INTERVIEW: Why European Crowdfunding Platform Chooses Malta as EU Base
Malta’s sun-soaked image hides a fast-growing financial hub. Nora Szeles explains why TokePortal.com chose the island for its EU base, citing regulatory clarity, collaboration and ECSPR-driven opportunity across Europe’s investment landscape.
When people think of Malta, they often picture its typical villages, crystal-clear sea and the millennial Mediterranean history that shaped its rich cultural heritage. “What is less visible is Malta’s emergence as a modern European hub for financial services and innovation,” says NORA SZELES, CEO of TokePortal.com.
“For us, the combination that Malta offers so uniquely in terms of lifestyle, regulatory clarity, and professional depth made this country not just an attractive option, but the obvious choice for our investment.”
Ms Szeles explains how a few years ago, the introduction of the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR) turned out to be an important catalyst.
“For the first time, crowdfunding platforms could passport their services across the EU under a single regulatory framework,” Nora explains. “This opened the door for us to connect private capital with startups and SMEs across Europe in a transparent, regulated, and scalable way.”
As a startup ourselves, the decision of where to establish our EU base was strategic.
“We compared jurisdictions very carefully. Costs, timelines, regulatory accessibility, and the overall ecosystem all mattered. And this was where Malta consistently stood out.”
Having worked in regulated capital markets for most of her career, Nora was already familiar with several licensed service providers on the island.
“That network was invaluable,” she recalls.
“From the outset, we found professionals who were knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping new ventures succeed. It gave us confidence that Malta’s ecosystem was not only competent, but collaborative.”
“Our first interactions with the Malta Financial Services Authority went very well. The process was rigorous, as it should be of course, but also transparent and constructive. They communicated expectations clearly, timelines were realistic, and they genuinely understood the importance of innovation within a robust regulatory framework.”
“And when they promised a quick process, they delivered. This was when we knew Malta was where we needed to be.”
Nora Szeles, CEO, TokePortal.com
Beyond regulation, what distinguishes Malta is its people and institutions. “Organisations like FinanceMalta have been amazing,” she points out.
“They opened doors for us, shared knowledge, and really understood that building a financial services hub requires collaboration. There’s a shared sense of purpose here, where everyone seems committed to make Malta a fully-fledged, innovative centre for the European market.”
In Ms Szeles’s opinion, ECSPR itself has had a transformative impact.
“It allows private companies to raise up to €5 million annually through regulated crowdfunding. Entrepreneurs are starting to see that giving up a portion of equity can be a powerful growth catalyst. And investors are evolving too. There’s a growing appetite for asset classes beyond fixed income, where they can participate directly in economic growth.”
This aligns with the industry’s broader thinking.
“Even the World Bank, back in 2013, highlighted how regulated crowdfunding could unlock dormant capital. We see the same potential here in Malta. Transparent, well-regulated platforms can turn idle funds into working capital, fuelling innovation, creating jobs, and supporting long-term growth.”
In her opinion, Malta’s unique advantage is the expertise concentrated in a small, agile jurisdiction which she describes as “extraordinary.”
“Regulators, policymakers, professional service providers, and industry bodies all share the same vision; to build a leading financial services and innovation ecosystem.”
“Malta is clearly a mature and highly competent jurisdiction in incumbent financial services, with strong professional depth and infrastructure. In the startup and innovation segment, there are a few surprising gaps.”
“Addressing these will significantly accelerate ecosystem growth and strengthen investor engagement and financial literacy. This is exactly where we see opportunity in a strategic inflection point: institutional maturity combined with entrepreneurial white space. For resilient, long-term founders and investors, this is the right place at the right time.”
“As a regulated crowdfunding marketplace and information hub, we collect feedback on structural bottlenecks and escalate them to relevant stakeholders. FinanceMalta has been a constructive partner in this process. This growth potential would further reinforce the ambition to build a leading European finance hub.”
To actively contribute to this next phase, TokePortal.com will be launching an incubator www.firstcrowdfundingincubator.eu
Of course, challenges remain.
“Education and awareness will always be key, both for entrepreneurs exploring crowdfunding and for investors considering new opportunities. But these are challenges we welcome. At TokePortal.com, we see ourselves as part of the solution, where we can help identify obstacles, offer solutions, and scale responsibly in the European market.”
For Ms Szeles, choosing Malta was not just a business decision.
“It was a strategic alignment of values. Here, regulation is an enabler, collaboration is the norm, and the quality of life makes attracting international talent easier.”
“Malta offers something increasingly rare: the ability to build a serious European financial services business in a place that is both professionally rewarding and personally enriching. For us, Malta is more than a base. It is now a partner in growth and a gateway to Europe.”
