Crypto & FinTech Licensing and Regulatory Authorization

Comprehensive regulatory authorization and licensing services for cryptocurrency and FinTech businesses. gunnercooke's market-leading regulatory team guides businesses through FCA authorization, EMI licensing, MiFID compliance, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory registrations.

UK Crypto Licensing

FCA Authorization & Sandbox:

• FCA regulatory sandbox application support and navigation
• FCA cryptoasset firm registration under MLD5 (Money Laundering Directive)
• Crypto-exchange authorization and regulatory compliance
• Crypto-custody platform FCA registration
• Crypto-brokerage regulatory authorization
• Innovation hub engagement strategies
• Assisted five firms in navigating through FCA regulatory sandbox
• Advised one of first companies to become FCA authorized in the sandbox

AML/CTF Registration:

• Money Laundering Regulations (MLR) 2017 registration for cryptoasset businesses
• MLD5 (Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive) compliance and registration
• FATF Travel Rule implementation for VASPs
• AML/CTF compliance frameworks for crypto businesses

Payment Services & E-Money Licensing

Electronic Money Institutions:

• Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license applications
• Small EMI (SEMI) registration
• E-money issuance compliance frameworks
• EMI operational requirements and ongoing compliance
• Notable: Advised Ziglu, the only UK firm with both EMI licence and MLD5 registration

Payment Institution Authorization:

• Payment Institution (PI) authorization applications
• Payment Services Directive (PSD2) compliance
• Open banking regulatory frameworks
• Payment processing licensing
• Cross-border payment service authorization
• Safeguarding and regulatory capital requirements

Investment Services Licensing

MiFID Authorization:

• MiFID authorization for crypto fund managers and investment platforms
• Investment management regulatory compliance
• Brokerage and investment advice platform licensing
• Algorithmic trading and robo-advisor regulatory frameworks
• Extensive MiFID advisory experience from small first-time managers to largest institutions

Fund Manager Licensing:

• Fund manager licensing and FCA authorization
• AIFMD (Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive) compliance
• Crypto hedge fund manager authorization
• Crypto venture capital fund regulatory setup
• Notable: Advised Neor Technologies on regulatory setup of USD $50-100m crypto fund

International & Multi-Jurisdictional Licensing

EU & International:

• EU MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulatory framework compliance
• Cross-border regulatory structuring for crypto businesses
• Multi-jurisdictional VASP registration strategies
• International correspondent banking and payment relationships
• Legal opinions to banks regarding crypto business model acceptability

Regulatory Correspondence & Filings

Ongoing Regulatory Management:

• Regulatory correspondence and regulator relationship management
• License variation applications
• Change in control notifications
• Regulatory reporting and filings
• Regulatory visit preparation and support
• Annual regulatory compliance attestations

Notable Experience & Industry Leadership

• Team members provided evidence to UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blockchain
• Advised regulator on setting up a regulatory sandbox
• Five firms successfully navigated through FCA sandbox with gunnercooke support
• Advised on revolutionary trading platform authorization
• Cross-industry experience from crypto startups to major financial institutions

Target Clients

Crypto-exchanges, crypto-custody platforms, crypto-brokers, DeFi platforms seeking regulatory clarity, payment processors, e-money issuers, digital banks, crypto fund managers, investment platforms, blockchain infrastructure companies, and traditional financial institutions launching crypto services.

Differentiators

gunnercooke's regulatory team has been at the forefront of UK crypto and FinTech regulation since its inception. They have unparalleled experience with the FCA sandbox, having supported five firms through the process, and advised regulators on sandbox design. The team combines deep regulatory knowledge with practical commercial understanding, providing pragmatic advice that enables innovation while ensuring compliance. They helped shape the regulatory framework rather than just interpreting it, giving them unique insight into regulator expectations. The firm prefers fixed fee arrangements to provide cost certainty for license applications.