How Simplify Labs Is Future-Proofing Crypto Exchanges in Europe
Only ~100 out of 5,000 crypto exchanges in Europe are expected to survive MiCA.
Let that sink in. In this conversation with Vadym Rozov, founder of Simplify Labs, we explore why that’s the case—and what founders can do about it.
From Web2 outsourcing to building infrastructure for MiCA
Vadym’s journey began in Ukraine’s outsourcing scene, but over the years, he transitioned from building for others to building core infrastructure for the future of regulated crypto in Europe. His company, Simplify Labs, now powers licensed exchanges—including RX in Malta—offering a full-stack, white-label crypto exchange solution.
Their platform includes everything from spot trading and fiat onramps to crypto cards—all tailored to the MiCA and DORA frameworks. It’s not theoretical. It’s live.
The MiCA cliff: why most won’t make it
Vadym doesn’t mince words: MiCA is a filtering event. Of the 5,000+ registered entities in Europe, only around 100 will meet the compliance demands by 2026.
One major reason? Legacy tech. Most exchanges weren’t built with regulatory scrutiny in mind. Simplify Labs rebuilt everything—from custody to AML/KYC to transaction logging—to be compliant from the ground up.
“Most existing exchange tech simply won’t survive MiCA.”
Travel Rule, meet reality
Another highlight of the discussion was the Travel Rule—a requirement that every crypto transaction carry identifiable sender and receiver information. Vadym outlines how this fundamentally changes the nature of crypto transfers, especially for centralized exchanges (CEXs).
While some see this as regulatory overreach, Vadym frames it as an inevitable shift that builders must embrace.
Banks are becoming exchanges
Vadym points to a trend most in the space are beginning to observe: traditional banks are entering crypto—and they have the trust, infrastructure, and capital to do it at scale.
In response, exchanges must evolve, offering more than just trading interfaces. Simplify Labs anticipates this by providing modular compliance, fiat integration, and support for rapidly evolving regulation.
“Banks are becoming exchanges. Exchanges are becoming banks.”
Building for regulation from day one
Vadym makes a compelling case for designing with compliance in mind—not treating it as a patch later on. His team invested in penetration testing, scalable engineering, and ongoing legal alignment long before MiCA became headline news.
The result? A platform that’s ready to launch a compliant exchange in under a month, with several successful client deployments already.
lessons for builders
If you’re building crypto infrastructure in Europe, here’s what this episode teaches:
- Compliance isn’t optional — It’s the new moat. Ignore it, and you’ll get left behind.
- Modular platforms win — Especially when regulation is a moving target.
- Speed matters — The ability to go live quickly, with legal clearance, is a key differentiator.
- Real-world use counts — Simplify’s experience with live, regulated exchanges shows in the product’s robustness.
closing thoughts
Vadym isn’t raising funds. He’s looking for serious partners—builders, founders, and institutions ready to launch regulated crypto platforms in the EU.
This episode doesn’t offer fluff or hype. It’s a grounded, tactical look at what it takes to not just survive—but thrive—in crypto’s next regulatory era.
Listen to the full episode
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If you’d like to be featured or have questions about crypto regulation and infrastructure, get in touch via Web3pod.xyz.
