Georgia
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Iceland
JerseyNikolai 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 GFSC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a GFSC DLT crypto license in Gibraltar.
A crypto license in Gibraltar is a GFSC permission under the Financial Services Act 2019 - DLT Provider for custody and transfer, VAA Provider for exchange since October 2025: ten regulatory principles instead of a thousand pages, a three-stage application that takes 4-8 months in practice, and 15% corporate tax with no VAT and no capital gains tax behind it. The jurisdiction licensed crypto first, in 2018, and we run the file end to end from our Gibraltar office.
30 yrs
of experienceof experience
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated · Reviewed by the Prifinance team
Gibraltar in brief
Crypto license in Gibraltar: the original, still purpose-built.
Gibraltar wrote the world's first bespoke DLT framework in 2018 and has run it ever since: any firm using distributed ledger technology to transmit or store value belonging to others needs a DLT Provider licence from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, granted under the Financial Services Act 2019, and since 27 October 2025 a firm that exchanges virtual assets for money, or one virtual asset for another, by way of business needs a VAA Provider permission under the same Act. Instead of prescribing every control, the GFSC assesses applicants against ten regulatory principles - honesty, customer care, adequate resources, risk management, client asset protection, governance, systems security, financial crime prevention, resilience and market integrity - through a published three-stage process with a business-model presentation and an on-site visit. It is supervision built for operators, not paperwork.
The fiscal frame is equally clean: corporation tax is 15% on a territorial basis - profits accrued in and derived from Gibraltar - with no VAT and no capital gains tax anywhere in the system. Gibraltar sits outside the EU, so there is no MiCA passport; what it offers instead is a common-law, English-speaking base under a specialist regulator, the 2025 Gibraltar-EU agreement keeping the border with Spain fluid, and seven years of licensing precedent that includes some of the industry's largest names.
The original crypto licence: the GFSC's DLT framework has run since 2018 on ten principles, through a three-stage process with an on-site visit.
Behind it: 15% territorial corporation tax, no VAT, no CGT, and the 2025 EU agreement keeping the Spanish border fluid. No MiCA passport; the non-EU complement.
The framework
Two permissions, built around your model.
The DLT Provider licence covers the use of distributed ledger technology to transmit or store value for others: custodians, wallets and transfer services. Since 27 October 2025, exchanges and brokers need a VAA Provider permission under the same regulations. The GFSC scopes the authorisation to your business model through its staged review.
DLT Provider for custody and transfer, VAA Provider for exchange, scoped to your model.
01 - DLT PROVIDER LICENCE
Exchange, custody & transfer
The core authorisation for firms transmitting or storing client value on DLT. Assessed against the GFSC's ten principles through a published three-stage process.
The core authorisation for firms transmitting or storing client value on DLT. Assessed against the GFSC's ten principles through a published three-stage process.
- ✓Crypto ↔ fiat and crypto ↔ crypto exchange (VAA permission)
- ✓Custody and wallet services for client assets
- ✓Brokerage (VAA) and transfer of digital assets
- ✓Ten-principles assessment - model-specific
- ✓Stage 1-3 review with business-model presentation
- ✓On-site GFSC visit once permission is granted
02 - AROUND THE LICENCE
No VAT · no CGTStructures & add-ons
Gibraltar's wider toolkit for digital-asset groups. Funds, holding structures and the fiscal frame that makes them efficient: 15% territorial corporation tax, no VAT, no capital gains tax.
Funds, holdings and the fiscal frame: 15% territorial, no VAT, no CGT.
- ✓Digital-asset fund and holding structures
- ✓Group treasury and IP arrangements
- ✓Territorial taxation - Gibraltar-source only
- ✓Common-law contracts in English
- ✓2025 Gibraltar-EU agreement - fluid border
- ✓Established banking and audit ecosystem
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. Under the Financial Services (Fees) Regulations 2020 the GFSC application fee for a DLT Provider or VAA Provider permission is a flat £45,000; the yearly fee is a £12,254 base fee plus an additional £28,183 plus 0.1% of trade volume up to £92,700 - our own work is scoped precisely in your quote.
Why Gibraltar
Seven years of doing exactly this.
The framework is the GFSC's DLT regime under the Financial Services Act 2019. The world's first purpose-built crypto licensing system, and still one of its most respected.
✓
The first mover, still running
Licensing crypto since 2018. Years before MiCA existed. The GFSC's case officers have seen every business model in the industry, and its register has included some of the sector's largest names.Licensing crypto since 2018 - deepest precedent.
