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Over the past three years at COREDO I have observed the same picture: investors look for a European structure, and after 6–9 months are forced to “rewrite” the fund because they started with an excessively complex or, conversely, too simplistic model. A mistake at the stage of choosing between ZISIF §15 and a classic EU […]

In 2023–2024, EU financial institutions paid fines for AML breaches totaling more than €5 billion, with a peak of €2.3 billion in 2024 alone – three times higher than in previous years. Imagine: your cross-border group risks similar losses because of unsynchronized AML compliance programs when national regulators diverge in their interpretations of the EU […]

Over the past two years I have increasingly seen the same scenario: a stable, profitable investment company suddenly gets refused account opening in the Czech Republic, or a bank, without warning, initiates the closure of accounts in the Czech Republic and freezes operations. In one recent case a client received refusals from three Czech banks […]

According to European regulators, the fine for unlicensed crypto services in several EU countries already reaches 5% of annual turnover or a fixed threshold of several million euros, and in certain cases an additional double profit penalty is applied — recovery in the double amount of the profit extracted. In COREDO we have seen how […]

A ready-made company or registration from scratch in 2026 are two approaches to creating a business: a quick start with an already established legal entity or the full process starting from initial registration. Choosing between a ready-made company and registering in 2026 Which is more advantageous in 2026 — a ready-made company with a history […]

Over recent years in the EU, the share of inspections triggered not “as scheduled” but by risk signals has exceeded planned inspections in sensitive sectors – finance, logistics, IT services and B2B services. For business this means one simple thing: unplanned inspections have become the result not of chance, but of specific risk indicators that […]

Over the past two years I have repeatedly seen the same scenario: a strong team, a convincing whitepaper, investor interest — and frozen accounts six months after launch. The reason in most such cases is the same: the wrong jurisdiction was chosen for the crypto project from the start, one that ignores regulatory requirements, sanction […]

In 2023–2024 global regulators recorded a historic high in fines for AML violations/CFT: aggregate amounts for banks and fintechs were measured in billions of dollars per year. At the same time, the EU is launching a single AMLR (EU AML Regulation, Single Rulebook) and creating the supranational AML agency AMLA, while in Asia and the […]

The statistics of major international disputes over payments in trade and investments consistently remain at the level of tens of billions of dollars annually, according to European and Asian tribunals. Each such dispute is a frozen cash flow, a lost ROI, and a risk that is managed but not controlled. I regularly see the same […]

According to international regulators’ estimates, the global market for payments and digital financial services already accounts for trillions in turnover, and the share of transactions through Money Services Business (MSB) structures is growing at double-digit rates annually. At the same time, requirements for AML/KYC, reporting on suspicious transactions and transparency of business owners are being […]

Imagine: you have just closed a $100 million deal, but six months later half the proceeds go to taxes and fines because of an error in the fund’s structure. According to Preqin, nearly 40% of new Private Equity funds face serious legal and tax issues in the first 2–3 years, and in 70% of cases […]

Over recent years EU regulators have called the real estate sector one of the key channels for money laundering: according to the European Commission’s estimates, up to a quarter of major AML cases are linked to property purchases through convoluted structures and nominee beneficiaries. In several European jurisdictions the share of suspicious real estate transactions, […]

Over the past two years COREDO’s clients have most often asked me the same question: “Is it possible today to build an international structure that is both efficient and still passes all beneficiary checks in Europe?” Against the backdrop of the EU steadily tightening AML requirements and introducing new rules by 2025, this question becomes […]

Over the past three years the COREDO team has been seeing the same scenario more and more often: an IT company with annual revenue of 10–30 million spends up to 9–12 months changing jurisdiction, and two years later is forced to start the process again due to changes in tax regulation and AML requirements. By […]

EU and Swiss crypto regulation in 2026: a choice between strictness and flexibility In 2026 cryptocurrency legislation in Europe and Switzerland enters a new phase: digital assets cease to be a “gray area” and are integrated into the traditional financial system at the level of laws, reporting standards, and supervision. Entrepreneurs face a choice: register […]

When the COREDO team began actively supporting fintech clients in Switzerland, one figure surprised me: according to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), more than half of licensing applications are returned for revision precisely because of weak compliance procedures and poorly thought‑out risk management. Against this background, Switzerland retains its status as one of […]

According to the ČNB and European regulators, in recent years the volume of assets under management by collective investment structures in the Czech Republic has been steadily growing at double-digit rates, and the share of cross-border investments through local structures within the EU and beyond is becoming one of the drivers of that growth. For […]

