Lithuania: A Complete Guide for Fintechs
A practical guide to the EMI licence in Lithuania: why fintechs choose it, the application process, capital and substance requirements, and common pitfalls.

Fintech
EMI Licence in Malta: A Complete Guide for Fintechs
A practical guide to the EMI licence in Malta: why fintechs choose it, the MFSA process, capital and substance requirements, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Fintech
Neobank Launch: The Regulatory Pathway Explained
The regulatory pathway to launching a neobank: licence versus sponsor routes, capital and safeguarding, compliance, and the build-versus-rent decision.

Fintech
Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS): A Strategic Guide
A clear guide to Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS): how the model works, where the regulatory perimeter sits, sponsor-bank risk, and how to launch safely.

Fintech
How to Launch a Card Programme: A Practical Guide
A practical guide to launching a card programme: the roles of issuer, processor and scheme, BIN sponsorship, compliance, economics, and common pitfalls.

Fintech
US MSB Licensing: A Guide for Fintech Founders
A clear guide to US MSB licensing for fintechs: FinCEN registration, state money-transmitter licences, AML obligations, costs, and structuring pitfalls.

Fintech
MiCA Regulation: A Practical Crypto Compliance Guide
A plain-English guide to MiCA regulation: CASP authorisation, stablecoin rules, the transition timeline, and what crypto operators must actually do.

Fintech
VASP Registration vs Full Licence: Which You Need
VASP registration vs a full crypto or financial licence: what each means, when each fits, and the substance and banking risks of getting it wrong.

Fintech
Netherlands Payment Institution Licensing for Fintechs
Netherlands payment institution licensing under PSD2 gives fintechs an EU passport via DNB authorisation. The licence types, process and expectations.
Fintech
Dubai's Rise as a VASP Hub: What VARA Licensing Means for Crypto Businesses
Dubai established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in 2022, creating the world's first dedicated virtual-asset regulator at city level. For crypto businesses seeking regulated status, banking access and institutional credibility, VARA has become the leading licensing option globally.

Fintech
Isle of Man eGaming and iGaming Licensing: A Guide
An authoritative guide to Isle of Man eGaming and iGaming licensing: licence types, substance, banking, player funds, and why operators choose the Island.

Fintech
Isle of Man Crypto Businesses: Registering Under the DSIA
How cryptocurrency businesses register under the Isle of Man DSIA and AML regime, what oversight to expect, and where the regulatory perimeter sits.

Fintech
Offshore EMI White Labels: A Strategic Launchpad
How offshore EMI white labels let entrepreneurs launch payment and wallet products fast, what they really offer, the risks, and when a licence wins instead.

Fintech
Best Countries for Crypto Companies in 2026
The best countries for crypto companies in 2026, how leading jurisdictions compare on licensing, banking and tax, and how to choose the right base.

Fintech
How to Start a Payment Company: A Founder's Guide
How to start a payment company: choosing a model, securing a licence or partner, banking, capital, compliance, and the structure that makes it scalable.

Fintech
How to Get an EMI Licence: A Practical Guide
How to get an EMI licence: where to apply, capital and governance requirements, the application process, timelines, and the pitfalls that delay approval.

Fintech
Offshore Banking Licence: A Realistic Founder's Guide
An offshore banking licence guide: licence classes, capital and substance requirements, the application process, correspondent banking, and who it suits.

Fintech
NFT Marketplace Legal Structure: A Founder's Guide
An NFT marketplace legal structure guide: entity choice, regulatory triggers, intellectual property, payments, tax and the compliance pitfalls founders miss.

Fintech
DAO Legal Structure: Choosing the Right Wrapper
A DAO legal structure guide: why a legal wrapper matters, the main options, liability and tax, treasury management, and pitfalls decentralised projects face.

Fintech
Forex Broker Licence Guide: Choosing the Right Jurisdiction
A practical forex broker licence guide covering jurisdictions, capital rules, liquidity, payments and the compliance realities of launching an FX brokerage.

Fintech
Crowdfunding Platform Licence Guide for Founders
A clear crowdfunding platform licence guide on regulatory models, capital, investor protection and the structuring choices behind a compliant platform launch.

Fintech
Offshore Wealth Management Licence: A Founder's Guide
An offshore wealth management licence guide on regulatory models, capital, custody, substance and the compliance demands of a cross-border advisory firm.

Fintech
Insurtech Licensing Guide: Routes to Market for Founders
An insurtech licensing guide covering carrier, MGA and broker routes, capital, jurisdictions and the structuring choices behind a compliant launch.

Fintech
Issuing a Stablecoin Under the EU MiCA Framework
A practical guide to issuing a stablecoin under MiCA: e-money tokens versus asset-referenced tokens, authorisation, reserve and redemption rules, and where.

Fintech
Structuring a Crypto Exchange Offshore: A Guide
How to structure a crypto exchange offshore in 2026: licensing options, the operating and holding split, banking realities, substance and the compliance bar.
Also in Insights
Reference
Guides and comparisons
Longer guides on jurisdictions, structures and routes to residence.
Find out moreExample scenarios
Illustrative scenarios showing how a matter is approached.
Find out moreGlossary
Plain-English definitions of cross-border terms, from ATED to VASP.
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Much of the firm's thinking sits in client memoranda rather than published articles. The note covers the parts that apply more widely: changes in jurisdictions, banking practice and regulatory deadlines.
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