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 NBG registration, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Georgia.
A light-touch VASP registration at the National Bank, the Estonian 0%-until-distribution tax model, and personal crypto sales that the tax authority itself has ruled exempt - Georgia is the Caucasus' pragmatic answer. We run the file end to end.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Georgia in brief
Registration, not bureaucracy - with a tax code to match.
Georgia regulates virtual asset service providers through registration at the National Bank of Georgia - a real supervisory regime with fit-and-proper vetting, AML obligations and monetary fines for violations, but built as a registration rather than a heavyweight licence. The NBG maintains a public VASP register, warns citizens off unregistered operators, and keeps modernising: its rule on stablecoin initial coin offerings by VASPs took effect in March 2026, and the regulator's fintech strategy runs years ahead. The registration covers the full service list - exchange, transfer, custody, portfolio management and lending, and international names have used it: the central bank governor personally attended Bybit Georgia's launch.
The tax architecture is the second argument. Corporate profit is taxed on the Estonian model - 0% while retained and reinvested, 15% only on distribution, and for private individuals the Finance Ministry's own public ruling exempts gains from selling crypto from personal income tax, with crypto trades also outside VAT. Add dividend tax at 5%, some of the region's lowest operating costs, and banking that actually onboards crypto businesses, and Georgia earns its place on any shortlist that does not require an EU passport.
Supervised VASP registration at the National Bank - fit & proper, AML, public register - without heavyweight-licence queues. Stablecoin ICO rule live since March 2026.
Taxes: 0% retained / 15% distributed, dividends 5%, and personal crypto sales exempt by the Finance Ministry's own ruling.
The framework
One registration, the full service list.
The NBG registers VASPs for the full range of virtual asset services, and since March 2026 adds a dedicated track for stablecoin issuance by registered providers. We fix the perimeter first, then build once.
One registration covers the full service list; the 2026 rule adds a stablecoin ICO track.
01 - VASP REGISTRATION
Exchange, custody & transfer
The core registration for firms serving clients in or from Georgia. Exchange, transfer, custody, portfolio management and lending of virtual assets under NBG supervision.
The core registration for firms serving clients in or from Georgia. Exchange, transfer, custody, portfolio management and lending of virtual assets under NBG supervision.
- ✓Crypto ↔ fiat and crypto ↔ crypto exchange
- ✓Transfer and payment-adjacent services
- ✓Custody and administration of client assets
- ✓Portfolio management and lending services
- ✓Fit & proper vetting of owners and administrators
- ✓Entry in the NBG's public VASP register
02 - STABLECOIN & ICO TRACK
New rule - March 2026Stablecoin issuance
Under the NBG rule in force since March 2026, registered VASPs can conduct initial coin offerings of stablecoins under defined disclosure and reserve requirements. A fresh, structured track in a region that mostly lacks one.
ICOs of stablecoins by registered VASPs. Reserves and disclosures under Order 52/04.
- ✓ICO of stablecoins by registered VASPs
- ✓Reserve and disclosure requirements
- ✓Governor's Order 52/04 of 6 March 2026
- ✓Combines with the core VASP registration
- ✓Positions Georgia for regional stablecoin flows
- ✓First-mover space - the rule is months old
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. NBG registration and supervision follow published rules; company, staffing and third-party costs are itemised in your quote.
Why Georgia
Pragmatism as a strategy.
The framework is the NBG's VASP registration regime. Supervision without heavyweight licensing. Inside one of the region's most founder-friendly tax codes.
✓
0% until you distribute
Georgia taxes corporate profit on the Estonian model: nothing while profits stay in the company, 15% only on distribution. Companies compounding their own balance sheet keep every lari working.The Estonian model, in the Caucasus.
✓
Personal crypto sales - exempt
The Finance Ministry's public ruling exempts individuals' gains from selling crypto from income tax, and crypto trades sit outside VAT. A settled position, not a grey zone.A settled, citable ruling, not a grey zone.
✓
Registration, not a marathon
The NBG regime is built as supervised registration: fit-and-proper vetting and AML duties without the year-long file battles of heavyweight desks. Months, not years.Months, not years.
✓
A regulator that keeps building
The stablecoin ICO rule of March 2026, a published fintech strategy, a public register updated continuously. The NBG modernises instead of freezing.Stablecoin rule 2026; public register.
✓
Names you know came here
International platforms operate under Georgian registration. The central bank governor attended Bybit Georgia's launch in person. The regime is proven at scale.Global names run on this regime.
✓
Costs that flatter margins
Tbilisi salaries, offices and services cost a fraction of EU equivalents, dividends carry 5%, and banks actually onboard registered crypto firms.Tbilisi payroll; banks onboard crypto.
How it compares
How Georgia differs from other routes.
Georgia trades the EU passport for speed, tax and cost. The full comparison is below.
