Strike scores New York BitLicense, clears way for full bitcoin services across the state Strike has been granted a BitLicense and a money transmitter license by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), allowing the bitcoin-focused payments firm to offer its products to individuals and businesses throughout New York — one of the most tightly regulated crypto markets in the U.S. “This is a defining milestone for Strike,” founder and CEO Jack Mallers said. “With our BitLicense, we can now bring that mission to New York, the global center of finance.” What the approval enables The NYDFS authorization lets Strike provide a broad set of services to New Yorkers, including: - Buying and selling bitcoin (BTC) - Direct-deposit salary conversion into bitcoin and the ability to convert up to 100% of wages - Bill payments funded from a bitcoin balance - Trading tools such as recurring purchases and price-triggered orders - Fee waivers on conversions for deposits up to $20,000 per month Strike also emphasized that customer bitcoin and cash balances are held one-to-one and are not lent out or used for company operations. Context and what’s next The BitLicense advances Strike’s expansion strategy announced in November 2025, when Mallers said the platform would add bitcoin-backed lending to let users borrow fiat while continuing to hold their bitcoin. That proposal places Strike in a lending category that experienced notable stress during the 2022 crypto downturn, when lenders such as BlockFi, Celsius and Genesis filed for bankruptcy. Regulatory oversight With the license comes NYDFS supervision, which subjects Strike to audits, capital-reserve requirements and cybersecurity examinations — a heavier compliance regime than many other U.S. states impose. Why it matters Gaining BitLicense approval opens a major U.S. market to Strike’s payroll and bitcoin-first products and signals the company’s readiness to operate under strict regulatory scrutiny. For New Yorkers, it brings another regulated on-ramp for securing paychecks and everyday payments denominated in bitcoin, while putting renewed focus on the safety model Strike promises as it prepares to expand into lending. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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