Academy
CASP License in Lithuania: Requirements, Timeline and Cost
by Nik Perkov
Lithuania has granted four full CASP authorisations as of 12 Nov 2026. MiCA gives the Bank 25 + 40 working days to decide; minimum capital is EUR 50,000 to 150,000.
Academy
Payment API Security: IP Allowlists, API Keys and Webhooks
by Nik Perkov
Keep the key on your server, limit it to your IP addresses, and re-read each invoice before acting on a webhook. A leaked key then fails outside your network.
Academy
Crypto Payment Reconciliation: Match Stablecoin Invoices to Orders
by Nik Perkov
A stablecoin transfer carries no order number, so put the reference on the invoice. Fields, exceptions, webhooks and the five-year record rule explained.
Academy
How to Accept Stablecoin Payments and Receive Euros
by Nik Perkov
Invoice in EUR, the payer sends USDC to a per-invoice address, and a licensed partner pays euros to your IBAN. Covers expiry, short payments and API fields.
Academy
EMI License in the EU: Cost, Timeline and Requirements
by Nik Perkov
An EMI license needs at least €350,000 of capital. The law allows three months to decide, but the median wait is 9.5 months (EBA, December 2025).
Academy
Binance Hack, October 2026: Proof of Reserves, Self-Custody and What Banks Should Change
by Nik Perkov
Attackers took about $6.3bn from Binance hot wallets on 29 October 2026; about $2.7bn to $3bn is frozen. Banks should check who holds keys and who can stop a transfer.
Academy
Crypto Custody for Banks Under MiCA: The Article 60 Route
by Nik Perkov
Banks need no CASP licence for crypto custody: MiCA Article 60 asks for a notification at least 40 working days before launch. Capital, build-or-rent and live banks inside.
Academy
Best Crypto Payment Gateways in 2026 for EU Businesses
by Nik Perkov
The best crypto payment gateway for an EU business converts crypto and pays euros by SEPA. Three of eight compared hold MiCA authorisation; fees run 0% to 2% + 25c.
Academy
Forex Payment Gateway: How Broker Deposits and Withdrawals Work
by Nik Perkov
A forex payment gateway is a pass-through, not a home for client money: deposits must reach a segregated client account at a bank or qualifying money market fund.
Academy
iGaming Payment Solutions: What Operators Need in 2026
by Nik Perkov
An iGaming payment solution must check each deposit against licence-market rules, pay winnings without new hurdles and keep card disputes below Visa's limits.
Legal & Compliance
Fintech Compliance in the EU and UK: What You Must Run Yourself
by Nik Perkov7 min read
Fintech compliance in the EU and UK rests on four duties you cannot hand off: licence, AML, DORA and client money. Capital starts at EUR 20,000.
Academy
Cross-Border B2B Payments: Cost, Speed and Options
by Nik Perkov
FSB data show B2B cross-border payments cost 1.6% on average. Swift vs a stablecoin route from the EU: a EUR 20,000 cost estimate, 11 corridors, and where local rules block it.
