Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right track and licence scope, and leads the file all the way to the CBCS decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Curaçao.
Curaçao now supervises crypto properly. The Central Bank (CBCS) runs a VASP regime, overhauled in 2026 into a centralised B2B/B2C model, with VASPs exempt from corporate income tax. A Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands base for Caribbean and Latin American reach. 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
Curaçao in brief
A proper VASP regime, with a tax exemption.
Curaçao has moved crypto onto a supervised footing. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten - the CBCS - now holds the mandate to govern virtual-asset service providers, and in 2026 the jurisdiction overhauled its approach into a centralised, high-transparency model split by business-to-business and business-to-consumer activity. VASPs now sit alongside banks, insurers, trust companies and investment firms under CBCS supervision. Licences issued under the older, looser frameworks are valid only until 1 July 2026, so the direction is clear: the grey era is closing and a regulated, centralised regime is taking its place.
Two things make Curaçao worth a serious look. First, the tax: virtual-asset service providers are exempt from corporate income tax, so a licensed VASP operates on a genuine zero-rate for its core activity - a real advantage, backed by a supervised licence rather than a loophole. Second, the jurisdiction: Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a Dutch civil-law heritage, established financial-services infrastructure and natural reach into both Caribbean and Latin American markets. Because the regime was just centralised, the CBCS is still bedding in its processes; we track them closely and build to the current standard. We prepare the file end to end.
Curaçao moved crypto onto a supervised footing: the CBCS runs a VASP regime, centralised in 2026 into a B2B/B2C model. Old-framework licences are valid only to 1 July 2026.
The draw is a licence-backed zero rate - VASPs are exempt from corporate income tax - plus Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands lineage and reach into Caribbean and LatAm markets.
The regime
A centralised VASP licence, B2B or B2C.
The CBCS supervises VASPs under the centralised 2026 model, split by whether you serve businesses or consumers. We map your model to the right track and build the file to the CBCS standard.
The CBCS supervises VASPs under the centralised model, split B2B or B2C. We map your model to the right track.
01 - VASP · B2B
Business-facing services
For VASPs serving business clients - exchange, custody and infrastructure provided to other companies - under CBCS supervision, with AML and governance built to the centralised model.
For VASPs serving business clients - exchange, custody and infrastructure provided to other companies - under CBCS supervision, with AML and governance built to the centralised model.
- ✓Exchange and conversion services
- ✓Custody and wallet infrastructure
- ✓Services provided to business clients
- ✓AML/CFT to CBCS standards
- ✓Governance and safeguarding
- ✓Central Bank supervision
02 - VASP · B2C
0% VASP corporate taxConsumer-facing services
For VASPs serving consumers directly - retail exchange, wallets and related services - with the enhanced conduct and consumer-protection duties the CBCS applies to the consumer-facing track.
The B2C track carries enhanced conduct and consumer-protection duties - for VASPs serving consumers directly.
- ✓Retail exchange and wallet services
- ✓Consumer-facing conduct standards
- ✓Enhanced consumer protection
- ✓AML/CFT and safeguarding
- ✓Transparent disclosures
- ✓Central Bank supervision
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The regime was centralised in 2026 and the CBCS is settling its processes - we build to the current standard and say plainly what is still bedding in.
Why Curaçao
Supervised, tax-exempt, well-connected.
The framework rests on the CBCS VASP regime, centralised in 2026 - inside an autonomous country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
✓
VASPs exempt from corporate tax
Virtual-asset service providers are exempt from corporate income tax in Curaçao. A licensed VASP runs its core activity on a genuine zero rate - and unusually, it is a zero rate backed by a supervised licence, not a loophole.A genuine zero rate on the core activity.
✓
A real, centralised regime
The CBCS supervises VASPs under a centralised, high-transparency 2026 model. You build against Central Bank oversight, which is what makes a Curaçao VASP credible with banks and counterparties.Central Bank oversight - credible with banks.
✓
Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands base
Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Dutch civil-law heritage and established financial-services infrastructure. That lineage carries weight internationally.Dutch civil-law heritage, international weight.
✓
Caribbean and LatAm reach
Positioned for both Caribbean and Latin American markets, with Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamentu in daily use. A natural bridge into the region for a licensed crypto business.A natural bridge into the region.
✓
Established services infrastructure
A long financial-services and international-business history means the professional, banking and corporate infrastructure a VASP needs already exists on the island.The professional and banking layer already here.
✓
Early-mover on the new model
The centralised regime is fresh, with old licences expiring in mid-2026. Firms that move onto the new model now take an established, properly supervised position before it fills.Move now, before it fills - old licences expiring.
How it compares
How Curaçao differs from other routes.
Curaçao is the tax-exempt, Central-Bank-supervised VASP base with Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands lineage. The honest comparison is below - including that the regime is newly centralised.
