-- As Europe strengthens its position as a global leader in crypto regulation, the focus is shifting from policymaking to real-world implementation. With the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) now fully enforced, licensed crypto companies are preparing for growth—yet many still face hidden blockers in banking, payments, and infrastructure.
To understand the practical challenges and emerging solutions, Finextra spoke with Irina Istjagina, Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer of Walletto, a Lithuania-based financial institution providing infrastructure support to licensed crypto companies across Europe.
“MiCA has brought legal certainty—but that’s only the start,” Istjagina says. “Companies are licensed, but still locked out of banking relationships or struggling with fragmented payment systems. That’s where the real bottlenecks are.”
A Groundbreaking Framework with Practical Gaps
MiCA is the first large-scale legislation governing crypto-assets, introducing unified rules for trading, custody, and issuance across the EU. In the first six months of full implementation, nearly 40 crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) have secured authorisation—showing that the market is maturing.
However, regulatory clarity doesn’t automatically translate to operational ease. Walletto’s CCO explains that many companies still struggle to access fiat services consistently or complete onboarding efficiently.
“A licence helps with credibility, but it doesn’t solve everything,” she notes. “Cross-border transfers, payment acceptance, and integration into traditional rails are still difficult—especially when you’re scaling.”
Walletto operates in the crucial space between compliance and performance. With capabilities such as IBAN issuance, card acquiring, BIN sponsorship, and API integration, the company provides a fiat backbone for crypto businesses operating within MiCA’s framework.
Europe’s Crypto User Base Is Booming—But So Are the Pain Points
Crypto adoption in Europe is accelerating rapidly. User numbers are projected to jump from 50 million in 2024 to 218 million in 2025. With rising blockchain investment and broader use cases—from payroll to remittances—the need for reliable infrastructure has never been higher.
Yet operational friction persists.
“We still see new clients spending weeks just opening accounts,” says Istjagina. “That lag time is not compatible with modern fintech expectations.”
Walletto’s full-stack infrastructure is designed to eliminate these points of friction. It offers:
- Unique IBANs for business accounts
- Payment acceptance via Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and MB WAY
- Co-branded card programmes supported by BIN sponsorship
Clients can also access Mastercard World Business debit cards and a suite of developer tools and SDKs that enable them to build embedded finance products efficiently.
“Our partners range from agile startups to multinational platforms. What they all need is the ability to move money efficiently and compliantly,” Irina adds. “Without that, even the best product stalls.”
Europe’s Strategic Advantage in the Global Crypto Market
Europe’s regulatory momentum has positioned it ahead of the U.S. and various Asian markets, where crypto policy is more fragmented. As a result, many global digital asset firms are choosing Europe as a base for international expansion.
With access to 27 markets through passporting, clear rules under MiCA, and proactive supervision from regulators like the Bank of Lithuania, the EU is becoming increasingly attractive to both institutional players and fast-growing startups.
“We’re seeing firms from Asia and the Middle East choosing Europe—not just for legal certainty, but because the infrastructure here is more mature,” Istjagina says. “It’s not just about launching—it’s about staying compliant while growing fast.”
This rising international interest demands high levels of interoperability, faster onboarding, and stronger regulatory-grade tools.
A Compliance-First Model
One of Walletto’s defining strengths is its deep alignment with regulators. Based in Lithuania—one of Europe’s top fintech hubs—the company operates under a full financial institution licence and works exclusively with licensed crypto companies.
“We’ve built everything with compliance at the core,” Irina explains. “It’s what enables us to maintain strong partnerships with banks, payment networks, and institutional players.”
As crypto firms expand or enter new markets, embedded compliance—covering KYC, AML, and transaction monitoring—is becoming a critical advantage rather than just a requirement.
“Crypto businesses today want bank-grade compliance because they need it to scale.”
What Clients Are Prioritising
Based on Walletto’s client data, crypto companies entering or expanding in Europe are focused on four key requirements:
- Rapid business account onboarding
- Flexible fiat payout and settlement options
- Scalable acquiring infrastructure
- Reliable card issuing solutions
Walletto provides physical and virtual card solutions—either co-branded or white label—that integrate with major global payment schemes. These offerings help platforms improve transaction success rates, grow their user base, and deliver seamless customer experiences.
“What we offer isn’t just tools—it’s a bridge between crypto ambition and financial execution,” says Istjagina. “And we do it without sacrificing security or oversight.”
The Bigger Shift: Global Ambition, Local Infrastructure
Looking ahead to 2025, Irina identifies a defining trend: the globalisation of crypto services. Startups from APAC and the Middle East are now seeking trusted infrastructure partners in Europe, while EU-based firms are preparing to expand internationally.
“We see ourselves not just as a vendor, but as a strategic infrastructure partner,” she says. “That mindset changes how we approach onboarding, compliance, and scale.”
With its Lithuanian licence enabling EU-wide passporting, Walletto offers modular infrastructure that lets clients adapt to new markets without duplicating operational complexity.
“When a firm enters a new region, they shouldn’t have to rebuild their payment system,” Irina explains. “We make it easier to plug in—and go.”
Final Thoughts: Why Infrastructure Will Define the Winners
As the crypto industry matures, Irina believes the companies that succeed won’t necessarily be those with the flashiest products—it will be those with the strongest underlying infrastructure.
“A great user experience only matters if your transactions settle,” she notes. “If your payments fail or your fiat rails break, you lose users and trust.”
This is why Walletto prioritises reliability and infrastructure resilience, investing heavily in the systems that power crypto-financial operations at scale.
“We know where the friction lies. Our job is to remove it—so crypto companies can focus on growth.”
As crypto and traditional finance continue to converge, infrastructure providers like Walletto are shaping the future of payments—not only for Web3 companies, but for the next generation of fintechs seeking speed, security, and compliance without compromise.
About Walletto
Walletto is a licensed financial institution headquartered in Lithuania, offering fiat infrastructure, payment acquiring, card issuing, and business account services to regulated crypto companies across Europe.
The company is a principal member of Visa and Mastercard and integrates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other global payment schemes.
Contact Info:
Name: Julija Pudenko
Email: Send Email
Organization: Walleto
Website: https://walletto.eu/
Release ID: 89176270
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