Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right DARE activity and leads the file all the way to the compliant launch, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in The Bahamas.
The Bahamas has one of the earliest comprehensive digital-asset regimes, rebuilt and hardened by the DARE Act 2024 - in effect since 29 July 2024 and run by the Securities Commission. You register your digital asset business, meet real investor-protection and client-asset rules, and run on a 0% corporate tax base. We map the activity and build it end to end.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
The Bahamas in brief
An early regime, rebuilt for real protection.
The Bahamas was among the first countries anywhere to write a full digital-asset law, and the DARE Act 2024 - in effect since 29 July 2024 - is the rebuilt, tougher version. The Securities Commission of The Bahamas regulates the field, and any digital asset business or service provider must be registered. The Act reaches wide: exchanges with real-time transaction reporting and systems controls, custody with client-asset protection, a first-of-its-kind disclosure regime for staking, and defined registration for stablecoins. This is investor-protection law, not a light badge.
What you build is a Bahamas company registered with the Securities Commission for the activity you carry on, backed by the ongoing duties DARE sets - capital and solvency, client-asset protection, AML/CFT, financial reporting and audits, market surveillance and anti-fraud measures, and prompt notice of material changes. It sits on a jurisdiction with no corporate income tax and a Bahamian dollar pegged one-to-one with the US dollar, a short flight from Miami. We assemble the company, the registration and the compliance programme as one file.
An early regime, rebuilt: the DARE Act 2024, in effect since 29 July 2024, run by the Securities Commission.
You register a Bahamas company by activity - exchange, custody, staking, stablecoins - with real protection rules, on a 0% tax base.
What DARE covers
Register for the digital-asset activity you run.
DARE registers digital asset businesses by activity, each with its own protection rules. We size the registration to what the business genuinely does - and build the controls the Act demands.
Register by activity: exchange, custody, staking, stablecoins - each with its own protection rules.
01 - DIGITAL ASSET EXCHANGE
Exchange
Operating a venue where clients trade digital assets - held to enhanced investor and consumer protection, real-time transaction reporting and systems-and-controls standards.
Operating a venue where clients trade digital assets - held to enhanced investor and consumer protection, real-time transaction reporting and systems-and-controls standards.
- ✓Real-time transaction reporting
- ✓Systems, controls and market surveillance
- ✓Investor-protection requirements
02 - CUSTODY
Custody and wallets
Custody of digital assets or custodial wallet services - brought squarely under DARE, with client-asset accessibility and protection at the centre.
Client-asset protection, capital and solvency, reporting. SCB and government fees apply.
- ✓Custodial wallet and safekeeping
- ✓Client-asset protection and accessibility
- ✓Capital and solvency requirements
03 - STAKING
Staking
Staking clients' digital assets or running a staking pool as a business - under a first-of-its-kind disclosure regime the 2024 Act introduced.
Staking clients' digital assets or running a staking pool as a business - under a first-of-its-kind disclosure regime the 2024 Act introduced.
- ✓Staking-as-a-business disclosure
- ✓Client-asset and risk transparency
- ✓A framework few jurisdictions have
04 - STABLECOINS / ISSUANCE
Stablecoins and token issuance
DARE defines stablecoins and sets their registration requirements - the path for issuers building payment or asset-referenced tokens from the islands.
DARE defines stablecoins and sets their registration requirements - the path for issuers building payment or asset-referenced tokens from the islands.
- ✓Defined stablecoin registration
- ✓Disclosure and reserve expectations
- ✓Issuer-side compliance built in
SCB registration and annual fees apply, and DARE sets capital and solvency requirements by activity - confirmed for your case before any work begins. The exchange and custody activities carry the heaviest protection duties.
Why The Bahamas
A serious regime on a 0% base.
An early mover that rebuilt its law for real protection - paired with no corporate tax and a dollar-pegged, US-adjacent economy.
✓
0% corporate tax
The Bahamas levies no corporate income tax and no capital gains tax on ordinary business. The activity runs untaxed at the Bahamas level - only government and SCB fees apply, laid out up front.No income, gains or personal tax.
✓
An early, hardened regime
One of the first comprehensive digital-asset laws anywhere, rebuilt as DARE 2024 with tougher investor protection. A Bahamas registration reads as a real, current authorisation.Rebuilt as DARE 2024.
✓
Dollar-pegged and US-adjacent
The Bahamian dollar is pegged one-to-one with the US dollar, and Nassau is a short hop from Miami - the practical maths of banking and travel is easy.BSD 1:1 with USD, near Miami.
✓
Frameworks others lack
Defined regimes for staking and stablecoins put the Bahamas ahead of most jurisdictions on exactly the activities that are hardest to place elsewhere.Frameworks few others have.
