ZBD gains EU money license to enable debit cards and virtual bank accounts

Bitcoin-based payment outfit ZBD has completed its set of EU licenses, adding an Electronic Money Institution license from the Netherlands to its existing MiCAR (Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation) license gained in December 2024.

Combined with its new strategic partnership with ClearBank, which provides it with real-time clearing and embedded banking services using APIs and hosted on Microsoft Azure, this means as well as its existing Bitcoin features, ZBD can now add fiat options into its app.

Specifically, the EMI license enables ZBD to store and transfer fiat money, offer debit cards, and offer its users and businesses virtual IBAN-based bank accounts.

This means that players will be able to pay into a ZBD-enabled game in euros and earn rewards in Bitcoin from another, while seamlessly transferring funds across games and platforms, instantly and with minimal fees, and cash out in their preferred currency.

Basically, fiat and crypto will become functionally equivalent within the ZBD app, allowing users to choose what they want to use without requiring complex wallets or managing multiple balances.

“Securing the EMI license is a crucial step in our mission to be the next-gen payment service provider 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,” said ZBD’s COO Marca Wosoba.