✓
Principles, not paperwork
Ten regulatory principles assessed against your actual model. Supervision that fits an operating business instead of forcing your business to fit a template.Ten principles, fitted to your model.
✓
15% · no VAT · no CGT
Corporation tax of 15% on a territorial basis, no VAT anywhere in the system, no capital gains tax. A fiscal frame with no hidden layers, confirmed by the Income Tax Office.The clean fiscal frame, per the ITO.
✓
A specialist regulator you can meet
The GFSC's three-stage process includes presenting your model in person and an on-site visit. A dialogue with people who know the industry, in English, under common law.Model presented in person; on-site visit.
✓
The 2025 EU agreement
The Gibraltar-EU treaty keeps the border with Spain fluid. Staff commute from the Costa del Sol, and the jurisdiction plugs into European life without EU rulebooks.Fluid border. Costa del Sol commutes.
✓
The real trade-off
No MiCA passport. Gibraltar is not an EU route. It is the non-EU complement: a specialist home base that pairs naturally with an EU CASP when European clients need one. We structure both.No EU passport; pair with a CASP if needed.
How it compares
How Gibraltar differs from other routes.
Gibraltar is the specialist non-EU base. Faster and more bespoke than MiCA desks, without the passport. The side-by-side comparison is below.
Gibraltar vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Gibraltar | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | DLT Provider - ten principles | Rule-book regimes (MiCA, FSMA) |
| Licensing since | 2018 - the first mover | 2020s starts |
| Tax frame | 15% territorial · no VAT · no CGT | Fuller tax systems |
| EU passport | None - non-EU base | MiCA covers 27 states |
Regulatory regime
GibraltarDLT Provider - ten principles
Other jurisdictionsRule-book regimes (MiCA, FSMA)
Licensing since
Gibraltar2018 - the first mover
Other jurisdictions2020s starts
Tax frame
Gibraltar15% territorial · no VAT · no CGT
Other jurisdictionsFuller tax systems
EU passport
GibraltarNone - non-EU base
Other jurisdictionsMiCA covers 27 states
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar | DLT Provider (GFSC) | 15% CIT · no VAT · no CGT | Principles-based, three stages |
 United Kingdom | FCA MLR → FSMA (2027) | 25% CIT · CGT 18/24% | Exacting AML bar, 6-12 months |
 Switzerland | FINMA licences · SRO route | ~12-14% cantonal | Fast entry, no EU passport |
 UAE (Dubai) | VARA VASP by activity | 9% CIT · 0% personal | Substance-heavy, 4-9 months |
GibraltarLicense typeDLT Provider (GFSC)
Taxation15% CIT · no VAT · no CGT
RequirementsPrinciples-based, three stages
United KingdomLicense typeFCA MLR → FSMA (2027)
Taxation25% CIT · CGT 18/24%
RequirementsExacting AML bar, 6-12 months
SwitzerlandLicense typeFINMA licences · SRO route
Taxation~12-14% cantonal
RequirementsFast entry, no EU passport
UAE (Dubai)License typeVARA VASP by activity
Taxation9% CIT · 0% personal
RequirementsSubstance-heavy, 4-9 months
Europe · non-EU
Crypto licences in neighbouring jurisdictions
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VASP license: what it is and where to get one →
Crypto license cost: official fees and capital by country →
Crypto mining license in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus →
Before you apply
Crypto license requirements in Gibraltar: the ten GFSC principles.Gibraltar crypto license requirements.
The GFSC assesses your whole operation against its ten principles through three published stages. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Gibraltar entity. A local company with real presence: office, staff and decision-making on the Rock.
02
Fit & proper people. Directors, controllers and key function holders with clean records and relevant experience.
03
Business plan. Model, markets, volumes and financials presented to the GFSC after Stage 1.
04
Adequate resources. Financial and non-financial, sized to your model per Principle 3.
05
Client asset protection. Segregation, custody policy and key management satisfying Principle 5.
06
Governance. Effective corporate governance and risk management under Principles 4 and 6.
07
Systems and security. High-standard IT, access controls and security architecture per Principle 7.
08
Financial crime framework. AML/CFT prevention and detection satisfying Principle 8.
09
Resilience. Business continuity and an orderly wind-down capability per Principle 9.
10
Market integrity. Fair, transparent conduct under Principle 10.
