Fast Shift wins Malta EMI licence to open EEA gatewayFast Shift Limited, an Electronic Money Institution and part of the Badalyan Brothers Group, has been granted EMI authorisation by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), opening a strategic route into the European Economic Area (EEA).
Fast Shift Limited, an electronic money institution within the Badalyan Brothers Group, has secured Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisation from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), enabling the company to expand its regulated payments services across 30 European Economic Area (EEA) markets.
The licence provides Fast Shift with a gateway into the EEA and marks the group’s latest step in building regulated financial infrastructure. The company said the approval reflects more than two decades of developing financial institutions and positions Fast Shift to support payment flows between Armenia and Europe.
The authorisation builds on the Badalyan Brothers Group’s broader financial services strategy. The business began with pawn shop operations before expanding into regulated lending through Fast Credit and later establishing Fast Bank in Armenia, where it met the governance and regulatory standards required to obtain a full banking licence. The Malta EMI licence extends that regulatory footprint into the European market.
Fast Shift said the expansion comes as economic ties between Armenia and the European Union continue to strengthen. During a visit to Yerevan in July 2026, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed tariff-free access for around 80% of Armenian exports. The company intends to position itself as a payments bridge supporting growing trade and investment between Armenia and the EU.
The company plans to launch services in September 2026, initially providing dedicated IBAN accounts for consumers and businesses, alongside SEPA, SEPA Instant and SWIFT payment services. Card issuing and merchant acquiring capabilities are scheduled to follow in 2027, while longer-term plans include compliant stablecoin issuance and cross-border remittance services operating under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
Fast Shift provides multi-currency IBAN accounts and cross-border payment services through a unified payments platform. The company said its focus is on delivering secure, compliant and accessible payment infrastructure while leveraging the Badalyan Brothers Group’s experience in regulated financial services.
Fast Shift Limited CEO Vardan Khachatryan said, “This authorisation marks a pivotal moment in our evolution, establishing Fast Shift as the vital bridge between Armenian innovation and the European financial ecosystem. By securing access to thirty EEA markets, we are now well positioned to provide Armenian businesses, our global diaspora and beyond, with the direct, compliant banking rails they need to operate at scale, effectively bridging the gap between emerging market potential and the world’s most established financial infrastructure.”
He added, “As the regulatory landscape for fintech becomes increasingly demanding, we view this rigorous authorisation process as a benchmark of our maturity. We are ready to operate and lead within the world’s most sophisticated financial ecosystem.”
Copyright © 2026 FinTech Global
The following investor(s) were tagged in this article.