Zebec Acquires Gatenox To Take Compliance Into Own Hands For Mica And Fca Regulations

Financial infrastructure developer Zebec Network has acquired compliance and identity platform Gatenox. With this move, Zebec aims to strengthen its own regulatory infrastructure and expand into highly regulated markets.

According to a statement shared with Cointelegraph, the acquisition brings native Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tools directly to Zebec’s Web3 payments platform.

Neal Padhye, Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Zebec, emphasizes that regulation is no longer a choice, but a required basic infrastructure:

“With Gatenox, we are building compliance directly into the core of programmable finance, making Zebec faster, more secure, and scalable for institutional use.”

While exact terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, a spokesperson confirmed it was an all-cash transaction.

Focus on European and British regulations

With Gatenox's technology, Zebec aims to register with the European regulator under the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) and with the British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2025.

Although Gatenox is not yet registered with any official financial authorities, the team has extensive experience within regulated institutions such as UBS, AIG and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The founders of Gatenox previously co-founded BLIK (Eastern Europe’s largest mobile payment service) and blockchain analytics company Coinfirm. These founders are now joining Zebec to advise on compliance.

Zebec replaces external parties with its own technology

An important consequence of the acquisition is that Zebec moves away from external compliance providers. Gatenox's own technology makes this possible.

“Gatenox products are direct competitors of Sumsub. After this acquisition, Zebec will stop using Sumsub,” the spokesperson said.

Zebec continues to grow with strategic acquisitions

The acquisition of Gatenox comes shortly after that of Science Card, a platform that offers financial tools to students and researchers. Zebec continues to profile itself as a player that wants to blur the boundaries between fintech and Web3, with smart solutions for payments, budgeting and grant management.

Since its inception in 2021, Zebec has raised $35 million from investors including CircleCoinbase Solana Ventures, Breyer Capital, Republic and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the acquisition of Gatenox mean for Zebec?
Zebec will gain direct control over compliance processes such as KYC, KYB and AML, enabling it to better prepare for institutional growth and international regulations.

What are Zebec's ambitions in terms of regulation?
Zebec aims to be MiCA compliant in the EU by 2025 and to be registered with the FCA in the UK. Gatenox’s technology and expertise should accelerate this.

Why is phasing out third parties important?
By moving away from third-party providers like Sumsub and relying on Gatenox, Zebec gains more control over its infrastructure and reduces dependencies and costs.