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Malta: The Jurisdiction Of Choice For Blockchain Businesses?
The below interview has been conducted by Jo Caruana (MaltaChamber.org.mt) – View original source here.
Dr Joseph F. Borg, an advocate and partner at WH Partners, talks through the history of Blockchain and highlights its potential path for the future.
There is an absolute buzz about cryptocurrencies at the moment, as well as whether to invest in them, or to put them down to a scam. Either way, the business world is fascinated.
One expert on the subject is Dr Joseph F. Borg, an advocate and partner at WH Partners, who heads the Blockchain Advisory and the Gaming and Gambling Advisory sections of the firm. On top of that, he is the Vice-President and Co-Founder of BitMalta, which is a non-profit organisation that promotes and stimulates discussion about Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Malta.
“Let’s begin by explaining what a cryptocurrency actually is,” Dr Borg says. “Essentially, it is a type of convertible virtual currency secured by cryptography that is built on top of the Blockchain – a type of distributed ledger technology which does away with the need for a third-party clearinghouse and central issuer. As a result of their underlying decentralised technology, cryptocurrencies have introduced much-needed competition in the digital payments industry and have the potential to contribute positively to citizens’ welfare and economic development, including in the financial sector. Some of the most popular touted benefits of cryptocurrencies are their ability to lower transaction and operational costs, to promote financial inclusion, to enhance the resilience and speed of payment systems, and to increase users’ security and privacy, among others.”
Nevertheless, the idea presented by cryptocurrencies – the first of which was Bitcoin – was not in fact new. A number of similar virtual currency systems including e-Cash, Bit Gold and RPOW, were introduced in the 1990s.
“The true innovation of cryptocurrencies following the ‘Bitcoin model’ is their innovative approach to addressing the ‘double spending problem’,” Dr Borg continues. “This refers to the inherent difficulty of sending money or anything valuable over the internet since a digital asset essentially comprises a digital file that can be duplicated or falsified.”
Pre-Bitcoin, existing virtual currency systems required the use of an intermediary or clearinghouse to manage and verify the transaction (and ensure that the same money was not spent twice). The Blockchain, which underlies cryptocurrencies, does away with the need for such an intermediary by keeping a record of every transaction on a time-stamped database that is dispersed among the different users of the network. “Blockchain’s solution to the ‘double spending problem’ has been described as its ‘revolutionary promise’ and the hype factor surrounding the technology has now led multiple companies to unveil a multitude of Blockchain initiatives,” the advocate continues.
“The hype is really about Blockchain and not cryptocurrencies per se. Cryptocurrencies are really the very first application of Blockchain technology, and which have the potential to disrupt the payments industry, once they have achieved the level of mainstream use.”
On the other hand, Blockchain has more widespread potential applications, in myriad industries, including but not limited to the spheres of finance, healthcare, energy and entertainment. “The buzz surrounding Blockchain technologies continues to grow, and this is most evidently illustrated by the rapid increase in the creation of not only new cryptocurrencies (the so-called ‘altcoins’), but also by the creation of self-executing digital contracts (smart contracts), intelligent assets which may be controlled over the Internet (smart property), and decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) which can operate over a network of computers without human intervention, among many other applications,” Dr Borg says.
Locally, Government approved its National Blockchain Strategy in April 2017 and, just a few months later, launched a Blockchain Taskforce with a view to establish the Maltese legal system as the leading international hub for digital technology innovation.
“Currently, the only concrete step undertaken by Government towards achieving a comprehensive regulatory framework for operators wishing to provide services incorporating Blockchain technology is the Supplementary Rules for Collective Investment Schemes Investing in Virtual Currencies, issued by the local financial regulator, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA),” Dr Borg says.
Following on from this, a consultation document was published on 16th February 2018 proposing three legislative instruments: the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) Bill, the Technology Arrangements (TAs) Bill and the Virtual Currency (VC) Bill. The MDIA Act is envisaged to provide for the establishment of a national regulatory body that will oversee the voluntary certification of TAs such as smart contracts and cryptocurrency platforms, and the registration of Technology Service Providers (TSPs) including the auditors and administrators of TAs. The MDIA will be responsible, inter alia, for the protection of users and consumers which interface or use DLT, the harmonisation of practices and the adoption of standards in the Maltese sector, and the promotion of legal certainty in the application of laws to DLT businesses, in both a national and a cross-border context.
