NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is subject to various commitments and contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business. The following discussion summarizes the Company’s significant commitments and contingencies as of March 31, 2026.

Office Facility and Other Operating Leases

Irvine, California, USA (Company’s Headquarters)

Effective October 29, 2019, to the present, the Company leased office space at 200 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92618. As per the Commitment Term of the lease (“Agreement”), this Agreement shall continue on a month-to-month basis (any term after the Commitment Term, also known as “Renewal Term”). The Commitment Term and all subsequent Renewal Terms shall constitute the “Term.” The Company may terminate this Agreement by delivering to the lessor Form (“Exit Form”) at least one (1) whole calendar month before the month in which the Company intends to terminate this Agreement (“Termination Effective Month”). The Company is entitled to use the office and conference space if needed. The new rent payment or membership fee for the Irvine Office is $95 per month, compared to the previous rent payment or membership fee for the New York Office of $890 per month, which covers general and administrative expenses. This agreement is classified as a service contract rather than a lease under ASC 842 - Leases, and payments are accounted for as operating expenses rather than recognizing a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset or lease liability.

Brisbane, Australia (ADS Office)

Effective January 1, 2024, to the present, the Company has leased office space at Level 38, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000, Australia. This lease will continue on a month-to-month basis. ADS may terminate this Agreement by delivering to the lessor at least one (1) whole calendar month before the month in which ADS intends to terminate the lease. ADS is entitled to use the office and conference space if needed. The new rent payment or membership fee for the ADS Office is approximately $125 per month and is included as a general and administrative expense. This agreement is classified as a service contract rather than a lease under ASC 842 - Leases, and payments are accounted for as operating expenses rather than recognizing a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset or lease liability.

Limassol, Cyprus Lease (Company’s Executive Rental)

From February 2019 to July 2023, the Company leased office space in Limassol District, Cyprus, from an unrelated party for a year. The office’s monthly rent payment is $1,750, which is included in the general and administrative expenses. From July 2023 to the present, the Company has leased a larger office space in the Limassol District, Cyprus, from an unrelated party for a one-year term. The office’s monthly rent payment is approximately $3,500, which is included in the general and administrative expenses. From July 2023 to the present, the Company has leased office space for its Chief Executive Officer. The office’s monthly rent payment is $3,500, which is included in the general and administrative expenses. The down payment for the lease was approximately $6,300. The lease is for one year and is renewable two months prior to the term’s end in June 2026. This agreement is classified as a residential rental contract rather than a commercial lease and does not create a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset under ASC 842.

Limassol, Cyprus Lease, Europe (ATECH Office)

Effective August 26, 2024, ATECH has entered into a Sublease Agreement for office premises located on the ground floor at 10A-10C Eleftheriou Venizelou Street, Limassol, Cyprus. The sublease is between Aldeon Property Partners Ltd (the “Sublessor”) and AlchemyTech Ltd (the “Sublessee”), with FDCTech, Inc. acting as the Guarantor. The leased premises are designated strictly for office use, and any other usage is explicitly prohibited under the terms of the agreement. The lease term is for twenty-four (24) months, commencing on October 1, 2024, and expiring on September 30, 2026. The lease agreement includes an option to extend the tenancy for up to two additional two-year terms. The rent is subject to a 5% increase for each renewal period. Under the agreement, the Sublessee is obligated to pay a total rent of €192,000 over the lease term, payable in monthly installments of €8,000 (or approximately $8,600) plus VAT. Under ASC 842 - Leases, this agreement qualifies as a lease, and the Company will recognize a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset and corresponding lease liability on its financial statements.

NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (continued)

St. Julian, Malta (AML Office)

Effective July 11, 2024, to the present, AML leased office space with Regus Malta at Portomaso Business Center, Portomaso, St. Julian, PTM01, Malta. As per the lease, this agreement shall continue on a month-to-month basis (any term after the term, also known as “Renewal Term”). The term and all subsequent renewal terms shall constitute the “Term.” AML may terminate this agreement by delivering to Regus Malta at least one (1) whole calendar month before the month in which AML intends to terminate this lease. AML is entitled to use the office and conference space if needed. The rent payment or membership fee for the AML Office is €1,659 per month. This agreement is classified as a service contract rather than a lease under ASC 842 - Leases, and payments are accounted for as operating expenses rather than recognizing a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset or lease liability.

Tel Aviv, Israel (AML Sales Office)

Effective July 1, 2023, AML has entered into a service agreement with Mindspace Ltd. for the use of office space and related services at Menachem Begin 11, Ramat Gan, Israel. The agreement provides access to designated office space, common areas, and various business services, including internet connectivity, printing, and access to conference rooms. The agreement operates on a monthly, automatically renewing basis with a total monthly fee of $4,500 (including VAT). Additionally, an advance deposit of $6,300 was paid as security for the Company’s obligations under the agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Mindspace retains full discretion over space allocation and may relocate the Company to a different office within the premises, provided that it gives prior notice. AML does not have exclusive control over a specific office unit, and Mindspace provides shared services across its facilities. The agreement does not create a lease under ASC 842 – Leases and is accounted for as a service contract. As a result, payments under this agreement are classified as operating expenses rather than recognizing a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset or lease liability.

London, United Kingdom (APL Office)

Effective December 20, 2024, APL entered into a lease agreement for office space located on the fifth floor at 142 Central Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V BAR. Agop Tanielian and Hourig Mercedes Tanielian hold the lease as landlords, and the Company, through its subsidiary Alchemy Prime Limited, is the tenant. The lease has a fixed term of five years, commencing in 2024 and expiring in 2029, with an annual rent of £112,500 (or $12,000 monthly), payable in quarterly installments. APL is also liable for service charges, insurance, rent, and maintenance responsibilities as specified in the agreement. The lease includes an option to terminate (“Break Clause”) on or after 2026, provided that a four-month written notice is given prior. Additionally, the agreement requires APL to restore the premises upon termination, including the removal of any alterations or fixtures made during the lease term. Under ASC 842 - Leases, this agreement qualifies as a lease, and the Company will recognize a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset and corresponding lease liability on its financial statements.

The total rental payment for the period ending March 31, 2026, was $83,753.

Employment Agreement

The Company compensates its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer at $15,000 per month each on an independent-contractor basis (see Note 5, Related Party Transactions – Accrued Expenses to Related Parties). For additional information regarding executive compensation, refer to Item 11 (Executive Compensation) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 22, 2026.

Accrued Interest

At March 31, 2026, and December 31, 2025, the cumulative accrued interest for the SBA loan and other non-current loans was $38,363 and $42,396, respectively.

NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (continued)

Pending Litigation

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in the following legal proceedings:

Asher Alkoby, et al. v. FDCTech

This action is pending in the London Circuit Commercial Court under Claim Number LM-2024-000330, filed December 9, 2024. The claimants are Asher Alkoby and other former shareholders of Alchemy Markets Ltd. (“AML”), a Malta-incorporated broker that the Company purchased in June 2023. Following completion of the acquisition, the Company discovered that in 2019, the target company had anti-money laundering deficiencies and was fined by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit. An external audit also revealed that the previous shareholders had taken loans from the company that were never repaid, resulting in net capital being lower than disclosed during negotiations. Based on these findings, FDCTech withheld the final payment to the sellers.

The claimants are seeking approximately $1.02 million in amounts they allege are owing under the Share Sale Agreement, which they are seeking to rectify to make legally enforceable. The Company has counterclaimed for a declaration that the Share Sale Agreement is ineffective and unenforceable and seeks repayment of $915,000 paid to the sellers. On October 17, 2025, the Court granted the claimants permission to amend their claim to include a third claimant. The Company has prepared an Amended Defense and Counterclaim through Counsel, which was served May 9, 2025. A Costs and Case Management Conference took place on November 17, 2025. The trial is currently scheduled to take place in November 2026.

FDCTech, Inc. v. Intelligenceline.com, Fintelegram.com, et al.

This action is pending in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. FDCTech alleges that the defendants, through their websites Intelligenceline.com, Fintelegram.com, and Criticalintel.com, published false and defamatory statements accusing the Company of fraud, illegal conduct, and regulatory violations. The Company claims these statements have caused significant reputational and financial harm, including lost business opportunities, and further alleges that the defendants engaged in an extortion scheme by demanding payment for the removal of defamatory content. The complaint asserts claims for defamation per se, defamation per quod, trade libel, and false light, seeking damages and injunctive relief. The complaint was filed in 2025 but had not yet been served as of December 31, 2025. A hearing took place on December 15, 2025, on the Company’s motion. FDCTech conducted the investigation and presented its findings during the management conference held on April 20, 2026. FDCTech is currently awaiting the court’s final judgment based on the outcome of the investigation.

Alchemy Markets Ltd. v. Il-Korp għall-Analizi ta’ Informazzjoni Finanzjarja (Ref: 104/2023)

This appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal (Inferior Jurisdiction) in Malta. On September 23, 2023, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (“FIAU”) imposed an administrative penalty of €419,997 and a follow-up directive on Alchemy Markets Ltd. (formerly NSFX Limited), a subsidiary of the Company, based on a compliance examination conducted between November 25, 2019, and December 5, 2019. The examination occurred approximately four years prior to the decision and under different ownership and control of the subsidiary. The Company filed this appeal on October 19, 2023, challenging the decision-making process and the law on which it was based, asserting that the penalty is arbitrary and excessive. The Company seeks to overturn the administrative penalty and the follow-up directive imposed by FIAU. On October 24, 2025, a hearing was held for the Company to continue presenting evidence. The Court scheduled an additional hearing for the FIAU to cross-examine the Company’s witnesses for February 2, 2026, and then for April 15 2026, heard before Madam Justice Rachel Montebello, following which the matter will be adjourned for final legal submissions.

Alchemy Markets Ltd. v. L-Avukat tal-Istat u Il-Korp għall-Analizi ta’ Informazzjoni Finanzjarja (Ref: 159/2024)

This constitutional challenge is pending before the First Hall Civil Court (Constitutional Jurisdiction) in Malta and relates to the same September 23, 2023, FIAU decision described above. The Company filed this application on April 2, 2024, challenging: (i) the composition of the FIAU and its enabling law; (ii) the decision-making processes which allegedly breach the Company’s fundamental human right to a fair hearing; and (iii) that, given the penal nature of the penalty and in alleged breach of the Constitution of Malta, the Company was not adjudged by an independent court. The Company requests the Constitutional Court to set aside the FIAU decision in its entirety. A first procedural hearing took place on May 7, 2024, and the Company has brought its evidence in support of the claim. The case remains pending; the next hearing in the matter is scheduled for January 28, 2026.

Management is unaware of any other actions, suits, investigations, or proceedings (public or private) pending or threatened against or affecting the Company, its subsidiaries, or any of their respective assets, other than those described above and other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business.

Tax Compliance Matters

From its inception to the present, the Company’s officers have been paid as independent contractors. As of March 31, 2026, the Company believes its payroll tax liabilities are not yet estimated. The Company’s federal taxes are acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service.