Curaçao vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Curaçao | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | CBCS VASP (centralised 2026) | Varies - licence or company route |
| VASP corporate tax | Exempt (0%) | Often taxed |
| Supervision | Central Bank oversight | Ranges widely |
| Maturity | Newly centralised | Varies |
Regulatory regime
CuraçaoCBCS VASP (centralised 2026)
Other jurisdictionsVaries - licence or company route
VASP corporate tax
CuraçaoExempt (0%)
Other jurisdictionsOften taxed
Supervision
CuraçaoCentral Bank oversight
Other jurisdictionsRanges widely
Maturity
CuraçaoNewly centralised
Other jurisdictionsVaries
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | CBCS VASP (B2B/B2C) | VASP corporate-tax exempt | Central Bank supervised |
 Antigua & Barbuda | DABA licence (FSRC) | 25% corporate | Dedicated law, supervised |
 Bahamas | DARE Act (SCB) | 0% corporate | Comprehensive, supervised |
 BVI | VASP Act 2022 (FSC) | 0% corporate | Registration, AML-led |
CuraçaoLicense typeCBCS VASP (B2B/B2C)
TaxationVASP corporate-tax exempt
RequirementsCentral Bank supervised
Antigua & BarbudaLicense typeDABA licence (FSRC)
Taxation25% corporate
RequirementsDedicated law, supervised
BahamasLicense typeDARE Act (SCB)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsComprehensive, supervised
BVILicense typeVASP Act 2022 (FSC)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsRegistration, AML-led
Before you apply
Requirements for the CBCS VASP licence.Requirements for the CBCS VASP licence.
The CBCS supervises VASPs to a real financial standard under the centralised model. The checklist below is what a serious file is built around - we confirm each item against the current CBCS rules.
01
Curaçao entity - a locally incorporated company (typically an NV or BV) with genuine presence and management on the island.
02
B2B or B2C track - the model mapped to the correct centralised track and its conduct standard.
03
Fit & proper management - competent, clean-record directors and officers to the CBCS standard.
04
Capital and safeguarding - as the CBCS requires for your activity, with client-asset segregation.
05
AML/CFT framework - KYC, EDD, monitoring and reporting, with a named compliance officer.
06
Governance - ownership disclosed to UBOs, conflicts, complaints and consumer-protection procedures.
07
Systems and security - resilient technology and record-keeping the CBCS can inspect.
08
Business plan - services, target markets, volumes and financials the CBCS can interrogate.
09
Local substance - a genuine presence appropriate to the licensed activity.
10
Transition where relevant - migration from an old-framework licence before it expires on 1 July 2026.
11
Wind-down plan - credible and documented.
01
Curaçao company (NV/BV) with genuine presence.
02
B2B or B2C track, correctly mapped.
03
Fit & proper directors and officers.
04
Capital and safeguarding - as the CBCS requires.
05
AML/CFT with a named compliance officer.
06
Ownership disclosed to UBOs.
07
Resilient systems and record-keeping.
08
Business plan the CBCS can test.
09
Local substance for the activity.
10
Transition from old licences before 1 July 2026.
11
Credible wind-down plan.
Reflects the CBCS VASP regime as centralised in 2026, as of that year. Licences issued under older frameworks are valid only until 1 July 2026 - operating outside the regime is unlawful.CBCS VASP regime (centralised 2026). Old licences valid only to 1 July 2026.
How it works
From first call to the CBCS licence.
01
Mapping and strategy
We map your services to the B2B or B2C track and fix scope, capital and timeline in writing against the current CBCS rules.B2B or B2C track; scope and capital in writing.
02
Curaçao company and substance
Local incorporation, registered office, directors and the governance layer - the presence the CBCS assesses behind the file.NV/BV, office, directors - the presence behind the file.
03
The application file
AML/CFT framework, custody and systems documentation, business plan and capital - assembled to the CBCS standard.AML, custody, plan, capital - CBCS-grade.
04
CBCS review
The application and question rounds with the Central Bank - with any old-framework transition managed before the July 2026 expiry.Application and question rounds; transition managed.
05
Licence and operations
The VASP licence granted and the business live under CBCS supervision, with ongoing AML and reporting duties we can keep running.Licence granted; ongoing duties we can run.
Quick facts
RegulatorCBCS
FrameworkVASP regime (centralised 2026)
TracksB2B / B2C
Old licences valid to1 July 2026
VASP corporate taxExempt (0%)
Legal systemDutch civil law
StatusKingdom of the Netherlands
SubstanceLocal company + presence
The regime was centralised in 2026 and the CBCS is settling its processes - we build to the current standard and are candid about what is still bedding in.
On the ground in Curaçao
Run from our Dubai office, with Curaçao counsel.
Prifinance - Curaçao desk
Willemstad · Curaçao
Willemstad, Curaçao
01
Curaçao incorporation
Local company formation (NV or BV) and the corporate layer the CBCS expects - structured for the VASP application.NV/BV, structured for the VASP application.