✓
Protection as credibility
Client-asset protection, real-time reporting and market surveillance are costs - and they are precisely what makes an exchange or custodian bankable after the last cycle.Client-asset rules make it bankable.
✓
The honest structure wins
The Securities Commission registers on the file - the controls, the capital and the AML. We build all of it to the standard the SCB and correspondent banks read as legitimacy.Registered on the file and controls.
How it compares
How The Bahamas differs from other routes.
The Bahamas is the investor-protection play on a 0% base - a rebuilt regime with staking and stablecoin frameworks few rivals offer. The honest comparison is below.
The Bahamas vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  The Bahamas | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Model today | SCB registration by activity | From registration to full licensing |
| Corporate tax | 0% | 0% offshore, or 9-30% onshore |
| Distinctive cover | Staking + stablecoin regimes | Rarely defined |
| Setup | From ~4-6 months | Weeks to years |
Model today
The BahamasSCB registration by activity
Other jurisdictionsFrom registration to full licensing
Corporate tax
The Bahamas0%
Other jurisdictions0% offshore, or 9-30% onshore
Distinctive cover
The BahamasStaking + stablecoin regimes
Other jurisdictionsRarely defined
Setup
The BahamasFrom ~4-6 months
Other jurisdictionsWeeks to years
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bahamas | DARE registration (SCB) | 0% corporate | Client-asset + capital rules, ~4-6 months |
 Cayman | Registration + licence (CIMA) | 0% corporate | Custody/platform licensed, ~4-6 months |
 BVI | VASP registration by category (FSC) | 0% corporate | Authorised representative, ~4-6 months |
 Seychelles | VASP Act - four activities (FSA) | 1.5% local · territorial | Resident director + office, ~6 months |
The BahamasLicense typeDARE registration (SCB)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsClient-asset + capital rules, ~4-6 months
CaymanLicense typeRegistration + licence (CIMA)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsCustody/platform licensed, ~4-6 months
BVILicense typeVASP registration by category (FSC)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsAuthorised representative, ~4-6 months
SeychellesLicense typeVASP Act - four activities (FSA)
Taxation1.5% local · territorial
RequirementsResident director + office, ~6 months
Doing it properly
What the SCB registration file contains.What the SCB file contains.
DARE is protection law - the file and the ongoing duties are substantial. The checklist below is what we build and maintain.
01
Bahamas company - incorporated with clean governance and ownership to the UBOs.
02
SCB registration as a digital asset business or service provider, for the activity carried on.
03
Systems and controls, and for exchanges, real-time transaction reporting and market surveillance.
04
Client-asset protection - segregation and accessibility of clients' digital assets.
05
Capital and solvency requirements appropriate to the activity.
06
An AML/CFT programme, with a compliance officer and a money-laundering reporting officer.
07
Financial reporting and regular independent audits.
08
Fit-and-proper directors, officers and beneficial owners.
09
Prompt notification to the SCB of material changes.
10
Investor education and anti-fraud measures where the activity requires them.
01
Bahamas company.
02
SCB registration by activity.
03
Systems, controls, real-time reporting.
04
Client-asset protection.
05
Capital and solvency.
06
AML/CFT + compliance officer, MLRO.
07
Financial reporting and audits.
08
Fit-and-proper directors and UBOs.
09
Notice of material changes.
10
Market surveillance and anti-fraud.
Reflects the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act 2024 and SCB rules as of 2026. It is investor-protection law, with real ongoing obligations.DARE Act 2024 + SCB rules, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to an SCB registration.
01
Strategy and activity
Which DARE activity you register for, the honest timeline and the controls plan - fixed in writing before anything incorporates.Which DARE path, timeline, controls - in writing.
02
The Bahamas company
Incorporated with clean governance and ownership transparent to the UBOs.Bahamas company, clean governance.
03
The SCB file
The registration, the systems and controls, the capital and the AML programme.Registration, controls, capital, AML.
04
Protection and banking
Client-asset protection and reporting in place; accounts arranged on disclosure.Client-asset rules; accounts.
05
Registration and run
The SCB registers the business; audits, reporting and surveillance keep it clean.SCB registers; audits keep it clean.
Quick facts
RegulatorSecurities Commission (SCB)
LawDARE Act 2024
ModelRegistration by activity
CoversExchange, custody, staking, stablecoins
VehicleBahamas company
Corporate tax0%
CurrencyBSD - pegged 1:1 to USD
SetupFrom ~4-6 months
DARE is a real, rebuilt regime - client-asset protection and reporting are the point. The upside is a serious registration, rare staking and stablecoin frameworks, and a 0% tax base.
On the ground for The Bahamas
Run from our Dubai desk, filed with the SCB.
