Why This UK Fintech Chose Malta for Its European Expansion
One year after relocating his family to Malta, Bracket co-founder Alex Charles reflects on the island’s role in driving the fintech’s European growth, attracting international talent and delivering a better quality of life.
For Bracket Co-Founder Alex Charles, choosing Malta as the company’s European base was a decision that combined business ambition with a very personal leap of faith.
One year after relocating his family more than 2,800 kilometres from the UK to Malta, Mr Charles says the move has delivered on both fronts: creating a platform for Bracket’s European growth while providing a new quality of life for his family.
Following the successful launch of Bracket’s AI-powered treasury platform in the UK, the company was looking for the right jurisdiction from which to expand across Europe. Malta quickly emerged as a natural choice.
“So, in April 2025 we decided to set up our offices in Malta. After a successful product launch in the UK we wanted to expand our product into Europe so we chose Malta as our hub to do this.”
Having joined FinanceMalta in 2025, Bracket is now part of Malta’s broader financial services and business community; an ecosystem that continues to attract companies looking to combine European market access with an international workforce, supportive institutions and a compelling lifestyle.
The pioneering fintech firm specialises in Foreign Exchange middleware, sitting independently between corporates, SMEs, and their bank or non-bank FX providers.
Mr Charles noted that for Bracket, Malta’s attraction was not based on a single factor. The company saw a combination of business incentives, access to international talent and a supportive institutional environment that could help accelerate its expansion.
“Malta stood out for us as a jurisdiction because there are many incentives to move here,” he explained.
As the company establish its European operations in Malta, one of the main incentives was the support received from Malta Enterprise.
Bracket co-founder Alex Charles
“We were one of many companies that have received the grant. We took about three months to get the application processed, but effectively we had a €300,000 grant from the government to subsidize wage costs and office space.”
The financial support was an important component of Bracket’s decision, but the company’s experience demonstrates that Malta’s proposition extends beyond incentives.
As a business preparing to serve customers globally, Bracket needs access to people with international experience and language capabilities. Malta’s diverse population and international workforce have proved particularly valuable.
“One of the benefits of being here is that there’s an array of multiple different nationalities. We’re looking to launch our product globally, so it’s very easy to hire people that speak multiple different languages to pitch across the world for our product.”
That talent pool has supported Bracket’s rapid development in Malta. Within its first year, Bracket EU had grown to 12 employees, with plans for further recruitment and a third office in Sliema. The company’s continued investment reflects its view of Malta as a long-term operational base rather than simply an entry point into the European market.
The experience has also been transformative on a personal level. Charles relocated his family to Malta, settling in Mosta, where his children have embraced local schools and the Maltese way of life.
“A year ago to the day I moved my family of 5 (6 including Lola) 2800KM from Hutton to the gem of the Med.”
–Reflecting on the first year, he added: “It’s safely been the best move we’ve made as a family and one we are thriving on.”
For Charles, everyday quality-of-life improvements have reinforced the business decision. A shorter commute, favourable weather and the ability to integrate his family into the local community have all contributed to a successful transition.
“It’s been a big year, not just personally but for Bracket also.”
Ultimately, Charles believes Bracket’s experience demonstrates what Malta can offer internationally minded companies looking for a European base.
