ZBD, the innovative fintech company creating next-gen payment experiences for interactive entertainment, has secured an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license in the Netherlands and announced a strategic partnership with ClearBank, the enabler of real-time clearing and embedded banking.

This latest regulatory milestone follows ZBD's achievement in December 2024, when it became one of the first companies in the EU to be approved under MiCAR. With both MiCAR and EMI licenses, ZBD is now among a very select group of companies authorized to offer a comprehensive range of fiat and crypto services across the entire European Economic Area (EEA).

Marca Wosoba, COO of ZBD, commented:

"Securing the EMI license is a crucial step in our mission to be the next-gen PSP for interactive entertainment. By combining our innovative Bitcoin-based solutions with traditional fiat services, we're creating a truly comprehensive and innovative financial ecosystem for our users across the EEA."

To activate its expanded capabilities under the EMI and MiCAR, ZBD has partnered with ClearBank as its EU and EEA banking partner. ClearBank will provide operational accounts for business expenses and safeguarding accounts for client funds, enabling ZBD EU users to fund EUR balances alongside Bitcoin in the ZBD ecosystem to complement existing Bitcoin capabilities.

The EMI license enables ZBD to store and transfer fiat e-money, offer debit cards, and soon, offer virtual IBANs for businesses and consumers – all of which form the foundation for a new wave of fintech products for the games industry. For example, players will be able to pay into one game in euros, earn rewards in Bitcoin in another, and seamlessly transfer funds across games and platforms, instantly and with minimal fees.