Georgia vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Georgia | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory model | NBG VASP registration | Full licensing regimes |
| Corporate tax | 0% retained · 15% distributed | 10-30% on profits |
| Personal crypto | Sales tax-exempt (ruling) | 8-33% typical |
| EU passport | None - regional play | MiCA covers 27 states |
Regulatory model
GeorgiaNBG VASP registration
Other jurisdictionsFull licensing regimes
Corporate tax
Georgia0% retained · 15% distributed
Other jurisdictions10-30% on profits
Personal crypto
GeorgiaSales tax-exempt (ruling)
Other jurisdictions8-33% typical
EU passport
GeorgiaNone - regional play
Other jurisdictionsMiCA covers 27 states
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | VASP registration (NBG) | 0%/15% Estonian model · 0% personal | Light-touch, fit & proper |
 Estonia | MiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon) | 0% retained / 22% on payout | Experienced, demanding supervisor |
 Kazakhstan | AFSA licences (AIFC) | 0% CIT/VAT to 2066 | Published fees, English-law court |
 UAE (Dubai) | VARA VASP by activity | 9% CIT · 0% personal | Substance-heavy, 3-9 months |
GeorgiaLicense typeVASP registration (NBG)
Taxation0%/15% Estonian model · 0% personal
RequirementsLight-touch, fit & proper
EstoniaLicense typeMiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon)
Taxation0% retained / 22% on payout
RequirementsExperienced, demanding supervisor
KazakhstanLicense typeAFSA licences (AIFC)
Taxation0% CIT/VAT to 2066
RequirementsPublished fees, English-law court
UAE (Dubai)License typeVARA VASP by activity
Taxation9% CIT · 0% personal
RequirementsSubstance-heavy, 3-9 months
Before you apply
Requirements for NBG registration.Requirements for NBG registration.
Light-touch does not mean no-touch: the NBG vets people, systems and AML seriously, and fines violations. The checklist below is what a passing file contains.
01
Georgian entity. An LLC or JSC with real presence in Georgia.
02
Fit & proper owners and administrators. Clean records, vetted by the NBG under its registration rule.
03
Registered office and local substance. Premises, staff and management reachable by the supervisor.
04
AML/CFT framework. KYC, EDD, monitoring and reporting to the FMS, with a named compliance officer.
05
Business description. Services, volumes, target markets and the systems behind them.
06
Client asset arrangements. Segregation and custody design for assets held for clients.
07
IT and security documentation. Platform, wallet and key-management architecture.
08
Ownership transparency. Structure disclosed to UBOs.
09
For stablecoin plans: the ICO track under Order 52/04. Reserves, disclosures and filings.
10
Ongoing duties. Reporting, record-keeping and cooperation; the NBG enforces with monetary fines.
01
Georgian LLC/JSC with real presence.
02
Fit & proper owners and administrators.
03
Registered office and local substance.
04
AML/CFT with named officer.
05
Business description and systems.
06
Client asset segregation design.
07
IT and key-management documentation.
08
Ownership disclosed to UBOs.
09
Stablecoin track filings, if used.
10
Ongoing reporting. Fines enforce it.
Reflects the NBG's VASP registration rule and related orders as of 2026, including the stablecoin ICO rule in force since March 2026.NBG VASP rule + Order 52/04 (stablecoins, Mar 2026), as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the NBG register.
01
Perimeter and strategy
We map your services to the VASP list, and the stablecoin track if it applies. Fixing scope, structure and timeline in writing.Service list + stablecoin track, in writing.
02
Georgian company and substance
LLC formation, registered office, local administrators. The presence the NBG vets.LLC, office, administrators.
03
The registration file
Business description, AML/CFT framework, IT and custody documentation, fit-and-proper dossiers. Complete before filing.AML, IT, custody - complete first.
04
NBG review
Question rounds with the supervision team - 3-6 months in practice for complete files. We answer every round.3-6 months of rounds - we answer.
05
Registration and operation
Entry in the public VASP register, launch under supervision, and the ongoing reporting we can keep running.Public register, launch, reporting.
Quick facts
RegulatorNational Bank of Georgia
ModelVASP registration
RegisterPublic, NBG-maintained
In practice3-6 months
Corporate tax0% retained · 15% paid out
Personal crypto salesExempt (public ruling)
Dividends5%
Stablecoin ICO rule6 March 2026
The NBG publishes its rules and register openly, and enforces with fines. Light-touch, seriously run.
On the ground in Georgia
Run from our Tbilisi office.
Prifinance - Georgia
Tbilisi · Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia
01
Georgian company formation
LLC incorporation, registered office and the corporate layer the NBG expects. Structured for registration from day one.LLC, structured for registration.
02
The registration file
Business description, AML pack, IT documentation and fit-and-proper dossiers. Drafted by us and walked through the NBG's rounds.AML, IT, dossiers. Walked through rounds.