11
Three-stage file. Stage 1 model and people, Stage 2 risk and systems, Stage 3 conduct and operations. Then the on-site visit.
01
Gibraltar company with real presence.
02
Fit & proper directors and controllers.
03
Business plan, presented in person.
04
Resources adequate to the model.
05
Client asset protection (Principle 5).
06
Governance and risk management.
07
High-standard systems and security.
08
Financial crime framework.
09
Resilience and orderly wind-down.
10
Three-stage file + on-site visit.
Reflects the Financial Services Act 2019, the GFSC's published DLT guidance and fee regulations as of 2026.FSA 2019 + GFSC DLT guidance as of 2026.
Verify it yourself
Official sources
Regulator pages, legal texts and public registers the figures on this page are based on.
- RegulatorGFSC - Distributed Ledger Technology providers: getting authorisedfsc.gi
- LawFinancial Services (Distributed Ledger Technology Providers) Regulations 2020 (LN 2020/012) - Gibraltar Lawsgibraltarlaws.gov.gi
- RegisterGFSC - Regulated entities (register)fsc.gi
- LawFinancial Services (Fees) Regulations 2020 (LN 2020/040), as amended to 3 September 2026 - Gibraltar Lawsgibraltarlaws.gov.gi
- LawFinancial Services (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (LN 2025/254): virtual asset arrangements - Gibraltar Lawsgibraltarlaws.gov.gi
How it works
From first call to the GFSC register.
01
Model and strategy
We map your model against the ten principles and fix scope, structure and timeline in writing. Including whether an EU CASP belongs alongside.Ten principles mapped; scope in writing.
02
Gibraltar company and substance
Local incorporation, office, key hires and governance. The presence the GFSC assesses in person.Local entity, office, key hires.
03
Stage 1-3 files
Business plan and people, then risk, IT and financial crime, then conduct and operations. Each stage submitted and defended in sequence.Model, risk, conduct - in sequence.
04
Presentation and review
Your model presented to the GFSC, question rounds answered, the on-site visit prepared - 4-8 months in practice.GFSC dialogue; 4-8 months.
05
Licence and operation
Authorisation under the FSA 2019, launch, and ongoing supervision against the principles. With reporting we can keep running.FSA 2019 authorisation, then launch.
Quick facts
RegulatorGFSC
FrameworkDLT · FSA 2019
ModelTen principles
ProcessThree stages + visit
In practice4-8 months
Corporate tax15% territorial
VAT / CGTNone / none
EU passportNo - non-EU base
Licensing since 2018. The GFSC's precedent bench is the deepest in pure-crypto supervision.
On the ground in Gibraltar
Run from our Gibraltar office.
Prifinance - Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar
01
Gibraltar company formation
Local incorporation, registered office and the substance the GFSC expects. Office, staff and governance on the Rock.Incorporation and substance on the Rock.
02
The three-stage application
Stage 1 through Stage 3 files, the business-model presentation and on-site visit preparation. Drafted and rehearsed by us.Files, presentation, visit - rehearsed.
03
Substance and staffing
Director and compliance recruitment, office arrangements and payroll. With the cross-border Spain workforce the 2025 agreement keeps flowing.Cross-border workforce, arranged.
04
Dual-track structures
Gibraltar as the specialist base plus an EU CASP for passported European clients. Sequenced and structured by one team.Gibraltar base + EU CASP, one team.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Gibraltar.
A territorial system with three headline facts: 15% corporation tax, no VAT, no capital gains tax - per the Income Tax Office.
Corporation tax 15%
The standard rate since 1 July 2024 (up from 12.5%), applied on a territorial basis. Profits accrued in and derived from Gibraltar. Utilities and dominant-market companies pay 20%.Since 1 Jul 2024; territorial basis.
Territorial basis
Only Gibraltar-source profits are taxed. Income genuinely accrued and derived elsewhere sits outside the net. Where your activities actually happen decides everything; we structure it correctly.Gibraltar-source profits only.
No VAT - at all
Gibraltar has no VAT system. No registration, no returns, no input-output reconciliation. A clean simplification for exchange and custody models alike.No registration, no returns.
No capital gains tax
Gibraltar levies no CGT on companies or individuals. Disposals of crypto and other assets fall outside the tax net entirely, subject to trading-income characterisation.Disposals outside the net.
Personal taxation
Employees are taxed under Gibraltar's allowance or gross-income systems with moderate effective rates, and the cross-border workforce commutes from Spain under the 2025 agreement.Moderate; Spain commutes under the treaty.