In 2024–2025, more than half of crypto projects in the EU are reassessing their jurisdiction and licensing model due to the entry into force of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation and the new Digital Operational Resilience rules (DORA). For some players this means losing a market, for others the opportunity to obtain a pan‑European […]

According to the European Banking Authority, in recent years the number of licensed Electronic Money Institutions in the EU has grown many times over, and competition for customers in cross‑border payments has become tougher than in the traditional banking market. Against this background choice of jurisdiction for an EMI license has ceased to be a […]

Over the past three years the average size of regulatory fines for financial companies in the EU and Asia has increased many times over, and some individual cases reached hundreds of millions in base currency units. The 2024–2025 sanctions restrictions led to account freezes and license revocations for otherwise stable businesses simply because their compliance […]

Imagine the situation: you launched a successful payment service, serve thousands of customers, and suddenly receive a letter from the regulator demanding that all processes be brought into compliance with new standards. Fines for non-compliance reach millions of euros, and adaptation deadlines are measured in weeks. This is not a hypothesis — it is the […]

In 2025 Spain became one of the most attractive markets in Europe for international entrepreneurs: according to EY, more than 38% of foreign investors name the country a priority for expanding business in the EU. Nevertheless, 67% of companies face legal risks already at the registration stage, and more than 80% during scaling and entering […]

In 2025 Poland is showing one of the highest growth rates in the number of new companies in the EU: in just the past year more than 400,000 new legal entities were registered here (according to GUS and Eurostat). But behind this statistic lies a different reality: over 60% of foreign entrepreneurs encounter legal barriers […]

In 2025, according to ACRA, more than 200 new companies are registered in Singapore every day, and this is no coincidence. At a time when every second international entrepreneur encounters bureaucratic barriers and opaque requirements in different jurisdictions, Singapore offers a unique combination of speed, transparency and protection of business interests. Why, despite the apparent […]

Myth of “zero taxes” in Estonia is actively discussed among entrepreneurs, but behind this loud name lies a feature of the local tax system, not a complete absence of fiscal obligations. To understand what you need to know about the real taxation mechanisms in the country, it’s important to figure out how the deferred taxation […]

80% of foreign investment into the EU passes through jurisdictions with a transparent tax system and flexible corporate regulation – and Cyprus consistently ranks among the top five such destinations according to the European Commission and Deloitte. But behind this success lies a paradox: more than half of entrepreneurs entering the Cypriot market for the […]

In 2025 the global financial services market is undergoing tectonic shifts: according to the BIS, in just the past year the volume of global cross-border payments exceeded $156 trillion, and the number of new fintech companies grew by 23%. But behind these impressive figures lies a harsh reality: more than 70% of international startups, according […]

In 2025, according to the European Commission, the total volume of fines for violations of EU AML and KYC-AML requirements exceeded €6.5 billion, a record high in the history of regulation. At the same time, more than 40% of corporate account freezes in Europe are specifically linked to insufficient verification of EU counterparties and failure […]

In 2024 Liechtenstein once again entered the top-3 jurisdictions in Europe for economic stability and banking security: a sovereign credit rating of AAA, minimal public debt, and the share of foreign investment continues to grow even amid global turbulence. But why, despite its compact size, is this country becoming a strategic choice for entrepreneurs from […]

In 2025 Cyprus continues to surprise: according to the European Banking Federation, more than 250 financial companies are registered on the island, and transaction volumes in the electronic money and payment services segment have grown by 37% over the past two years. Why do so many entrepreneurs from the EU, Asia and the CIS choose […]

In 2025 Greece surprises not only with its ancient history but also with the statistics: over the past three years the number of new companies with foreign capital has grown by more than 40%. Why are entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia and the CIS increasingly choosing to start businesses in Greece? The answer lies in a […]

When it comes to vetting crypto projects, the statistics are sobering: according to Chainalysis, in 2024 more than $1.7 billion was lost by investors due to unscrupulous or technically vulnerable blockchain startups. Even more telling: about 70% of cryptocurrency listing applications on major exchanges are rejected precisely because of errors or inconsistencies discovered during the […]

In 2025, more than 60% of international companies operating in Europe and Asia choose the United Kingdom to open corporate accounts: despite tightening banking procedures and increasing requirements for transaction transparency. Why is business eager to enter the British banking system? The answer lies not only in the prestige of the jurisdiction but also in […]

