The Singaporean crypto-fiat payment gateway, Alchemy Pay, announced a further expansion into the United States market on Nov. 23 with the acquisition of its money services license in the state of Iowa.
According to local state regulations, any entity or individual engaged in currency exchange or money transmission business in Iowa must hold the license.
In September, the company received its money transmitter license (MTL) in Arkansas. The company says it has already completed the application for MTL licenses in additional U.S. states and anticipates answers in the coming months.
Alchemy Pay ecosystem lead Robert McCracken spoke to Cointelegraph about the development, saying that in the U.S. crypto landscape, Alchemy is focused on compliance with the currency regulatory framework.
“We believe that a well-structured regulatory environment is essential for the sustainable growth and development of any industry, and that includes the fiat-crypto payment industry.”
McCracken said he believes the crypto payment industry has “immense potential” and could be a “leading sector in the future.” Alchemy Pay is already working in 173 countries via payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, regional mobile wallets and domestic transfers.
The Alchemy Pay exec said that it will be actively seeking licenses and adhering to compliance requirements as operations continue to expand. McCracken called this path “more challenging but ultimately correct.”
“[…] building core competitiveness and upholding the highest standards of compliance are essential for the long-term success of the crypto payment industry.”
According to its announcement, Alchemy Pay is also working on license applications in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Timesthe properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”