Malta Digital Exchange Relocates Operations to Malta Stock Exchange Premises

Malta Digital Exchange (MDX) is moving in with the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) in contemplation of the launch of its digital exchange division, the Times of Malta reported on March 5.

MDX is reportedly in the process of obtaining a securities license to promote a multilateral trading platform that will introduce a secondary market for digital assets trading. MDX founder and executive chairman Rick Klink said that the “move to the Maltese Stock Exchange means that we are now physically positioned to be at the heart of the next wave of institutional financial innovation.”

The move comes the wake of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) statement that the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has critical gaps in its supervision for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) earlier this month.

In its Financial System Stability Assessment Report, the IMF recommended to employ more resources to supervise blockchain and cryptocurrency service providers. It also pointed out the need for enhanced screening processes for beneficiary owner information and monitoring of risk-sensitive accounts, including new technologies like digital assets and e-gaming, and IIP-related funds.

Also this month, a number of legal firms and financial companies allegedly told the Times of Malta that banks were declining their applications to open accounts. The sources reportedly said that banks did not differentiate between digital currency and blockchain, though they were not always connected.

In February, the MFSA issued a consultation on cybersecurity associated with new technologies. The guidance targets professional funds that invest in virtual currencies, issuers, as well as agents and service providers for Virtual Financial Assets Act (VFAA), with latter ones acting as an intermediaries between clients and the authority.