Malta: Where Traditional Finance Meets Digital Innovation

The Malta Financial Services Authority's international conference on November 18, 2025—taking place ahead of the IOSCO Growth & Emerging Markets (GEM) and European Regional Committee meetings (November 19-21)—signals a pivotal moment in global financial services evolution. By convening regulators, policymakers, and market leaders to discuss the dynamics shaping finance's future, Malta is asserting its role as more than a participant—it's positioning itself as a jurisdiction actively defining the conversation. 

The conference agenda reveals sophisticated understanding of the dual forces reshaping financial services: traditional capital market evolution alongside disruptive technological innovation. Discussions spanning from quantum computing in financial supervision to crypto-asset regulation demonstrate Malta's comprehensive approach to financial services development. This isn't regulatory catch-up; it's proactive positioning at the intersection of established finance and emerging digital ecosystems. 

Malta's strategic advantage lies in its unique positioning. As an EU member state with Mediterranean geography and historical ties spanning Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Malta offers perspectives on cross-border payment systems and fragmented global markets that larger jurisdictions cannot replicate. The country's multilingual workforce, English-language legal system, and established infrastructure create conditions conducive to international financial services innovation. 

The participation of distinguished speakers—including IOSCO Secretary General Rodrigo Buenaventura, EUROFI President David Wright, and World Federation of Exchanges CEO Nandini Sukumar—provides Maltese regulators and industry participants with direct exposure to global thought leadership. This knowledge transfer is invaluable as Malta continues attracting sophisticated financial services operations. 

Malta's recent €150 million investment in digitalization, combined with recording Europe's highest business formation rate, demonstrates ecosystem synergies between financial services and broader technology innovation. The MFSA's willingness to host conversations spanning traditional markets and emerging technologies reflects Malta's commitment to being business-friendly while maintaining regulatory integrity. 

For international financial institutions, Malta's positioning creates opportunities to engage with regulators willing to collaborate on innovative approaches while upholding standards protecting market integrity and consumer interests.