Malta recently updated its proposition for single family offices. Do you see this space becoming meaningful for the jurisdiction?

Absolutely. Malta is positioning itself as a serious contender in the single family office (SFO) space, thanks to its updated regulatory framework. These changes enhance an offering that already existed – SFOs are not new to Malta. Its central Mediterranean location, EU membership and combination of the Anglo-Saxon trust concept with a civil law framework have long attracted families seeking a wealth management hub.

Malta has all the ingredients necessary for a customised, holistic solution that caters to a wide spectrum of needs, including succession planning, investment advisory, corporate structuring, investment banking, and lifestyle administration.

“Recent changes to Malta’s Single Family Office framework streamline entry for high-net-worth families.”

What are the key updates to Malta’s single family office framework?

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has recently revised two key rulebooks to facilitate the establishment and operation of SFOs.

The first is an update to the Notified Professional Investor Fund (NPIF) structure, making it an optimal fund vehicle for this sector. The benefit of using an NPIF is that it only requires notification, as opposed to the more time-consuming licensing procedure when registering other types of fund structures. The new rules also allow the NPIF to be managed by an exempt fund manager – a feature unique to the SFO context. This streamlines entry for highnet-worth families seeking efficient and effective low-bureaucracy structures.

The second change is in the rulebook for trustees of family trusts, which extended scope to the Private Trust Company (PTC) – the trustee used to manage the affairs of the trust set up for the benefit of the family and which in essence houses the family office. Unlike a general trustee company, which can manage any trust, the private trust company is set up exclusively for the benefit of a single family. It would, in principle, manage the affairs and the wealth of the family office, which would in turn invest in an NPIF managed by an exempt fund manager.

This is an important amendment since it allows the PTC to be managed and controlled by a board of directors which is also composed of members of the family itself, together with the family’s trusted advisors. This means that whilst the PTC is managing the family office and its underlying assets, the family may retain an element of control and influence over its assets which provides a crucial level of comfort to the family members.

When one looks at the changes being implemented within a jurisdiction that has all the ingredients necessary for an effective and efficient solution for SFOs, I would say that Malta should definitely look at this space with optimism.

The entry into force of MiCA has been a major development in the crypto space. Does Malta have a competitive edge for players in this space?

Being the first EU country to introduce a dedicated crypto framework – the Virtual Financial Assets (VFA) Act in 2018 – positioned Malta as a pioneer in digital finance regulation. Existing VFA service providers benefit from a simplified authorisation process under MiCA, reducing friction for established players.

Firms licensed in Malta under MiCA can operate across all 27 EU member states, leveraging Malta’s regulatory efficiency and experience. Malta has been pushing back against proposals for centralised EU supervision of CASPs, arguing that national regulators are best placed to oversee their markets. This preserves Malta’s agility and responsiveness, which are attractive to innovators. By resisting premature centralisation, Malta maintains a leaner supervisory model that avoids unnecessary layers of oversight.

Malta’s early regulatory leadership in this space has evolved into a strategic advantage not just as a compliant jurisdiction but also as a launchpad for businesses within the crypto asset space. Malta is now in a position to offer a mature and innovation-friendly ecosystem to support CASPs and allow these to use Malta as a regulatory gateway to Europe.

This interview was first published in the 2026 edition of Malta Invest, the sister brand to MaltaInvest.mt and produced by Content House Group.