Nine-month filing
Returns are due nine months after period end with payments on account. The Income Tax Office publishes clear guidance, and we keep the calendar.Clear ITO guidance; we keep the calendar.
Tax summary
Corporation tax15% · since 1 Jul 2024
Utilities / dominant20%
BasisTerritorial
VATNone
Capital gains taxNone
Filing9 months after period end
*Figures per the Gibraltar Income Tax Office as of 2026. Territorial-source analysis drives outcomes. We model where profits actually accrue before you commit.
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: Gibraltar 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, GFSC-licensed business.
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Gibraltar · GFSC
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Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Gibraltar crypto licence: frequent questions.
What licence does a crypto business need in Gibraltar?+
A DLT Provider licence from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, granted under the Financial Services Act 2019 - required for any firm using distributed ledger technology to transmit or store value belonging to others, such as custodians and wallet providers. Since 27 October 2025, exchanges and brokers that exchange virtual assets for money or for other virtual assets need a VAA Provider permission from the same regulator.
How does the ten-principles model work?+
Instead of a prescriptive rulebook, the GFSC assesses your operation against ten regulatory principles - from honesty and customer care through client asset protection, systems security, financial crime prevention and orderly wind-down. Supervision fits your model rather than forcing a template.
What does the application process look like?+
Three published stages: Stage 1 covers the business model, capital and key people; Stage 2 risk management, IT and financial crime controls; Stage 3 conduct and operational policies. You present the model to the GFSC after Stage 1, and the GFSC makes an on-site visit once the permission is granted. Realistic timelines run 4-8 months.
Is there a minimum capital requirement?+
No fixed MiCA-style tiers - Principle 3 requires financial and non-financial resources adequate to your actual model, sized case by case. The GFSC's fee schedule follows the Financial Services (Fees) Regulations 2020.
How are companies taxed?+
Corporation tax at 15% since 1 July 2024, on a territorial basis - only profits accrued in and derived from Gibraltar. There is no VAT and no capital gains tax anywhere in the system, per the Income Tax Office.
Does a Gibraltar licence give EU market access?+
No - Gibraltar is outside the EU and MiCA, so there is no passport. Groups needing licensed European reach typically pair the Gibraltar base with an EU CASP; we structure that dual track routinely.
What substance does the GFSC expect?+
Real presence: a Gibraltar company with office, staff and decision-making on the Rock, fit-and-proper directors and key function holders, and systems that demonstrably run. The on-site visit checks exactly this.
What changed with the 2025 Gibraltar-EU agreement?+
The treaty keeps the border with Spain fluid, securing the cross-border workforce thousands of firms rely on - staff commute daily from the Costa del Sol. For operators it means hiring and living logistics without EU rulebooks.
Why did the big names license here first?+
Because Gibraltar moved first - the 2018 framework predates MiCA by years, and built a specialist regulator that understands operating businesses. Seven-plus years of precedent make the GFSC's expectations knowable in advance.
Why Gibraltar rather than an EU desk?+
Different tools: an EU CASP buys the 27-state passport; Gibraltar buys a bespoke, principles-based home under a specialist regulator with a 15%/no-VAT/no-CGT frame. Global-facing businesses often want exactly that, and add the EU licence only when European clients justify it.
How long does a crypto license in Gibraltar take?+
Four to eight months in practice; the GFSC's own target for Stages 1-3 is a maximum of nine months. Stage 1 covers the business model, capital and key individuals; Stage 2 risk management, IT, governance and financial crime; Stage 3 conduct of business, non-financial resources and policies. The on-site visit follows once the permission is granted. The clock depends on how complete the file is at stage two; we prepare it so the regulator's questions are answered before they are asked.
What licence is needed?+
GFSC DLT Provider licence; VAA Provider for exchange.
The ten principles?+
Model-fitted supervision, not a template.
The process?+
Three stages + presentation + on-site visit.
Minimum capital?+
Sized to your model - no fixed tiers.
Company taxes?+
15% territorial; no VAT; no CGT.
EU access?+
No passport - pair with an EU CASP.
Substance?+
Office, staff, decisions on the Rock.
The 2025 agreement?+
Fluid Spanish border for staff.
Why here first?+
2018 framework - years before MiCA.
Why Gibraltar?+
Bespoke specialist base; EU is a different tool.
How long?+
4-8 months: three GFSC stages; visit after grant.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
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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 Gibraltar Financial Services Commission or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.