Crowdfunding in Malta: A Strategic Gateway to the European Market

Malta is often associated with blockchain businesses and investment services, but its crowdfunding sector is a relatively recent development.

Unlike countries such as the United Kingdom¹, France², and Italy³, which introduced dedicated crowdfunding frameworks years earlier, Malta did not have a specific crowdfunding regime before the implementation of the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSP Regulation)⁴. 

The EU adopted the regulation in October 2020, and it became directly applicable across member states on 10 November 2021. Only then did Malta introduce its own Crowdfunding Rules in January 2022⁵. 

TheMalta Financial Services Authority (MFSA⁶) became the competent authority responsible for supervising crowdfunding service providers. 

For the first time, crowdfunding platforms could get authorization under a clear regulatory regime. Moreover, they got passporting rights to offer services throughout the European Union. A platform licensed in Malta can potentially access a market of more than 450 million consumers throughout the EU and EEA. 

However, it doesn’t mean that Malta is an easy or cheap jurisdiction for launching a crowdfunding platform. Regulatory requirements, compliance obligations, and competition from larger European markets all influence the crowdfunding market in the country. 

In this article, we will have a closer look at the Maltese crowdfunding landscape, its regulatory framework, market opportunities, and the steps required to launch a platform.

Malta’s crowdfunding market at a glance

Malta’s domestic market is relatively small. The country has a population of approximately 550,000 people⁷, making it significantly smaller than major European crowdfunding markets such as Germany, France, Spain, or Italy.

However, its appeal comes from its role as an EU financial services hub. Over the past decade, Malta has actively positioned itself as a center for financial innovation. 

The MFSA launched its FinTech Strategy in 2019⁸ to encourage innovation in financial services and improve the country’s competitiveness as a fintech jurisdiction. 

Malta also gained international attention for its early adoption of distributed ledger technology regulations and its support for blockchain businesses. Recent initiatives demonstrate that regulators continue to explore new financial models. 

For example, in May 2026, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) launched a public consultation on the tokenization of financial instruments and real-world assets (RWAs)⁹.

Malta’s growing importance within the European crowdfunding ecosystem is also reflected in industry events hosted in the country. In 2025, CrowdCon, one of Europe’s leading crowdfunding conferences organized by EUROCROWD, became part of the EU-Startups Summit in Valletta. The event brought together crowdfunding platforms, startup founders, investors, venture capital firms, and policymakers from across Europe. 

This innovation-friendly approach is why crowdfunding operators and investors may be interested in the Maltese market. 

Regulatory framework

Crowdfunding activities in Malta are governed primarily by:

• Regulation (EU) 2020/1503 on European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP)⁴.
• Malta Financial Services Authority Crowdfunding Rules¹⁰.
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing regulations¹¹.
• Applicable data protection and cybersecurity requirements.

The Malta Financial Services Authority is responsible for authorizing and supervising crowdfunding service providers.

The ECSP Regulation applies to both:

• Lending-based crowdfunding.
• Investment-based crowdfunding involving transferable securities and approved crowdfunding instruments.

One of the most important benefits of the framework is passporting. Once authorized in Malta, a crowdfunding service provider can offer services throughout the European Union without obtaining separate licenses in each member state.

Crowdfunding platform licensing requirements in Malta

To obtain a license, an applicant shall complete the following steps. 

• Register a company through the Malta Business Registry (MBR) and establish the corporate structure required for regulated activities.
  
• Determine whether the platform will facilitate lending crowdfunding, equity crowdfunding, debt crowdfunding, or hybrid fundraising models.
  
• Maintain prudential safeguards equal to at least €25,000 or one quarter of the fixed overheads of the preceding year, whichever amount is higher. These safeguards can be maintained through own funds, insurance policies, or a combination of both.
  
• Must demonstrate effective management arrangements, internal controls, risk management procedures, compliance monitoring functions, cybersecurity measures, and conflict-of-interest management procedures.

Also, applicants prepare detailed documentation, including business plans, financial projections, governance structures, internal procedures, due diligence processes, investor protection policies, IT security controls, and AML/CFT frameworks, and submit a filled-in application form.¹²

Then, operators pay an application fee of €4,500 and an annual supervisory fee of min. €3,500¹³. Malta offers one of the most transparent and predictable fee structures among EU crowdfunding jurisdictions. It is one of the few countries that publicly publishes a specific ECSP application and annual supervisory fees. 

For example, in Germany and France, costs are often calculated based on regulator time spent, legal structure, or supervisory category. Additional legal, consulting, audit, and compliance costs may significantly exceed regulatory fees during the licensing process.

Applications are submitted directly to the Malta Financial Services Authority with the supporting documents and fees. 

If the company plans to provide services in other EU jurisdictions and use the passporting regime, it shall notify the MFSA of this intention. 

Malta crowdfunding platforms

The country’s regulatory framework is fully established and open to new operators. 

In fact, the MFSA crowdfunding platform register is listing 29 unique platforms under “Crowdfunding” → “Freedom of Services – Cross-border provision of crowdfunding services” 

As of 2026, only two local crowdfunding platforms¹⁴ are listed in the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) Financial Services Register as authorized European Crowdfunding Service Providers: Ektico and TokePortal. 

TokePortal

TokePortal¹⁵ is a Malta-based equity crowdfunding platform operating under the supervision of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). Originally founded in Hungary, the platform relocated to Malta to operate under the European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) framework and serve investors and businesses across the European Union. 

TokePortal focuses on equity investments in startups and SMEs, including companies in sectors such as technology, real estate, agriculture, and innovation. The platform is open to both retail and institutional investors, with a typical minimum investment starting at €250, although the exact amount may vary by campaign. 

Ektico

Ektico¹⁶ is a Malta-based crowdfunding and alternative investment platform that connects investors with business loans, SME financing opportunities, and real-estate-backed investments. Operating under the European crowdfunding framework, the platform focuses on private credit and income-generating investment opportunities rather than startup equity fundraising. Ektico serves both retail and sophisticated investors, with investment opportunities available from €500. 

The future of crowdfunding in Malta

Malta is unlikely to become Europe’s largest crowdfunding market. However, for platform operators seeking a European base, Malta offers access to the wider EU market, a mature financial services ecosystem, and a regulator that has demonstrated openness to innovation. 

How to launch a crowdfunding platform in Malta with LenderKit

To launch a crowdfunding platform in Malta, an operator shall build a secure technology infrastructure, onboard investors and project owners, implement KYC and AML procedures, manage fundraising campaigns, maintain compliance records, and ensure a smooth user experience.

Building all of these components from scratch can be expensive and time-consuming. LenderKit offers a white-label crowdfunding software solution designed specifically for investment, lending, debt, and hybrid crowdfunding platforms. 

The software provides all the needed functionality to launch and operate a regulated platform, allowing founders to focus on licensing, compliance, and business development rather than crowdfunding software development.

Operators can also customize the platform’s design, branding, workflows, and investment processes to match their business requirements.

To find out how the white-label solution works or discuss details, please get in touch with us.