FinTech
Practice Areas
Joseph Borg heads both the Fintech and the Gaming and Gambling practices of WH Partners. Joe also practices in the areas of Esports, IT, Telecoms and Intellectual Property Law.
Joe is a Co-Founder and currently the Vice-President of Bitmalta, which is a non-profit organisation with a mission to promoting and stimulating discussion about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Malta. Before joining WH Partners he occupied the post of Chief Regulatory Officer of the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority.
Joseph graduated with an LL.M. with Distinction in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). He holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta, with a thesis entitled, ‘Protection of Trademarks Against Domain Names’.
In 2009 he completed a Regulator Development Program organized by the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV). In 2012 Joseph was awarded a certificate in Casino Management by the UNLV.
He successfully completed the Oxford FinTech Program with the Said Business School, University of Oxford.
Career
- Legal and regulatory advisory on FinTech, digital assets and blockchain
- Licensing and compliance for financial institutions, PSPs, EMIs and CASPs
- Drafting and advising on financial services regulation
- Corporate and commercial legal work in FinTech
- Intellectual property, IT, telecoms and e‑commerce legal issues
- Gaming and gambling regulatory and compliance work
Professional Memberships
- Vice‑President and Co‑Founder, Bitmalta (blockchain & crypto‑assets advocacy)
- General Member, International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL)
- Lecturer, Gaming Law – University of Malta
- Chair, Virtual Assets Business Section :The Malta Chamber
- Malta Chamber of Advocates membership (as per professional listing)
Publications
Joseph regularly contributes thought leadership and analysis on fintech regulation, digital assets and MiCA, including insights featured on the WH Partners news feed and industry events. Examples include commentary on MiCA developments and virtual assets regulation.
Clients
FinTech and crypto‑asset companies
Virtual Financial Asset Service Providers (CASPs)
- Embedded finance and payment service providers
- Electronic money institutions and banks
- Blockchain innovators and technology platforms
- Gaming, gambling and esports operators
Work Highlights
- Coordinating licensing applications for VFA Service Providers, including the largest global institutional cryptocurrency broker
- Advising an embedded finance services provider on obtaining an electronic money institution licence in Europe
- Supporting a multinational fintech client with licensing strategy in Malta
- Ongoing regulatory, compliance and advisory roles for high‑profile fintech and digital services clients
Industry Sector Expertise
- FinTech and blockchain regulation
- Virtual financial asset (VFA) frameworks
- Electronic money and financial institution regulation
- Crypto‑assets and distributed ledger technology
- Gaming & gambling regulatory law
- IT, e‑commerce & telecoms legal frameworks
Expert in these Jurisdictions
- Malta (primary practice base)
- United Arab Emirates (via WH Partners’ UAE desk)
His work also involves EU‑wide regulatory frameworks, particularly in fintech and digital asset spaces.
Languages Spoken
English, Maltese, Italian
Education
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
LL.M. with Distinction in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law
University of Malta
Doctor of Laws (Ph.D.)
International Gaming Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Regulator Development Program
Said Business School, University of Oxford
Oxford FinTech Program
Awards
Band 1 Ranking
Chambers FinTech
2026
Leading Individual in Fintech
Legal 500 EMEA
Experience
- Senior Advisor and Head of Gaming & Blockchain Advisory at WH Partners (2013–2018)
- Partner and Head of FinTech & Innovation at WH Partners (2018–present)
- Co‑Head of WH Partners’ UAE desk (2023–present)
- Chief Regulatory Officer, Lotteries & Gaming Authority, Malta
- Board Member, International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)
- Legal Counsel, Vodafone Malta