Share this article

Standard Chartered-Backed Zodia Markets Gains Registration in Ireland

Ireland is emerging as an attractive destination for crypto firms; Coinbase designated the country as its EU hub earlier this month.

Headshot of Zodia Markets CEO Usman Ahmad
Zodia Markets CEO Usman Ahmad (Zodia Markets)

Zodia Markets, a digital asset exchange backed by Standard Chartered, has received registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the Republic of Ireland from the country's central bank.

The registration will allow Zodia Markets to offer over-the-counter (OTC) trading and exchange services to institutional clients, according to an emailed announcement on Friday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the State of Crypto Newsletter today. See all newsletters

Having received similar permissions in the U.K. last year and in Abu Dhabi last month, the company now has a licensed entity in the European Union (EU). The forthcoming implementation of the EU's Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation (MiCA) will in theory make it easier for crypto firms licensed in one of the trading bloc's member states to acquire the necessary permissions to operate in the other 26.

Ireland has emerged as a popular destination for crypto firms to set up shop, possibly down to its favorable tax regime. Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) designated Ireland as its EU hub earlier this month.

Read More: Zodia Custody Looks to Drive Institutional Access to Polkadot Ecosystem



Jamie Crawley

Jamie has been part of CoinDesk's news team since February 2021, focusing on breaking news, Bitcoin tech and protocols and crypto VC. He holds BTC, ETH and DOGE.

Jamie Crawley