02
B2B or B2C mapping
Your model mapped to the correct centralised track - so the file is built to the right conduct standard from the start.The right track and conduct standard.
03
The licence file
AML/CFT framework, custody and systems documentation, business plan and capital - drafted by us and defended through the CBCS review.AML, custody, plan, capital - to standard.
04
Transition management
For firms on an old-framework licence, migration to the centralised regime before the 1 July 2026 expiry - handled cleanly.Migration before the July 2026 expiry.
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 Curaçao.
The headline is the exemption: virtual-asset service providers are exempt from Curaçao corporate income tax, so a licensed VASP runs its core activity on a genuine zero rate - backed by a supervised licence.
VASPs exempt from corporate tax
Virtual-asset service providers are exempt from Curaçao corporate income tax. For a licensed VASP, the core activity sits outside the corporate tax net - a real advantage, and one that rests on a supervised licence rather than a loophole.Core activity outside the corporate tax net.
A licence-backed zero rate
Unlike a bare offshore structure, Curaçao's exemption comes attached to CBCS supervision. That combination - zero rate plus real oversight - is what makes it bankable and credible with counterparties.Zero rate plus real CBCS oversight.
Substance underpins it
The exemption rests on a genuinely resident, licensed and well-run company. The local substance the VASP licence requires is exactly what makes the tax position defensible.The licensed presence makes it defensible.
Home-country analysis matters
A Curaçao exemption does not remove tax where owners actually reside. We model the home-country and owner-level position honestly, so the structure is sound rather than optimistic.Doesn't remove tax where owners reside.
Indirect taxes to plan
Curaçao raises revenue through turnover and indirect taxes on domestic supplies. These are minor for an internationally-facing VASP but planned into the model so nothing surprises it.Minor for a VASP - planned in.
Records serve both
The AML and CBCS 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
VASP corporate income taxExempt (0%)
Backed byCBCS supervision
SubstanceGenuine - required
Indirect taxesOn domestic supplies
CurrencyANG (USD-linked)
Home-country taxModelled separately
*As of 2026. The VASP exemption is backed by a supervised licence - we model substance and the owner position honestly.
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: Curaçao 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, CBCS-licensed business.
Follow Prifinance
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Curaçao · CBCS
Launch your crypto project in Curaçao with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from company registration to the CBCS VASP licence and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Curaçao the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which track, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Curaçao crypto licence, answered.
Does Curaçao license crypto now?+
Yes. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten supervises virtual-asset service providers, and in 2026 the jurisdiction centralised its approach into a B2B/B2C model. VASPs now sit under CBCS oversight alongside banks and other financial institutions.
What happened to the old crypto licences?+
Licences issued under the older, looser frameworks are valid only until 1 July 2026. Firms need to migrate to the centralised CBCS regime - we manage that transition so continuity is protected.
Are VASPs really tax-exempt?+
Yes - virtual-asset service providers are exempt from Curaçao corporate income tax, so the core activity runs on a genuine zero rate. Crucially, it is a zero rate backed by a supervised CBCS licence, not a bare offshore structure.
What is the B2B/B2C split?+
The centralised model distinguishes VASPs serving business clients from those serving consumers, with enhanced conduct and consumer-protection duties on the B2C track. We map your model to the correct track from the start.
How much capital is required?+
The CBCS sets requirements for your activity under the centralised regime, which is still settling. We scope your capital and safeguarding against the current rules rather than guess, and flag what is still bedding in.
What substance does the CBCS expect?+
A Curaçao company - typically an NV or BV - with genuine presence and management, fit-and-proper directors, a real compliance function and systems that run. That substance also underpins the tax exemption.
Why Curaçao?+
A licence-backed zero corporate rate for VASPs, Central Bank supervision, Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands lineage and natural reach into Caribbean and Latin American markets. A supervised, tax-efficient base rather than a nameplate.
Is the regime settled?+
It is newly centralised, so the CBCS is bedding in its processes. We build to the current standard, manage the mid-2026 transition, and are candid about what detail is still being finalised.
Does Curaçao license crypto?+
Yes - the CBCS supervises VASPs under a centralised 2026 model.
Old licences?+
Valid only to 1 July 2026 - migrate to the new regime.
VASPs tax-exempt?+
Yes - exempt from corporate income tax, licence-backed.
B2B/B2C split?+
By whether you serve businesses or consumers.
Capital?+
Set by the CBCS - still settling; scoped to activity.
Substance?+
Curaçao NV/BV, real presence - underpins the exemption.
Why Curaçao?+
Licence-backed 0% rate, CBCS oversight, regional reach.
Settled?+
Newly centralised - we build to the current 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
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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
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Google
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Google
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One message away from your Curaçao 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 track, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Curaçao track and route fit your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right track and 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 CBCS or any other public authority. Licences are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.