03
Substance and staffing
Local director and compliance recruitment from Tbilisi's talent pool, office arrangements and payroll. Real presence at Georgian cost.Real presence at Georgian cost.
04
Tax structuring
The 0%/15% Estonian model, the personal exemption and dividend planning. Modelled before you commit, not after.0%/15%, exemption, dividends - modelled.
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
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Georgia.
The Estonian model plus a personal exemption the tax authority itself put in writing. Georgia's tax code is the quiet star of the regime.
0% until distribution
Corporate profit is taxed only when distributed - 15% at payout, nothing while retained and reinvested. Companies scaling on their own cash flow compound untaxed.15% only at payout.
Personal crypto sales: exempt
The Finance Ministry's public ruling exempts individuals' income from selling crypto from personal income tax. A settled, citable position rare anywhere.Finance Ministry public ruling.
No VAT on crypto trades
Crypto exchange sits outside VAT under the same official position. The 18% standard rate touches only ordinary supplies.18% only on ordinary supplies.
Dividends at 5%
Distributions carry a flat 5%. The full company-to-pocket stack lands around 19.25%, and only when you actually take money out.~19.25% full stack, only on exit.
IT regimes on top
Virtual Zone and International Company statuses cut rates further for qualifying IT activity. Development-heavy crypto businesses often qualify; we assess it.Virtual Zone / International Company.
Simple, digital administration
Filing runs through the Revenue Service's online systems, treaties cover 55+ countries, and the whole system is built for small teams. Compliance is cheap here.Digital filing, 55+ treaties.
Tax summary
Corporate tax (retained)0%
Corporate tax (distributed)15%
Personal crypto salesExempt
Dividends5%
VAT on crypto tradesOutside VAT
Standard VAT18%
Tax treaties55+
*Figures as of 2026. The personal exemption applies to individuals' sales. Systematic business activity is taxed as business income; we draw the line correctly.
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: Georgian LLC, 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, NBG-registered business.
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Georgia · NBG
Launch your crypto project in Georgia with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from company registration to NBG registration and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Georgia the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Georgian crypto licence: quick answers.
What does a crypto business need in Georgia?+
Registration as a virtual asset service provider with the National Bank of Georgia - required for exchange, transfer, custody, portfolio management and lending services provided for the benefit of others.
Is it a licence or a registration?+
Formally a registration, but a supervised one: the NBG vets owners and administrators, imposes AML duties, maintains a public register and fines violations. Think of it as licensing without the year-long queue.
How long does it take?+
Complete files move in 3-6 months in practice, including company formation and the NBG's question rounds - one of the faster serious desks anywhere.
What substance is expected?+
A Georgian LLC with a registered office, reachable local administrators, a named AML officer and systems that demonstrably run. Tbilisi's costs make real substance genuinely cheap.
How are companies taxed?+
On the Estonian model: 0% while profits are retained, 15% on distribution, dividends at 5%. Virtual Zone and International Company statuses can cut further for qualifying IT activity.
Is personal crypto really tax-free?+
For individuals' sales - yes: the Finance Ministry's public ruling exempts such income from personal income tax, and crypto trades sit outside VAT. Systematic business activity is taxed as business income.
What is the stablecoin ICO rule?+
Since March 2026, registered VASPs may conduct initial coin offerings of stablecoins under the NBG's rule (Governor's Order 52/04) - reserves, disclosures and filings included. A structured track most of the region lacks.
Do international platforms actually use this regime?+
Yes - global names operate under Georgian registration, and the NBG governor personally attended Bybit Georgia's launch. The regime is proven beyond boutique scale.
Does Georgian registration give EU access?+
No - there is no passport into the EU. Georgia is a regional and global-remote play; groups needing licensed EU reach pair it with a MiCA CASP, and we run both tracks.
Why Georgia rather than Kazakhstan or the UAE?+
Against the AIFC: no US$98k fee stack and a faster, lighter file. Against Dubai: a fraction of the cost and the 0%-retained model. What you give up is the Gulf's institutional brand, which is exactly the trade a lean, product-led team should consider.
What is needed?+
NBG VASP registration - full service list.
Licence or registration?+
Supervised registration - vetted, fined, listed.
How long?+
3-6 months for complete files.
Substance?+
Georgian LLC, local admins, AML officer.
Company taxes?+
0% retained / 15% distributed / 5% dividends.
Personal crypto?+
Sales exempt by public ruling.
Stablecoins?+
ICO track since March 2026.
Big names here?+
Yes - including Bybit Georgia.
EU access?+
No passport - pair with MiCA if needed.
Why Georgia?+
Speed + 0%/15% + exempt personal sales.
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
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One message away from your Georgian 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 jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Georgian route 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 National Bank of Georgia or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.