The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has become aware of an entity by the name of Bitcoin & Autotrader which has an internet presence at https://bitcoinautotrader.co/ and a physical address at 361 Triq l-Imdina, Ħal Qormi QRM 9012. The website claims that the entity’s owner and CEO is Jomic Calleja going by the last name Grech. The website claims to be a certified trading platform. The entity and individual are promoting the provision of the service of buying and selling of virtual financial assets (“VFA”) through the above website and through social media. The provision of the services of buying and selling VFAs is an activity which requires a licence under the Virtual Financial Assets Act (CAP 590 of the Laws of Malta) (the ‘Act’).
The Authority would like to inform the public that Bitcoin & Autotrader is NOT a Maltese registered company, additionally, Jomic Calleja and the entity are NEITHER operating under the transitory provision in terms of Article 62 of the Act NOR are authorised to provide any financial services in or from Malta.
The MFSA would like to remind consumers of financial services not to enter into any financial services transaction unless they have ascertained that the entity with whom the transaction is being made is authorised to provide such services by the MFSA or another reputable financial services regulator. Financial regulations obliges licensed businesses to comply with strict legal requirements in the interest of investors and the markets. The activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated making transactions with such entities risky for consumers.
A list of MFSA licensed entities is available and can be viewed on the official website of the MFSA at https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/.
Verżjoni bil-Malti
L-Awtorità għas-Servizzi Finanzjarji ta’ Malta (“MFSA”) tixtieq tavża lill-pubbliku dwar entità bl-isem ta’ Bitcoin & Autotrader li għandha preżenza fuq l-Internet fis-sit elettroniku https://bitcoinautotrader.co/ u indirizz fiżiku f’361 Triq l-Imdina, Ħal Qormi QRM 9012. Is-sit elettroniku jsostni li s-sid tal-entità u Kap Eżekuttiv huwa Jomic Calleja li juża wkoll l-kunjom Grech. Is-sit elettroniku jsostni li dan huwa pjattaforma ċertifikata tat-‘trading’. L-entità u l-individwu qed jippromwovu s-servizz ta’ bejgħ u xiri ta’ assi finanzjarji virtwali (“VFA”) permezz tas-sit elettroniku msemmi u permezz tal-medja soċjali. Il-provvediment ta’ servizzi ta’ bejgħ u xiri ta’ VFAs hija attività li teħtieġ liċenzja maħruġa taħt l-Att dwar l-Attiv Finanzjarju Virtwali (Kap. 590 tal-Liġijiet ta’ Malta) (l-“Att).
L-Awtorità tixtieq tinforma lill-pubbliku li Bitcoin & Autotrader MHIX kumpanija reġistrata Malta u, aktar minn hekk, Jomic Calleja u l-entità m’huma LA qed joperaw taħt id-dispożizzjonijiet tranżitorji skont it-termini tal-Artikolu 62 tal-Att U LANQAS m’huma awtorizzati biex jipprovdu xi servizzi finanzjarji f’Malta.
L-MFSA tixtieq tfakkar lill-konsumaturi tas-servizzi finanzjarji biex ma jidħlu fl-ebda tranżazzjoni ta’ servizzi finanzjarji qabel ikunu aċċertaw li l-entità li magħha qed issir it-tranżazzjoni hija awtorizzata li tipprovdi dawk is-servizzi mill-MFSA jew minn xi regolatur ieħor tas-servizzi finanzjarji kif applikabbli. Ir-regolamenti finanzjarji jobbligaw lin-negozji liċenzjati biex jikkonformaw ma’ rekwiżiti legali stretti fl-interess tal-investituri u s-swieq. L-attivitajiet ta’ entitajiet li mhumiex liċenzjati mhumiex regolati u dan ifisser li t-transazzjonijiet ma’ dawn l-entitajiet ikunu riskjużi għall-konsumaturi.
Lista ta’ entitajiet liċenzjati mill-MFSA hija disponibbli fuq is-sit uffiċjali tal-MFSA fuq http://www.mfsa.mt/pages/licenceholders.aspx.
