Investment Platform Mintos Seeks ECB License
What happened
Mintos, a European multi-asset investment platform, has initiated the process to pursue a banking license from the European Central Bank (ECB). The company stated that obtaining the license would strengthen its services and is a major step in its long-term strategy.
Why it matters
- A full banking license would allow Mintos to increase its deposit protection from the current €20,000 under the investor compensation scheme to €100,000. It would also provide access to stable, low-cost funding through customer deposits. - The company was founded in Riga, Latvia, in 2014 by Martins Sulte and Martins Valters, initially launching as a peer-to-peer lending marketplace before evolving its business model. - Mintos currently operates under a European investment firm license obtained in August 2021, which allows it to offer regulated financial instruments and is supervised by Latvijas Banka, the central bank of Latvia. - As of late 2025, the platform manages approximately €776 million in assets for nearly 650,000 registered users, making it Europe's largest investment platform of its kind. - The company estimates the process to secure the banking license from the European Central Bank will take between 12 and 18 months. - Co-founder and CEO Martins Sulte's stated vision is to make investing in loans as common for retail investors as investing in traditional assets like stocks and ETFs. - To fund the pursuit of the banking license and the development of new products, Mintos raised €3.1 million in a 2024 crowdfunding campaign and secured a further €2 million in debt. - Beyond its core offering of loan-backed securities, the platform has expanded to include investments in bonds, ETFs, and real estate as part of its multi-asset strategy.
Key numbers
- - A full banking license would allow Mintos to increase its deposit protection from the current €20,000 under the investor compensation scheme to €100,000.
- The company was founded in Riga, Latvia, in 2014 by Martins Sulte and Martins Valters, initially launching as a peer-to-peer lending marketplace before evolving its business model.
- Mintos currently operates under a European investment firm license obtained in August 2021, which allows it to offer regulated financial instruments and is supervised by Latvijas Banka, the central bank of Latvia.
- As of late 2025, the platform manages approximately €776 million in assets for nearly 650,000 registered users, making it Europe's largest investment platform of its kind.
What happens next
- The company estimates the process to secure the banking license from the European Central Bank will take between 12 and 18 months.
Quick answers
What happened in Investment Platform Mintos Seeks ECB License?
Mintos, a European multi-asset investment platform, has initiated the process to pursue a banking license from the European Central Bank (ECB). The company stated that obtaining the license would strengthen its services and is a major step in its long-term strategy.
Why does Investment Platform Mintos Seeks ECB License matter?
A full banking license would allow Mintos to increase its deposit protection from the current €20,000 under the investor compensation scheme to €100,000. It would also provide access to stable, low-cost funding through customer deposits. The company was founded in Riga, Latvia, in 2014 by Martins Sulte and Martins Valters, initially launching as a peer-to-peer lending marketplace before evolving its business model. Mintos currently operates under a European investment firm license obtained in August 2021, which allows it to offer regulated financial instruments and is supervised by Latvijas Banka, the central bank of Latvia. As of late 2025, the platform manages approximately €776 million in assets for nearly 650,000 registered users, making it Europe's largest investment platform of its kind. The company estimates the process to secure the banking license from the European Central Bank will take between 12 and 18 months. Co-founder and CEO Martins Sulte's stated vision is to make investing in loans as common for retail investors as investing in traditional assets like stocks and ETFs. To fund the pursuit of the banking license and the development of new products, Mintos raised €3.1 million in a 2024 crowdfunding campaign and secured a further €2 million in debt. Beyond its core offering of loan-backed securities, the platform has expanded to include investments in bonds, ETFs, and real estate as part of its multi-asset strategy.
