Zebec Network Acquires Gatenox to Enhance Compliance Infrastructure
Zebec Network, a financial infrastructure company, has acquired Gatenox, a platform focused on compliance and identity. This move allows Zebec to deepen its roots in a more heavily regulated market.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, this acquisition equips Zebec with essential tools for Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML), enabling direct participation in the Web3 payment ecosystem.
Neal Padhye, who heads Zebec’s mergers and acquisitions, emphasized that regulation is now integral to infrastructure. He mentioned that Gatenox will enhance the compliance aspect of programmable finance, making Zebec quicker, more secure, and better prepared for institutional scaling.
The specifics of the acquisition deal weren’t shared, though a Zebec representative indicated it was a swift transaction.
Focus on Regulatory Compliance
Zebec plans to leverage Gatenox’s technology in the latter half of 2025 to chase regulatory registration under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MICA) and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
A spokesperson noted that Gatenox isn’t currently registered with financial authorities, but highlighted that its team has a solid background with regulated institutions—including Union Bank in Switzerland and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Interestingly, the founders of Gatenox previously launched Blik, the largest mobile payments platform in Eastern Europe, and Coinfirm. These founders are set to join Zebec, contributing to the compliance program.
Additionally, Gatenox’s acquisition follows Zebec’s recent purchase of Science Card, a platform designed to support students and researchers with financial tools to manage campus spending and grant budgeting.
Eliminating Third-Party Reliance
Zebec expressed that this acquisition enables a transition away from reliance on third-party compliance services, integrating Gatenox’s proprietary technology instead.
The spokesperson noted that the offerings from Gatenox directly compete with those of SumSub, indicating that Zebec intends to discontinue its partnership with SumSub post-acquisition.
Since its inception in 2021, Zebec Network has garnered significant investment interest, securing $35 million from notable investors such as Circle, Coinbase, Solana Ventures, and others. Its native tokens are also actively trading on various exchanges, including Kucoin and Crypto.com.
