Photo Credit: cryptopolitan
Estonian cryptocurrency payment gateway Guardarian is preparing to expand into the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as increasingly fragmented regulatory frameworks reshape how digital asset companies operate across international markets.
Guardarian Chief Executive Petr Sergeev said the global cryptocurrency industry is no longer functioning under a broadly consistent regulatory environment, with companies instead facing different licensing, compliance and operational requirements across jurisdictions.
Speaking in an interview with Cryptopolitan, Sergeev explained that obtaining regulatory approval represents only the beginning of a company’s compliance responsibilities. Maintaining banking relationships, monitoring transactions and meeting local regulatory expectations remain ongoing challenges.
Despite these complexities, Guardarian plans to pursue opportunities in the US and MENA markets, with further international expansion expected in 2027, including a planned entry into Asia.
Regional Crypto Regulations Create Challenges for Global Expansion
The growing differences between cryptocurrency regulatory systems are forcing digital asset businesses to reconsider how they enter and operate in overseas markets.
Sergeev warned that companies cannot automatically replicate a successful business model across multiple jurisdictions without adapting to local legal and financial requirements.
The United States, for example, operates under a combination of federal and state-level regulations. New York requires certain cryptocurrency businesses to obtain a BitLicense, while California has introduced its Digital Financial Assets Law.
Europe has adopted a more coordinated approach through the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which establishes a common regulatory framework across participating European markets.
However, meeting these requirements has proved challenging for many cryptocurrency companies.
According to TRM Labs, only 281 of the 1,343 cryptocurrency firms it monitored had obtained authorization to continue operating across the European Economic Area around the July 1, 2026, MiCA transition deadline.
Meanwhile, CASP Tracker, which reflects information from the European Securities and Markets Authority’s official register, reported that just 16 of the world’s 100 largest cryptocurrency exchanges held MiCA licenses.
The figures highlight the difficulties businesses face as regulatory authorities introduce stricter oversight of digital asset services.
Licensing Alone Does Not Guarantee Operational Success
Sergeev emphasized that obtaining a cryptocurrency license does not automatically provide access to essential financial infrastructure.
Banks and payment providers continue to assess licensed cryptocurrency businesses based on their customer profiles, transaction monitoring procedures, movement of funds and safeguards against suspicious financial activity.
“Having a license doesn’t necessarily guarantee a smooth sailing there,” Sergeev said, referring to the challenges of establishing banking relationships.
Financial institutions increasingly expect cryptocurrency companies to demonstrate effective compliance systems before entering commercial partnerships.
According to Sergeev, maintaining strong internal controls is essential for businesses seeking to expand internationally and build relationships with traditional financial institutions.
Effective compliance, he explained, can remove a significant barrier to securing banking and payment partnerships, particularly as regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrency transactions intensifies.
Guardarian Faces Regulatory Scrutiny in India
Guardarian’s international expansion ambitions have also been affected by regulatory developments in India.
India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) recently issued non-compliance notices to Guardarian and 14 other offshore virtual digital asset service providers under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The regulator subsequently initiated measures aimed at restricting access to the affected companies’ applications and websites within India.
Following the enforcement action, Guardarian revised its terms of service and introduced additional geographic restrictions and customer access controls.
Sergeev said the company had submitted a report to FIU-IND and was awaiting regulatory feedback before determining its next steps.
The situation illustrates the challenges cryptocurrency businesses face when operating across borders, particularly when authorization in one jurisdiction does not satisfy regulatory requirements elsewhere.
Sergeev stressed that companies must understand individual market obligations rather than assuming that existing licenses automatically provide access to additional countries.
Guardarian Plans Further Expansion Through 2027
Despite regulatory obstacles, Guardarian remains focused on expanding its international presence.
The company is evaluating opportunities in the United States and MENA region, where cryptocurrency businesses must navigate different requirements relating to licensing, financial services and digital asset transactions.
Its longer-term expansion plans also include Asia in 2027.
Sergeev believes businesses pursuing international growth must develop compliance and operational infrastructure capable of supporting different regulatory systems.
He also cautioned cryptocurrency entrepreneurs against selecting jurisdictions solely because their regulations appear commercially attractive.
Such decisions can create unexpected difficulties involving recruitment, banking access, payment processing, investor relationships and local marketing activities.
Instead, founders should evaluate the practical requirements of establishing and sustaining operations before committing to a particular market.
Compliance Becomes Central to Cryptocurrency Industry Growth
Founded in 2017, Guardarian provides cryptocurrency-to-fiat payment services designed to connect digital assets with conventional financial systems.
According to a case study published by identity verification provider Sumsub, the company serves approximately 300,000 users and operates with a workforce of around 25 employees.
Its expansion plans come as cryptocurrency businesses face increasing pressure to demonstrate regulatory accountability while maintaining access to global financial services.
The introduction of comprehensive frameworks such as Europe’s MiCA, alongside differing requirements in the United States and Asian markets, is changing how digital asset companies approach international operations.
For Guardarian, the challenge is to balance geographic expansion with the licensing, banking and compliance infrastructure required to operate across multiple jurisdictions.
As regulatory systems continue to develop independently, companies seeking a global presence will increasingly need market-specific strategies rather than relying on a single operating model.
