Maria Malahovskaya

Lawyer, Licensing and IT Department

Maria Malahovskaya is a lawyer in the Licensing and IT Department at Eternity Law International. She advises international clients and multinational businesses in the areas of fintech, cryptocurrencies, forex industry, and payment solutions.

Her primary focus is on the legal structuring of organizations and assisting the licensing process in different countries while taking into account the global standards regarding compliance.

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Areas of responsibility

Experience in Licensing and Regulatory Authorisations
Guidance for Crypto, Forex, and FinTech projects
Preparation of Paperwork and Interaction with Regulators
Key Areas of Expertise
Professional Profile

Experience in Licensing and Regulatory Authorisations

Maria’s professional engagement extends to the entire cycle of facilitating the licensing of financial and technology organizations, including CASP/VASP, EMI, Payment Institution, Forex/Investment Dealer, MSB, and other FinTech authorisations. Her expertise covers the entire licensing process, from the initial assessment of a business model and regulatory strategy to obtaining regulatory approval and ongoing compliance support.

The lawyer’s responsibilities in this domain entail:

examining regulatory criteria in relevant countries;
choosing the optimal business structure for operations;
preparing and submitting licensing applications and supporting documentation;
liaison with supervisory bodies;
developing AML/CFT frameworks and internal compliance procedures.

Guidance for Crypto, Forex, and FinTech projects

Main areas of activity include:

structuring cryptocurrency platforms and exchanges;
strategic assistance for forex brokerage firms;
structuring payment and fintech solutions;
development of AML/KYC frameworks, risk assessment methodologies, compliance manuals, and internal control procedures;
assessment of business models against applicable regulatory requirements.

Special attention is paid to ensuring that business models adhere to regulatory criteria and to reducing legal and operational risks.

Preparation of Paperwork and Interaction with Regulators

One of the most important aspects of the lawyer’s work is preparing legal paperwork alongside helping in interactions with supervisory bodies.

The work involves:

conducting the legal analysis and organizing the structure of the project;
preparing corporate and licensing documentation;
developing internal policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks;
helping during regulatory inspections and inquiries;
assistance after getting an official authorization.

Key Areas of Expertise

Licensing	Licensing of financial, crypto and fintech businesses
Virtual Assets	CASP, VASP and digital asset projects
FinTech	Payment institutions, EMIs and financial technology projects
Forex & Brokerage	Regulatory support for brokerage and investment firms
Corporate Structuring	Structuring of regulated businesses
Compliance	AML/CFT frameworks and regulatory compliance
M&A Transactions	Acquisition and sale of authorized organizations

Professional Profile

Maria Malahovskaya is an expert with over 4 years of experience in licensing and regulatory advisory, providing full legal guidance for international projects in regulated industries. She has a proven track record of supporting projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and offshore jurisdictions. Maria assists clients in navigating complex regulatory environments, liaising with supervisory bodies, and preparing full packages of licensing documentation. Her expertise further includes implementing compliance frameworks and maintaining statutory alignment throughout the entire lifecycle of their businesses.