Noah wins EU licences for stablecoin & fiat payments

Noah has received approvals that allow it to make stablecoin transfers across the EU and offer fiat payment services under a single framework across the bloc.

It has obtained both a Markets in Crypto-Assets Crypto-Asset Service Provider licence and a PSD2 Payment Institution licence, bringing its total number of licences, registrations and approvals across the EU, US and Canada to more than 40.

The approvals allow Noah to hold, exchange and transfer stablecoins on behalf of customers across all 27 EU member states. It can also execute fiat payments by credit transfer, combining digital asset and conventional payment services within the same regulated structure.

This expands the company's North American footprint, where it already holds Money Transmitter Licences across the US and a Payment Service Provider registration in Canada. Its network now reaches more than 150 markets and supports more than 60 currencies.

European coverage

The two licences were secured in quick succession, with the Payment Institution licence obtained in about one month and the Crypto-Asset Service Provider licence in about two months.

For businesses using its platform, the new approvals remove the need to assemble separate local banking arrangements or maintain their own licences in each market. Customers can complete know-your-customer and know-your-business checks once, while relying on Noah's regulated status across multiple jurisdictions.

The expansion comes as regulators increasingly scrutinise stablecoin providers, seeking to bring more structure to digital asset payments. The EU's MiCA regime has become one of the sector's most closely watched frameworks because it provides a region-wide rulebook for crypto-asset services.

By combining a MiCA licence with a PSD2 payment approval, Noah is positioning itself to handle both stablecoin-based transfers and traditional fiat payment flows for clients operating in Europe. It is also positioned to seek direct access to the Single Euro Payments Area network.

Funding and growth

The regulatory milestone follows Noah's recent US$16 million seed extension, which brought total seed funding to US$38 million. Part of that capital will be used to expand its regulatory footprint.

Noah also reported commercial growth during the year, saying it had signed more than 150 new customers across remittances, fintech, marketplaces and payroll. Year-to-date revenue was up 538% from the same period a year earlier.

The company's model is aimed at businesses that want to connect stablecoin settlement with local payment rails for cross-border transfers. That approach reflects broader industry efforts to use stablecoins as a bridge between digital assets and domestic payment systems, particularly for international transactions where speed and settlement costs remain a concern.

Supporters argue that regulated stablecoin infrastructure could reduce reliance on correspondent banking networks. Critics, however, have pointed to the need for stronger oversight, clearer safeguarding rules and more certainty over how crypto-linked payment providers interact with the mainstream financial system.

Against that backdrop, regulatory approvals in large markets have become a key competitive factor for companies building payment networks around stablecoins. Firms seeking to serve corporate clients increasingly need licences that cover both crypto activities and fiat payments, especially in regions where compliance obligations are tightening.

"We made a bold call early: get licensed in the toughest, largest markets first. Europe, the US and Canada are now in place, and more tier-1 markets are on the way. Every licence we add today is a market our customers can launch tomorrow," said Shah Ramezani, Chief Executive Officer at Noah.