The rapid pace of Malta’s licensing process is drawing scrutiny. Critics argue that the island’s approach may prioritize speed over substance, potentially compromising the robustness of its regulatory supervision. Przemysław Kral, CEO of Zondacrypto, was blunt in his assessment: “Receiving a MiCA license should not be like ordering food at McDonald’s.” His firm opted for Estonia, valuing its more rigorous, albeit slower, regulatory process. This sentiment echoes the cautious approach seen in other EU countries, as detailed in our coverage of across the EU., Malta, a scenic Mediterranean island with a population of just over half a million, is quickly becoming the preferred European base for high-profile crypto companies like OKX and Crypto.com to come and set up shop. Weeks after Europe’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regime came into force last December, Malta awarded licenses to some of the largest crypto exchanges: OKX and Crypto.com , OKX, for instance, was slapped with a $1.2 million fine in April for breaches of Malta’s money laundering rules, shortly after securing its MiCA pre-authorization—a move that has raised questions about the timing and thoroughness of Malta’s regulatory vetting. France’s Regulatory Response.