NautaDutilh's Fintech team assisted ZBD with obtaining its electronic money institution license (“EMI”) from the Dutch Central Bank. With this license, ZBD will be able to offer its e-money and payment services to gamers, game developers and other app users and developers across Europe. ZBD is thereby the first and (currently only) party that holds both a MiCAR and an EMI license in the Netherlands.
ZBD enables payments to be embedded into video games and other apps such as podcasting or music streaming applications. ZBD’s unique proposition, built leveraging the Bitcoin and Lightning Network protocols, enables developers to better monetise their games and apps by empowering users to receive micro-rewards for actions taken in the game or app. With its EMI license, ZBD will be able to expand its offering allowing customers to hold and spend fiat money in a wallet and via a virtual card.
“ZBD provides a unique integrated offering of BTC and fiat payments focused on games and apps – all through a licensed set-up in the Netherlands. We are happy to have been part of this journey with ZBD and are very happy to see another innovative company being added to the Dutch fintech landscape”
NautaDutilh assisted ZBD with preparing the license package and with the licensing process with the Dutch Central Bank, including the set-up and governance of the Dutch subsidiary that will be providing e-money and payment services across the EU.