Prifinance - Bahamas desk
Run from our Dubai office
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower, Dubai, UAE
01
Bahamas company
The vehicle the registration sits on - incorporated clean, owned transparently to the UBOs.The vehicle, built clean.
02
The SCB registration
The right activity path, the controls and the capital, assembled the way the Commission expects to read them.Activity path, controls, capital.
03
Protection and AML
Client-asset protection, market surveillance and the AML programme with a compliance officer and MLRO - built, not claimed.Client-asset rules, officers.
04
Banking and rails
Accounts or a licensed payment provider, arranged on full disclosure with a serious regime behind you.Arranged on full disclosure.
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
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in The Bahamas.
A genuine zero on direct tax for ordinary business - the appeal is the absence of a rate, paired with a rebuilt, protection-first regime.
Corporate income tax: 0%
The Bahamas levies no corporate income tax on ordinary business. Profits from the digital-asset activity are not taxed at the Bahamas level - the company runs on fees, not a tax bill.No Bahamas income tax.
No capital gains tax
There is no Bahamas capital gains tax - gains on digital assets and other property are not caught by a separate CGT charge.No capital-gains charge.
No personal income tax
The Bahamas has no personal income tax either - relevant to founders and key staff who genuinely relocate.For those who relocate.
Large-group top-up only
A 15% minimum top-up tax applies only to very large multinational groups (turnover above the OECD threshold) under the global minimum tax - not to ordinary crypto businesses. We flag it if it reaches you.15% only for big MNEs.
Only government and SCB fees
The real running cost is the annual company fee and the SCB fees, not tax. We set them out in the plan.Government + SCB, not tax.
Home-country tax still matters
Zero at the Bahamas level does not switch off tax where owners live and manage. We flag the residence and controlled-company questions up front.Owners' residence still counts.
Tax summary
Corporate income tax0% (ordinary business)
Capital gains taxNone
Personal income taxNone
Large multinational groups15% global-minimum top-up
CurrencyBSD - pegged 1:1 to USD
Real running costGovernment + SCB fees
*As of 2026. A 0% Bahamas base does not remove home-country tax on owners - we model that alongside the structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the SCB file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: the Bahamas company, the SCB registration file, the systems-and-controls and client-asset build, and the AML/KYC policy set. His document sets are the reason reviews finish cleanly.
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 clean, registered business.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
The Bahamas · DARE Act 2024
Launch your crypto project in The Bahamas with expert support.
Full-service setup - the company, the SCB registration and the protection controls, assembled as one.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is The Bahamas the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which activity, jurisdiction or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Bahamas crypto registration, answered honestly.
What is the DARE Act 2024?+
The Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act 2024, in effect since 29 July 2024 and run by the Securities Commission. It is the rebuilt, tougher version of one of the world's earliest digital-asset laws - registration plus real investor-protection duties.
Do I register or licence?+
You register your digital asset business with the Securities Commission for the activity you carry on. It is a registration regime, but a demanding one - capital, client-asset protection, reporting and audits are all real.
What does DARE cover?+
Exchanges, custody and custodial wallets, staking as a business, and stablecoins - the Act even brought staking under a first-of-its-kind disclosure regime. You register for what you actually do.
What are the client-asset rules?+
Custody and exchange activity must protect and keep client digital assets accessible, with segregation and disclosure. After the last cycle, that protection is exactly what makes a Bahamas registration bankable.
How is it taxed?+
At the Bahamas level, not at all for ordinary business - no corporate income tax, no capital gains, no personal income tax. A 15% global-minimum top-up reaches only very large multinational groups, and we flag it if it applies.
How long does it take?+
Realistically a few months once the file is complete. The controls, capital and AML in order are what keep the SCB review moving rather than in queries.
Bahamas, Cayman or BVI?+
All are 0% offshore routes. The Bahamas leads on staking and stablecoin frameworks and rebuilt investor protection; Cayman on institutional standing; BVI on a lighter registration. Model and banking decide.
Why The Bahamas with you?+
Because DARE turns on the file and the controls - the client-asset protection, the reporting and the AML. We build Bahamas registrations to the standard the SCB and the banks read, which is what makes them usable.
DARE Act 2024?+
Rebuilt digital-asset law, run by the SCB.
Register or licence?+
Registration - but a demanding one.
What it covers?+
Exchange, custody, staking, stablecoins.
Client-asset rules?+
Protection and accessibility, disclosed.
Tax?+
0% ordinary business; top-up only for big groups.
How long?+
A few months once the file is complete.
Vs Cayman / BVI?+
Bahamas leads on staking + stablecoins.
Why with us?+
File and controls to SCB and bank standard.
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
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Bahamas registration.
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 activity, jurisdiction or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Bahamas activity 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 activity, 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 Securities Commission of The Bahamas or the Government of The Bahamas. Registrations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authority.