“Mindful that the disruptive nature of Blockchain technology renders it apt to have spill-over effects in an array of sectors, the MDIA Act is proposed to prescribe a Joint Coordination Board with the responsibility of fostering effective cooperation between National Competent Authorities like the MFSA and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA),” Dr Borg continues. “The consultation document also proposes a VC Act which will largely follow the principles laid down in the MFSA’s discussion paper on ICOs, virtual currencies and related service providers. It is projected that the VC Act will provide for a Financial Instruments Test which will determine whether a particular cryptocurrency, within the context of an ICO or on a stand-alone basis, constitutes a ‘financial instrument’ which must comply with applicable local and EU investment services legislation.
“With this in mind, Government evidently looks favourably upon Blockchain-based businesses and is actively seeking to create a workable regulatory framework to further promote this nascent industry and to become a pioneer in regulating DLT and Blockchain technology. While other jurisdictions have chosen to regulate Blockchain-related operations in a piecemeal fashion, focusing only on the areas that the respective governments/states consider to be of importance (such as issues of taxation or money laundering), the Maltese Government is considering a holistic, all-encompassing regulatory approach to creating the most attractive environment for Blockchain start-ups to choose Malta as their base. Evidently, the recent announcement by cryptocurrency exchange Binance (the largest cryptocurrency in the world in terms of volume) is proof that Malta is indeed becoming a melting pot for Blockchain businesses, start-ups and industry giants alike.”
Finally, Dr Borg assesses the main challenges that lie ahead of making Malta the jurisdiction of choice for companies engaged in Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.
“While the debate surrounding the possibility for centralised rules to regulate decentralised technologies remains unsettled, there seems to be consensus by the stakeholders and market players of the Blockchain and cryptocurrency industry that some form of regulation (especially in the form of guidance) is important,” he says.
“The greatest challenge to make Malta the jurisdiction of choice for Blockchain-based businesses therefore rests in any proposed regulatory framework not falling prey to over-regulation. The test for local policymakers and regulators will be the development of a regulatory system which addresses the primary policy concerns of Blockchain technologies (such as money laundering and illicit activities), without smothering the benefits which the new technology and its various applications are poised to provide to legitimate users, including companies.”
Source: MaltaChamber.org.mt
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Global Dollar Network Launches USDG Stablecoin Which Could Revolutionise iGaming Transactions
In a significant advancement for the iGaming industry, the recent launch of the Global Dollar Network introduces USDG (Global Dollar), a stablecoin set to transform online gaming transactions. Already fronted by bigshot financial technology and cryptocurrency firms—including Robinhood, Kraken, and Galaxy Digital—this new option will provide a stable digital asset backed by traditional currencies.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that have been designed to maintain a fixed value by pegging them to more conventional currencies, such as the US dollar. In that respect, they respond better to issues of high volatility usually associated with cryptocurrencies—appealing to those industries requiring consistency of transaction value, an attribute that is invaluable in iGaming for online crypto casino platforms.
These casinos have become some of the most widely used platforms now where cryptocurrencies are accepted as a payment method. They offer great perks like generous bonuses, faster withdrawals, and a more private and seamless experience for players. However, crypto volatility can make it tricky as winnings can soar or drop based on how a particular crypto token is performing. Stablecoins make a great alternative to mitigate this issue.
The Global Dollar Network’s USDG has been issued from Singapore by the crypto platform Paxos, aligning with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s regulatory framework. The governance of USDG will be handled by a board that includes representatives from its network partners, such as Anchorage. USDG will face the uphill challenge of seeking entry into a market dominated by Tether and other prominent stablecoins, which hold nearly 90% combined of the total market capitalization, according to a CoinGecko report.
With USDG integrated into an iGaming platform, several tangible benefits are predicted to arise. First of all, it improves a lot in terms of transaction speed and efficiency. Traditional methods of banking delay the depositing and withdrawing of money, thus frustrating players who wish to participate in gaming activities. Stablecoins provide virtually instant transactions, allowing players to deposit their money and begin playing instead of waiting around for hours.
Furthermore, your winnings won’t fluctuate as much since they are relatively stable thanks to the coin being tied to the US dollar. Stablecoin transactions typically cut out most of the middlemen, hence reducing fees on deposits and withdrawals, making it cost-effective both for players and operators. This will enable players to have more funds for gaming while operators will be offering better services without necessarily affecting profitability.
