Zebec acquires Gatenox to bolster protocol-level compliance as stricter global regulations loom under MiCA and FCA frameworks.
Zebec Network, a financial infrastructure company, has acquired Gatenox, a compliance and identity platform, to consolidate its proprietary regulatory infrastructure and expand into more stringently regulated markets.
The company announced in an announcement shared with Cointelegraph that the agreement integrates native Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tools directly into its Web3 payment infrastructure.
The chief of mergers and acquisitions at Zebec, Neal Padhye, stated that regulation is no longer an option; it is now considered infrastructure.
Padhye stated, “We are integrating compliance into the core of programmable finance with Gatenox, enabling Zebec to operate at a faster, safer, and institutional scale.”
The acquisition’s terms were not disclosed; however, a spokesperson for the company informed Cointelegraph that it was an all-cash transaction.
Zebec Will Pursue Compliance With FCA, MiCA
Later in 2025, the company intends to utilize Gatenox’s technology to pursue regulatory registration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom and the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
Gatenox is not presently registered with any financial authorities, according to the spokesperson who spoke with Cointelegraph.
Nevertheless, they stated that the team has a wealth of experience from regulated financial institutions, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, the American International Group, and the Union Bank of Switzerland.
“The two founders of Gatenox previously founded BLIK, the largest mobile payment platform in Eastern Europe, and Coinfirm,” the spokesperson informed Cointelegraph.
The spokesperson also stated that the founders will join Zebec to guide its compliance program.
The Gatenox acquisition complements Zebec’s previous acquisition of Science Card, a platform that provides financial resources to students and researchers.
The organization simplifies budgeting, research grants, and campus expenditures.
Acquisition Of Gatenox To Reduce Dependence On Third Parties
Zebec further stated that the transition enables them to gradually reduce their dependence on third-party compliance providers by substituting them with Gatenox’s proprietary technology.
The spokesperson stated that Gatenox’s product line is a competitor of Sumsub, and Zebec will be transitioning away from Sumsub following the acquisition.
Zebec Network has garnered substantial investment since its establishment in 2021.
According to the company, Circle, Coinbase, Solana Ventures, Breyer Capital, Republic, and Lightspeed Venture Partners were among the investors who contributed $35 million to the company.
Additionally, its native token is actively transacted on exchanges such as KuCoin, Bybit, OKX, and Crypto.com.