95% of European B2B and B2C customers choose licensed services rather than unlicensed ones. This statistic reflects not only the level of trust in regulated companies but also the market’s growing demands for transparency, sustainability, and the protection of clients’ interests. In 2025, obtaining an EU financial license is not just a question of legality […]

In conditions where the European capital market is becoming increasingly competitive and regulated, the cost of a mistake — lost months, hundreds of thousands of euros, and reputational risks — is difficult to remediate. Are you sure you’re ready to go down this path without a strategic partner? In this article I, Nikita Veremeev, CEO […]

In 2026 the CySEC license becomes not just a formal tool for entering the European market, but a strategic asset for financial companies seeking international growth. According to the latest data from the European Commission, the volume of transactions in digital assets and investment services supervised by the Cypriot regulator has increased by more than […]

For companies operating in the EU, this is not only a legal obligation but also a key factor of trust from partners, banks and investors. The practice of COREDO confirms: the absence of transparent Customer Due Diligence (CDD) procedures and an ineffective risk-based approach lead to account freezes, denial of service and even criminal liability. […]

In a world where more than 1.3 billion electronic payments are made every day just in Europe, and the fintech market grows by 20% annually (according to Statista), a payment license becomes not just a formality but a strategic asset for any business working with digital money and cross-border transactions. A PSP (Payment Service Provider) […]

When COREDO advises international companies on the registration of legal entities and financial licensing, one of the first priorities is building an effective compliance system. By compliance I mean not only formal adherence to the law, but also a set of internal procedures that ensure a business’s transparency, ethical conduct, and sustainability. A compliance audit […]

In 2026 the European financial sector will face the most extensive regulatory overhaul in the last decade. According to the European Commission, by 2026 more than 60 new and revised directives and regulations related to financial regulation, AML and digitalization will be in force across the EU. According to a study by the European Banking […]

In 2024, more than 70% of new foreign investment in the EU goes to companies registered in Austria – this figure surprises even experienced international consultants. The Austrian market shows steady GDP growth, and the country is among the top 10 for business transparency in Europe. But behind these figures lies a real dilemma for […]

In 2024 the volume of global fines for non-compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) laws exceeded $5.5 billion, and more than 70% of companies operating in Europe and Asia faced account freezes or refusals to register legal entities due to insufficient AML compliance. This fact is not just surprising: it prompts the question: why are even […]

In 2025 the market for investment platforms is undergoing a transformation comparable in scale to the digital revolution in the banking sector: according to international studies, more than 60% of new investment platforms in the EU and Asia face regulatory barriers already at the registration stage, and every third project fails due to mistakes in […]

Imagine that you can register a company in the EU that will become your reliable shield for international business, provide access to European markets, and allow you to optimize taxes on a lawful basis. This is not fiction: it is a reality for thousands of entrepreneurs who choose incorporation in Luxembourg. According to World Bank […]

Imagine that you are ready to complete a major merger or acquisition deal, having spent months on negotiations, financial analysis and business valuation. And at the very last moment it turns out that the target company has hidden lawsuits that could cost you millions. According to a PwC study, nearly 40% of M&A deals encounter […]

In 2024 the global financial services market faced an unprecedented rise in fines for anti-money laundering violations: in Europe alone the total amount of sanctions exceeded €6 billion, and the average fine for financial institutions increased by 45% compared with the previous year. But the numbers are only the tip of the iceberg. Behind every […]

In 2025 the global digital assets market exceeded $2.5 trillion, and the number of crypto projects facing regulatory claims grew by 40% over the past two years. In the EU alone more than 300 tokens were blocked last year due to the absence of a proper legal opinion. How do you structure a business so […]

In 2025, the Czech Republic once again confirms its status as one of the most attractive jurisdictions for international investors: according to the European Commission, foreign direct investment in the country increased by 18% over the past year, and the average time to obtain a permit for a major investment project has been reduced to […]

A payment system license is an official authorizing document issued by a financial regulator (the central bank or a specialized authority) that confirms the right of a payment system operator or payment gateway to carry out licensed payment operations, hold and process clients’ funds, and issue electronic money. It is based on the regulatory framework […]

ZISIF §15 is a special regime provided for by the Czech Investment Funds Act (240/2013 Sb.) that allows the creation of alternative investment funds (AIF) with a unique combination of flexibility and regulatory transparency. Unlike traditional funds, ZISIF §15 makes it possible to shape the fund’s corporate structure to the needs of a specific investor, […]