Payment service Strike has obtained a license to operate with cryptocurrency., 2026/03/06 14:33:42

The payment service Strike, founded by Jack Mallers, has obtained a BitLicense and a Money Transmission License (MTL) from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This authorization enables the company to provide cryptocurrency-related services to local customers.

The company Zap Solutions, operating under the Strike brand, has received approval to engage with digital assets. Residents of the state will be able to utilize Strike for buying and selling Bitcoin, as well as automatically converting bank checks into Bitcoin. Users of the service will have the capability to pay bills with the first cryptocurrency and withdraw it to wallets for personal storage.

CEO Jack Mallers described the acquisition of the BitLicense as a significant milestone in the development of the payment service—regulatory approval will allow Strike to broaden its range of services.

The BitLicense permits cryptocurrency business operations solely within New York State, not across the entire United States. To operate legally in other states, cryptocurrency companies must obtain separate MTL licenses from local regulators. According to NYDFS, companies such as MoonPay, eToro, Robinhood, the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, have received the New York BitLicense. To obtain a BitLicense, companies are required to maintain reserve capital, adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, and undergo regular audits.

In 2024, Genesis Global Trading voluntarily relinquished its BitLicense and agreed to pay an $8 million fine to the regulator. This decision was prompted by identified violations in anti-money laundering programs and cybersecurity measures, as well as complaints from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Genesis and its investment product partner, the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini.