Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the FSRC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Antigua & Barbuda.
Antigua & Barbuda has a real, dedicated crypto law. The Digital Assets Business Act 2020 gives the FSRC a proper licensing regime for digital-asset businesses, in a stable English common-law Caribbean jurisdiction. We build that file end to end.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Antigua & Barbuda in brief
A dedicated digital-asset law in the Caribbean.
Antigua & Barbuda was an early Caribbean mover on crypto. Its Digital Assets Business Act, 2020 created a dedicated licensing regime supervised by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission - the FSRC - covering businesses that operate digital-asset exchanges, provide custody or wallet services, transfer digital assets, or act as issuers and market-makers. This is a real licence under a purpose-built statute, not a company registered into a grey zone. The Act sits inside an English common-law system, with the legal predictability that brings for contracts, ownership and dispute resolution.
The jurisdiction is a stable, English-speaking twin-island state with a long history of international financial services and a well-known citizenship-by-investment programme, which keeps it connected and internationally minded. Corporate tax sits at 25%, and the FSRC supervises the licensed business on an ongoing basis - AML, custody and governance are real obligations, which is what makes a DABA licence credible with banks and counterparties. We build the file end to end, from the Antiguan company to the FSRC application and authorisation.
Antigua & Barbuda has a dedicated crypto law: the Digital Assets Business Act 2020, supervised by the FSRC - a real licence for exchanges, custody, transfer, issuance and market-making.
It sits inside an English common-law system, in a stable, internationally-minded state. Corporate tax is 25%, and the FSRC supervises licensees on an ongoing basis.
The regime
A DABA licence, scoped to your activity.
The Digital Assets Business Act covers a defined set of digital-asset activities under the FSRC. The first job is scoping which your model needs; the second is building the file to the FSRC's standard. We do both.
The DABA covers a defined set of digital-asset activities under the FSRC - we scope which your model needs.
01 - DABA · CORE ACTIVITIES
Exchange, custody, transfer
The core of the Act: operating a digital-asset exchange, providing custodial or wallet services and transferring digital assets on behalf of clients - licensed and supervised by the FSRC.
The core of the Act: operating a digital-asset exchange, providing custodial or wallet services and transferring digital assets on behalf of clients - licensed and supervised by the FSRC.
- ✓Operating a digital-asset exchange
- ✓Custodial and wallet services
- ✓Transfer of digital assets for clients
- ✓AML/CFT to FSRC standards, with reporting
- ✓Safeguarding of client digital assets
- ✓Ongoing FSRC supervision
02 - DABA · ISSUANCE & MARKETS
English common lawIssuance and market-making
The Act also reaches issuers of digital assets and market-making activity. Where your model creates or provides liquidity in digital assets, the FSRC authorises that scope alongside the core services.
The Act also reaches issuers and market-makers - authorised alongside the core exchange and custody services.
- ✓Issuance of digital assets
- ✓Market-making and liquidity provision
- ✓Combined with exchange and custody
- ✓Disclosure and conduct obligations
- ✓Governance and fit-and-proper ownership
- ✓One regulator - the FSRC
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The FSRC scopes requirements by activity; the real investment is the file - capital, substance and documentation are scoped individually in your quote.
Why Antigua & Barbuda
An early mover, on common-law ground.
The framework rests on the Digital Assets Business Act 2020, supervised by the FSRC - inside a stable, English common-law Caribbean state.
✓
A dedicated, early law
Antigua & Barbuda passed a purpose-built digital-asset statute in 2020, ahead of much of the region. You build against a real Act with a defined regulator, not an improvised interpretation of general rules.A purpose-built statute from 2020.
✓
English common law
A common-law system with predictable contract, property and dispute-resolution rules that international partners understand. Structuring and enforcement happen on familiar, stable ground.Predictable, familiar legal ground.
✓
A credible FSRC licence
The FSRC supervises licensees on an ongoing basis, with real AML, custody and governance duties. That makes a DABA licence a credible stamp - the substance behind it is what banks read.Ongoing supervision - real substance.
✓
An internationally-minded state
A long history of international financial services and a well-known citizenship-by-investment programme keep the jurisdiction connected, English-speaking and used to cross-border business.Connected, English-speaking, cross-border.
✓
25% corporate tax
A straightforward 25% corporate rate - a clean figure to model, in a jurisdiction where the licence, not a tax gimmick, is the product.A clean figure; the licence is the product.
✓
A Caribbean base with substance
For a crypto business that wants a licensed Caribbean home under common law - rather than a nameplate offshore - Antigua & Barbuda offers a real, supervised regime.A real, supervised regime - not a nameplate.
How it compares
How Antigua & Barbuda differs from other routes.
Antigua & Barbuda is the early-mover, common-law Caribbean licence. The honest comparison is below.
Antigua & Barbuda vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Antigua & Barbuda | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | DABA licence (FSRC) | Varies - licence or company route |
| Legal system | English common law | Varies |
| Supervision | Ongoing FSRC oversight | Ranges widely |
| Corporate tax | 25% | Ranges widely |
Regulatory regime
Antigua & BarbudaDABA licence (FSRC)
Other jurisdictionsVaries - licence or company route
Legal system
Antigua & BarbudaEnglish common law
Other jurisdictionsVaries
Supervision
Antigua & BarbudaOngoing FSRC oversight
Other jurisdictionsRanges widely
Corporate tax
Antigua & Barbuda25%
Other jurisdictionsRanges widely
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua & Barbuda | DABA licence (FSRC) | 25% corporate | Dedicated law, supervised |
 Bermuda | Digital Asset Business Act (BMA) | 0% corporate | Premium, thorough |
 Bahamas | DARE Act (SCB) | 0% corporate | Comprehensive, supervised |
 BVI | VASP Act 2022 (FSC) | 0% corporate | Registration, AML-led |
Antigua & BarbudaLicense typeDABA licence (FSRC)
Taxation25% corporate
RequirementsDedicated law, supervised
BermudaLicense typeDigital Asset Business Act (BMA)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsPremium, thorough
BahamasLicense typeDARE Act (SCB)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsComprehensive, supervised
BVILicense typeVASP Act 2022 (FSC)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsRegistration, AML-led
Before you apply
Requirements for the DABA licence.Requirements for the DABA licence.
The FSRC reviews a DABA file to a real financial-services standard. The checklist below is what a file that passes is built around - to the Digital Assets Business Act and the FSRC's rules.
01
Antiguan entity - a locally incorporated company with genuine presence and management in Antigua & Barbuda.
02
Fit & proper management - competent directors and officers with clean records.
03
Licensed activity scope - the DABA activities your model needs, defined and applied for.
04
Capital - as the FSRC requires for your activity and risk profile.
05
AML/CFT framework - KYC, EDD, monitoring and reporting, with a named compliance officer.
06
Safeguarding of client assets - segregation, custody policy and key-management design.
07
Governance - ownership disclosed to UBOs, conflicts, complaints and consumer-protection procedures.
08
Systems and security - resilient technology and record-keeping the FSRC can inspect.
09
Business plan - services, target markets, volumes and financials the FSRC can interrogate.
10
Local substance - a real presence appropriate to the licensed activity.
11
Wind-down plan - credible and documented.
01
Antiguan company with genuine presence.
02
Fit & proper directors and officers.
03
Licensed activity scope under DABA.
04
Capital - as the FSRC requires.
05
AML/CFT with a named compliance officer.
06
Safeguarding of client digital assets.
07
Ownership disclosed to UBOs.
08
Resilient systems and record-keeping.
09
Business plan the FSRC can test.
10
Local substance for the activity.
11
Credible wind-down plan.
Reflects the Digital Assets Business Act 2020 and FSRC practice as of 2026. Operating a digital-asset business without an FSRC licence is unlawful.Digital Assets Business Act 2020 + FSRC practice, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the FSRC licence.
01
Perimeter and strategy
We map your services to the DABA activities and fix scope, capital and timeline in writing against the FSRC's requirements.DABA activities, scope, capital - in writing.
02
Antiguan company and substance
Local incorporation, registered office, directors and the governance layer - the presence the FSRC assesses behind the file.Local incorporation, office, directors.
03
The application file
AML/CFT framework, custody and systems documentation, business plan and capital - assembled to the FSRC's standards.AML, custody, plan, capital - FSRC-grade.
04
FSRC review
The application and question rounds with the FSRC - we answer every one and carry the file to the decision.Application and question rounds - answered.
05
Licence and operations
The DABA licence granted and the business live, with ongoing AML, custody and reporting duties we can keep running.Licence granted; ongoing duties we can run.
Quick facts
RegulatorFSRC
FrameworkDigital Assets Business Act 2020
Licence scopeBy digital-asset activity
Legal systemEnglish common law
SupervisionOngoing FSRC oversight
Corporate tax25%
SubstanceLocal company + presence
AMLReal, supervised
The DABA licence is a real, supervised authorisation - the file quality and the substance are what carry it through the FSRC's review.
On the ground in Antigua & Barbuda
Run from our Dubai office, with local counsel.
Prifinance - Antigua desk
St. John's · Antigua & Barbuda
St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda
01
Antiguan incorporation
Local company formation and the corporate layer the FSRC expects - structured for the DABA licence application.Local company for the DABA application.
02
The licence file
AML/CFT framework, custody and systems documentation, business plan and capital - drafted by us and defended through the FSRC's review.AML, custody, plan, capital - to standard.
03
Substance and governance
Directors, compliance staffing and the local presence the licensed activity requires - assembled pragmatically.Directors, staffing, local presence.
04
Banking and operations
Accounts arranged on full disclosure, matched to the flows - the licensed business live on rails that hold.Accounts on disclosure; live on solid rails.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Antigua & Barbuda.
Company profits carry a 25% corporate rate, inside a jurisdiction where the value is the licence and the common-law framework rather than a tax gimmick.
25% corporate rate
Standard corporate income tax is 25% on company profits - a clean figure to model. Ordinary deductions apply, and the licensed business is taxed as an ordinary company.A clean figure to model.
No personal income tax
Antigua & Barbuda levies no personal income tax on individuals - relevant at the owner and staff level, which we model alongside the company position.Owner and staff level - modelled with the company.
Indirect taxes to plan
The ABST sales tax and other indirect levies apply to domestic supplies in the usual way. We map them to your activity so nothing surprises the operating model.ABST on domestic supplies.
Treaty and structuring
As a small open economy, cross-border flows and any treaty position are structured deliberately for an internationally-facing crypto business - not left to chance.Cross-border flows structured deliberately.
A licence-led base
The draw here is the DABA licence and the common-law framework, not aggressive tax engineering. That is what makes a bank comfortable with the structure.The licence, not tax engineering, is the draw.
Records serve both
The AML and FSRC record-keeping the licence requires also underpins the tax position - regulator-grade books double as tax-office-grade books.Regulator-grade books serve tax too.
Tax summary
Corporate income tax25%
Personal income taxNone
Sales tax (ABST)On domestic supplies
Cross-border flowsStructured deliberately
CurrencyXCD (USD-pegged)
Crypto-specific rulesVia DABA regime
*As of 2026. The value is the licence and common-law framework - we model the tax position honestly around it.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Antiguan company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, FSRC-licensed business.
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Antigua & Barbuda · FSRC
Launch your crypto project in Antigua & Barbuda with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from company registration to the DABA licence and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Antigua & Barbuda the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which licence scope or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Antigua & Barbuda crypto licence, answered.
Does Antigua & Barbuda license crypto?+
Yes - through the Digital Assets Business Act 2020, supervised by the FSRC. It is a real, dedicated licence covering exchanges, custody, transfer, issuance and market-making, not a company registered into a grey zone.
Which activities does the licence cover?+
Operating a digital-asset exchange, custodial and wallet services, transfer of digital assets, issuance and market-making. We map your model to the exact DABA activities and scope the authorisation accordingly.
How much capital is required?+
The FSRC sets capital by activity and risk profile, so there is no single figure. We scope your capital against the FSRC's requirements for your specific services rather than quote a generic number.
What substance does the FSRC expect?+
A locally incorporated company with genuine presence and management, fit-and-proper directors, a real compliance function and systems that run. Substance appropriate to the licensed activity is part of a passing file.
What is the legal system?+
English common law - with predictable contract, property and dispute-resolution rules that international partners understand. That predictability is part of what makes a DABA licence credible.
How are crypto companies taxed?+
A 25% corporate rate on company profits, with no personal income tax at the individual level. Indirect taxes apply to domestic supplies. The value here is the licence and framework, not tax engineering.
Why Antigua & Barbuda rather than another Caribbean base?+
It was an early mover with a dedicated statute, on common-law ground, with ongoing FSRC supervision. For a business wanting a real, supervised Caribbean licence rather than a nameplate, it is a strong fit.
Is the FSRC supervision real?+
Yes - licensees carry ongoing AML, custody and governance obligations under FSRC oversight. That is precisely what makes the licence credible with banks and counterparties, rather than a badge in name only.
Does Antigua license crypto?+
Yes - the DABA 2020, supervised by the FSRC.
Which activities?+
Exchange, custody, transfer, issuance, market-making.
Capital?+
By FSRC, by activity and risk - no single figure.
Substance?+
Local company, real presence and compliance.
Legal system?+
English common law - predictable and familiar.
Company taxes?+
25% corporate; no personal income tax.
Why Antigua?+
An early mover with a real, supervised licence.
Real supervision?+
Yes - ongoing FSRC AML and governance oversight.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
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Google
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One message away from your Antigua licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which licence scope or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Antigua licence scope fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the FSRC or any other public authority. Licences are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.