ChainCatcher news, Bitget plans to establish a European regional center in Lithuania. Currently, Bitget has completed the registration of cryptocurrency business in Lithuania and will prepare for compliance work under the MiCA (EU Crypto Assets Market) framework, including setting up a local office and recruiting a compliance and operations team.Bitget's Chief Legal Officer Hon Ng stated, "Establishing a European regional center in Lithuania is a key initiative for us to deepen our market presence in the EU, while supporting the development of the crypto ecosystem in the region based on the highest security and compliance standards."Bitget places a high priority on compliant operations and has already obtained licenses in major markets such as Poland, Australia, and Italy. Recently, it has returned to the UK market to provide compliant crypto services to users. In addition, Bitget is initiating registration or licensing applications in over 15 jurisdictions worldwide.

ChainCatcher news, according to Arcticstartup, the Lithuanian blockchain startup Vixichain announced the completion of a $7 million financing round, with investor information not yet disclosed. The company primarily targets traditional financial markets, promoting institutional participation in public blockchains. The new funds will support its accelerated launch of the development network DevNet and the mainnet, as well as the establishment of strategic alliances with financial institutions.

ChainCatcher news, Lithuania imposes a record fine of 9.3 million euros (approximately 10.1 million dollars) on the crypto company Payeer for sanctions and money laundering violations.The Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service stated in a statement released on Tuesday that Payeer allowed Russian clients "to conduct ruble transactions by transferring funds from EU-sanctioned Russian banks." The statement noted that Russian individuals and legal entities were "given the opportunity to access cryptocurrency wallets, account management, or storage services."

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Lithuania has positioned itself as a hub for fintech startups over the past decade, and will eliminate many cryptocurrency companies operating there when it begins issuing licenses next year. Simonas Krepsta, a member of the board of the Bank of Lithuania, stated that although Lithuania has registered about 580 crypto asset companies, the number of companies expected to obtain full licenses will be "far below this." He mentioned in an interview on Tuesday that the process will conclude in June 2025, and companies that do not pass the application will "leave the ecosystem."Krepsta stated, "The cryptocurrency industry has failed in a regulatory lax environment. We have a lot of evidence of this in the U.S., other European countries, and Lithuania. We have seen quite a number of failures, corruption cases, etc., which is a huge blow to the industry." He also noted that seven of the world's top cryptocurrency exchanges are already operating in Lithuania. He said that some digital asset companies operating there have already obtained licenses in other EU countries, which means they may not need to obtain authorization in Lithuania. It is reported that the EU's first unified cryptocurrency legislation, the "Crypto Assets Market," will come into effect in January 2025.Additionally, Krepsta mentioned that the central bank has been investing to ensure its staff understands the business models of cryptocurrency companies, and the central bank will begin implementing a licensing pre-assessment procedure in July, six months before MiCA takes effect.

ChainCatcher news, OPNX has obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in Lithuania, allowing it to offer spot cryptocurrency trading services across the European Union.

ChainCatcher news, crypto KOL @DefiIgnas posted on X that Binance, through its subsidiary Bifinity, contributed more tax revenue to Lithuania than the four major Nordic banks. Binance is the second largest company in Lithuania and the fourth largest taxpayer, funding the country's road construction and welfare. According to Forbes, Binance chose Lithuania after failing to obtain cryptocurrency licenses in Malta and London, as it allows access to the EU and enables Binance to hold cash.However, Lithuania is now in a dilemma, as Binance faces multiple lawsuits, although no allegations have been confirmed. Bifinity is accused of facilitating Binance's "suspicious transactions" and was also used to purchase a private jet worth $55 million, with $62.5 million transferred to CZ's personal account.

ChainCatcher news, the digital asset management platform [Haru Invest](https://www.rootdata.com/zh/Projects/detail/Haru Invest?k=NDEwNg==) announced that its subsidiary Haru EU Limited UAB, registered in the European Union, has become its EU operational headquarters. As a VASP authorized enterprise, Haru Invest can now provide cryptocurrency exchange and wallet/custody services.It is reported that this VASP authorization officially allows the company to directly support the euro currency, enabling EU countries to purchase and trade between cryptocurrencies and euros. (Source link)