Zebec Acquires Gatenox to Prepare for EU Crypto Regulations

Zebec Network, a prominent Web3 payments and streaming protocol, has made a significant strategic move to stay ahead of Europe’s tightening crypto regulations. The company has acquired Gatenox, a digital identity and compliance platform, in an all-cash deal. This acquisition is aimed at integrating Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tools directly into Zebec’s payment stack.

The acquisition, announced on June 5, comes as the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) sets a 2026 deadline for comprehensive new identity and reporting standards across the industry. For Zebec, this move is about more than just meeting regulatory requirements. According to Neal Padhye, Zebec’s head of M&A, “Regulation is no longer optional and is now infrastructure. With Gatenox, we’re embedding compliance into the foundation of programmable finance, making Zebec faster, safer, and ready for institutional scale.”

By bringing compliance in-house, Zebec aims to reduce its reliance on third-party providers, cut costs, and control sensitive user data as it expands into the EU and UK. The founders of Gatenox, who previously built Eastern Europe’s largest mobile payment platform and the compliance startup, will join Zebec to architect its compliance core. Their team brings extensive experience from major banks, further strengthening Zebec’s regulatory capabilities.

MiCA, which takes full effect in 2026, will require crypto asset service providers to verify user and business identities, monitor transactions for suspicious activity, and report to EU authorities. The rules are stringent: non-compliance could mean losing access to the EU’s market. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is also tightening standards, making compliance essential for any protocol with global ambitions. Zebec’s move is part of a broader trend as more DeFi and Web3 firms are expected to acquire or partner with compliance specialists to avoid being shut out of Europe.

Industry analysts note that Zebec’s acquisition follows its earlier buyout of Science Card, a UK fintech platform, signaling a shift toward building a full-stack, compliance-ready financial infrastructure. With significant funding from Circle, Coinbase, Solana Ventures, and others, Zebec is betting that regulatory clarity will attract institutional capital and mainstream adoption. The acquisition is already making waves in the DeFi sector, with some industry experts predicting a compliance arms race before 2026. Others see it as a sign that serious protocols are preparing for mainstream adoption and regulatory compliance.