However, acceptance of this class of cryptocurrency may vary among gaming platforms; whereas some online gaming platforms might fully accept them as a mode of payment, others might merely be considering it or be partially done with the integration process. Gamers wishing to try stablecoin should validate the different accepted payment means on their preferred platform.
Paxos CEO Charles Cascarilla asserted that they are willing to offer incentives to ensure a speedy adoption of the new stablecoin across all industries. Per Reuters, he iterated that The Global Dollar Network is committed to redistributing nearly all rewards to its participants. Its purpose is to encourage the widespread use of global stablecoins and to speed up the adoption of the technology behind it.
The involvement of reputable financial institutions further solidifies the credibility of USDG. For the purpose of the project, DBS Bank has been chosen as the main banking partner, taking care of cash management and custody services for the reserves behind USDG. The partnership with a major South East Asia bank ensures that the stablecoin will be backed by secure and reliable financial assets, further building trust among its users and stakeholders.
Paxos co-founded USDG’s governing body with some of the biggest crypto giants: Anchorage Digital, Bullish, and Nuvei. As such, the new stablecoin has quite a big advantage over many competitors regarding regulatory compliance.
As such, the integration of stablecoins like USDG into the continuously developing iGaming industry is one of the main avenues through which payment systems are getting modernized and user experiences improved.
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SuperScale, the game business analytics company, announces it has secured an investment round of $1.2 million to support the launch and rapid expansion of SuperPlatform, the ultimate game business analytics platform.
SuperPlatform solves a critical industry challenge: aligning changes in game business strategy from top to bottom with consistent and trustable data that is always up-to-date. The platform provides executives with a single source of reliable, standardized business insights from across the organization in order to execute data-backed strategies with coherence and confidence. After a soft launch in August 2024, 60 studios are already using SuperPlatform to understand their entire business in one integrated platform.
The fresh funding round was led by existing investors including Across Private Investments, LevelUp Ventures, Zero One Hundred, and Venture to Future Fund, along with new investor Strecko Investments. Following the successful soft launch and strong market adoption of SuperPlatform, SuperScale has already become cashflow positive and is extending the current funding round by a further $2.15 million by the end of 2024, positioning the company for sustained success.
The no-SDK SuperPlatform integration ensures consistency of business data from over 40 sources across marketing, product, and finance, providing an all-in-one, AI-powered view of games business performance. It brings games studios and publishers all the flexibility and data ownership of an internal solution at a fraction of the cost of today’s fragmented tools. SuperPlatform includes advanced features such as predictive modeling, automated data health monitoring, and hundreds of standardized use cases—all tailored to the unique needs of individual decision makers inside game organizations of all sizes.
A standout feature of SuperPlatform is its ‘Command Center’ which enables gaming executives and investors to model shifts in strategy, and execute them across their organizations. Whether a CEO of an indie studio focused on maximizing short-term cash flow or a Portfolio GM aiming to boost first-year profits in a larger gaming organization, SuperPlatform provides decision-makers with the accurate success criteria needed to align their teams with the organization’s goals.
Ivan Trančík, Founder and CEO of SuperScale, commented:
“Apple’s privacy changes and the post-pandemic slump rocked the games industry. CEOs, CFOs and investors have been kept up at night, scrambling to implement radically different business strategies across their organizations. By consolidating essential tools and analytics into one platform, we give studios of all sizes the peace of mind to trust their business data again, while reducing the need for multiple platform tools or costly internal solutions.”
He added:
“SuperPlatform is our flagship SaaS offering and is the culmination of eight years of internal development, encompassing all the tools and models developed by SuperScale. It has already delivered record profits to our partners as part of our existing complementary solutions and, by offering it as a unified platform, we can empower a much broader range of studios to achieve unprecedented results.”
Michal Csonga, partner at Zero One Hundred, said:
“SuperScale has executed a stellar corporate and product transformation during the most turbulent period in the history of the gaming industry. They have consolidated years of expertise into one software platform. SuperPlatform saves game studios and developers significant time and costs and increases profits drastically. We are thrilled to support this success story that is reshaping this global industry.”
Founded in 2015, SuperScale has long been known for offering a suite of solutions to game developers and publishers, powered by the proprietary analytics technology that now underpins SuperPlatform. By making it available to all on a subscription basis, SuperScale completes its transition from a service-based to a SaaS (software-as-a-service) model. To find out how SuperPlatform can unlock your game’s true potential, simply copy the link of your game in the Google Play or App Store into the platform’s Revenue Uplift calculator.
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