On 25 June, the Supervision Committee of Latvijas Banka issued a licence to Hodleris SIA for the provision of crypto-asset services.
The licence authorises the company to provide the following crypto-asset services:
- providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients;
- exchanging crypto-assets for funds;
- exchanging crypto-assets for other crypto-assets;
- providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients.
Hodleris SIA has obtained the licence in accordance with the requirements of the European Union (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and may provide its services throughout the EU under the cross-border notification mechanism.
Nine companies have obtained authorisation from Latvijas Banka to provide crypto-asset services since the entry into force of a unified legal framework for the crypto-asset sector in the EU. The list of these companies is available on Latvijas Banka's website, while the European Securities and Markets Authority maintains an EU level list of crypto-asset service providers.
Companies seeking a licence from Latvijas Banka are encouraged to use the licensing guides prepared by Latvijas Banka. These guides provide detailed information on the licensing process and requirements, including the documents to be drawn up and submitted to Latvijas Banka, the application review deadlines, among other details.
To ensure a smooth licensing process, Latvijas Banka encourages companies to take advantage of pre-licensing consultations. During these consultations, Latvijas Banka's experts offer guidance to companies on the applicable legal framework and conduct an initial assessment of the company's compliance with regulatory requirements. Collaboration during the pre-licensing stage helps companies prepare high-quality licence applications and ensures that the licensing process proceeds smoothly. Consultation requests can be submitted via Latvijas Banka's website.