Blockchain.com has obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Maltese Financial Services Authority (MFSA), enabling it to offer regulated crypto custody and wallet services across all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) states. This move consolidates its European operations under a unified regulatory framework and facilitates expansion into institutional services.
The European Parliament recently debated Malta's rule of law, with Labour MEPs dismissing concerns as politically motivated. The European Commission, however, highlighted insufficient progress in areas like corruption and judicial efficiency, eight years after Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination.
Malta's Speaker Anġlu Farrugia was re-elected President of the IPU Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law during the 151st Assembly in Geneva. He emphasized the critical need for IHL in conflicts, acknowledging the Red Cross's role in crises like Gaza, amidst alarming global humanitarian statistics.
Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg visited the Palestinian embassy in Valletta on October 17, 2025, reaffirming Malta's commitment to Palestinian rights and the two-state solution, following the nation's official recognition of the State of Palestine.
Mario Cutajar, Chairperson of Heritage Malta, took a leave of absence to organize 'l-Ewlenin', a Labour Party exhibition in Hamrun. This move has ignited debate in Malta concerning the appropriate use of national heritage resources and the impartiality of public officials in partisan activities.
The Malta Community Chest Fund has officially rejected a cryptocurrency donation from Binance, now valued at $39 million, citing significant reputational concerns regarding the crypto exchange and a long-standing dispute over the disbursement of funds. The decision follows years of disagreement and recent official statements from Malta's President.
Dutch billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn has been ordered by the Malta Financial Services Authority to relinquish his stake in Novum Bank within six months. This directive follows the stripping of his 'fit and proper' status due to ongoing criminal proceedings in Italy concerning alleged illicit funds.
Malta's reliance on imported electricity significantly increased in 2024, with power purchases via the Sicily-Malta interconnector surging by nearly 50% to 970.4 GWh. This rise, driven by higher demand and reduced local generation, means imported power now constitutes over 31% of the island's total electricity supply.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has introduced a new self-assessment tool designed to help players in Malta evaluate their gambling habits and identify potential risks. Launched on October 7, 2025, the initiative aims to promote safer gambling and enhance player protection.
Malta officially recognized the State of Palestine on September 22, 2025, during the United Nations General Assembly. This was followed by a symbolic flag-raising ceremony at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Swieqi on October 6, 2025, attended by Prime Minister Robert Abela and other dignitaries, marking a significant step in Malta's foreign policy.
A husband in Malta has successfully raised over €61,000 to transport his 29-year-old wife, Tonamol Baby, who has been in a coma for nearly three months following a car accident that claimed their unborn son, back to her home in Kerala, India, for continued medical care and family support.
The centrist party Momentum has announced its participation in a national protest in Malta against proposed planning reforms, which it labels a 'complete surrender' to developers. The demonstration, organized by a coalition of over 45 groups, targets two draft bills and three legal notices that critics argue will dismantle environmental safeguards and weaken public appeal rights.
Environmental NGOs in Malta are set to hold a national protest on October 4, 2025, in Valletta, denouncing the government's proposed planning reforms as 'the most corrupt in history.' They argue the reforms grant excessive power to the Planning Authority, limit public appeals, and regularise illegal constructions.
Hundreds of activists, academics, and citizens gathered outside the Law Courts in Valletta on Saturday, September 27, 2025, to demand the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta. Organised by the Voice for Choice coalition, the rally highlighted Malta's near-total ban on abortion, which remains the strictest in the European Union, and called for an end to the criminalisation of reproductive healthcare.
Xlendi, Gozo, experienced severe flash flooding on the evening of September 24, 2025, after an intense storm brought heavy rainfall to the Maltese islands. Roads in the seaside village became impassable, with cars partly submerged and some dragged by floodwaters. The Civil Protection Department responded, and Xlendi Bay was temporarily closed due to muddy runoff.
Salvu Mangion, a 70-year-old Birgu resident, has been charged with the murder of 33-year-old Kyle Mifsud, who was fatally shot in an apartment block in Vittoriosa. Mangion pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include murder and illegal firearm possession. The incident followed an argument, and Mifsud reportedly identified Mangion as his assailant before succumbing to his injuries.
HSBC Malta staff, represented by the Malta Union of Bank Employees (MUBE), launched a sit-in strike on September 22, 2025. The industrial action stems from a compensation dispute related to the bank's impending €200 million sale to Greek lender CrediaBank, with MUBE demanding €50-60 million in terminal benefits.
Malta's Ministry for Culture, the Arts and Local Government, alongside its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, has submitted an initial application to extend the World Heritage listing to include the Harbour Fortifications around Valletta, the Cottonera, Santa Margerita, Mdina, and the Cittadella in Gozo, under the proposed title 'The Maltese Fortifications of the Knights of St John'.
