Malta: Finance and Banking

The Malta Financial Services Authority has published a second consultation paper introducing a comprehensive draft rulebook for aircraft financial leasing companies operating under a notification-based regime. This framework establishes detailed requirements covering eligibility thresholds, governance structures, due diligence protocols, and ongoing compliance obligations that will shape Malta's position in the international aviation finance market.

The commercial agent exclusion in EU payments regulation has evolved from a narrow carve-out for genuine sales intermediaries into a structure that regulators increasingly view as a means of circumventing licensing requirements. This regulatory tension, which predates PSD3, is now being directly addressed through the forthcoming Payment Services Regulation (PSR). How will these reforms reshape the landscape for payment service providers and commercial agents operating within the European Union?

FinXP and Buckzy Payments have formed a strategic partnership to enhance cross-border payment capabilities for internationally-active businesses. The collaboration combines FinXP's regulated European infrastructure with Buckzy's real-time international payment network and stablecoin technology. This integration aims to streamline European account management, SEPA payments, and global payment operations while reducing operational complexity for clients of both platforms.