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 FinCEN and state approvals, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in the USA.
The world's deepest market runs on a stack, not a licence: FinCEN MSB registration plus state-by-state money-transmitter licences - with a new federal layer arriving. We plan the stack soberly and build it in stages.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
USA in brief
The deepest market - entered in stages, not in one leap.
There is no single US crypto licence. The federal baseline is FinCEN registration as a money services business - mandatory, fast, and only the beginning. Serving customers state by state takes money-transmitter licences from up to 49 separate regulators through NMLS, each with its own capital, bonding and audit demands; New York adds the BitLicense on top. A full national rollout is a seven-figure, multi-year programme, which is why we plan it in stages and use partner structures where they genuinely fit.
The federal picture is finally moving. The GENIUS Act - law since 18 July 2025 - gives payment-stablecoin issuers a real federal regime with reserve and disclosure rules. The CLARITY Act, which would split market-structure oversight between the SEC and CFTC, passed the House in July 2025 and sits before the Senate in mid-2026. We track it deal by deal: what you build today is structured not to break when the federal layer lands.
No single licence - a stack: FinCEN MSB baseline, state MTLs via NMLS, BitLicense for New York. Entered in waves, not one leap.
The federal layer is arriving: GENIUS Act law since July 2025 for stablecoins; CLARITY Act before the Senate. We plan stacks that survive it.
The stack
A federal baseline, a state stack - and a new federal layer.
Think in layers. FinCEN MSB registration is the mandatory baseline. The state money-transmitter stack is the market access. And the GENIUS Act opened a genuine federal route for one business model - payment stablecoins.
FinCEN is the baseline; state MTLs are the market access; GENIUS is the federal stablecoin route.
01 - MSB + STATE MTL STACK
The market-access stack
FinCEN registration in days. Then money-transmitter licences state by state through NMLS, sequenced by where your customers actually are.
FinCEN registration in days. Then money-transmitter licences state by state through NMLS, sequenced by where your customers actually are.
- ✓FinCEN MSB registration and AML program
- ✓State MTLs via NMLS - up to 49 regulators
- ✓Surety bonds, net-worth and audit requirements
- ✓NY BitLicense for the New York market
- ✓Staged rollouts: priority states first
- ✓Partner / agent-of-payee models where they genuinely fit
02 - GENIUS ACT · STABLECOINS
Federal law since July 2025Payment stablecoin issuers
The GENIUS Act created the first real federal crypto regime: permitted payment-stablecoin issuers with 1:1 reserves, disclosure duties and a ban on issuer-paid interest.
Federal stablecoin regime: 1:1 reserves, disclosures, no issuer interest. Law since July 2025.
- ✓Federal or state-qualified issuer pathways
- ✓1:1 high-quality liquid reserves, attested
- ✓Monthly disclosure and redemption rights
- ✓No interest paid to holders - by statute
- ✓Bank and non-bank issuer routes
- ✓We scope eligibility before you commit
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The state stack is priced state by state. Bonds, capital and fees differ, and every figure is itemised in your quote.
Why the USA
The market that pays for the paperwork.
The framework is the Bank Secrecy Act at the federal level, state money-transmission statutes across the map, and now the GENIUS Act for stablecoins. With the CLARITY Act poised to redraw SEC and CFTC lines.
✓
Depth without equal
American users, volumes and institutional capital dwarf every other market. A US presence is what turns a regional exchange into a global one, and what your acquirers will ask about first.The market that turns regional players global.
✓
A stack you can sequence
Nobody needs 49 licences on day one. We sequence by customer geography. A first wave of priority states typically opens most of the addressable market at a fraction of full-rollout cost.Priority states first. Revenue before full coverage.
✓
The GENIUS Act is real
Since 18 July 2025 payment-stablecoin issuance has a federal rulebook: reserves, disclosures, redemption. For issuers, the US moved from grey to governed in one statute.Stablecoins moved from grey to governed in 2025.
✓
The wind is federal
The CLARITY Act passed the House 294-134 and sits before the Senate in mid-2026; SEC and CFTC leadership have shifted from enforcement-first to rulemaking. Timing an entry has rarely looked better.CLARITY passed the House; agencies shifted to rulemaking.
✓
Real alternatives
Where a full stack is premature, agent-of-payee and partner structures put products in market lawfully while your own licences mature. We build them without the fictions that get firms subpoenaed.Partner models as bridges. Drafted without fictions.
✓
Our Americas desk
US mandates run through our Americas desk out of Miami. The time zone, the counsel network and the banking introductions where they need to be.Miami time zone, counsel network, banking intros.
How it compares
How the USA differs from other routes.
The US trades single-licence simplicity for market depth. The real comparison is sequencing. Most groups license the EU or UAE first, then enter the US in staged waves.
USA vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  USA | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing model | Federal MSB + state stack | Single-licence regimes |
| Market depth | The world's largest | Smaller home markets |
| Stablecoin regime | GENIUS Act - federal law | Patchwork or MiCA EMT rules |
| Rollout cost | Staged, seven figures for full | One authorisation |
Licensing model
USAFederal MSB + state stack
Other jurisdictionsSingle-licence regimes
Market depth
USAThe world's largest
Other jurisdictionsSmaller home markets
Stablecoin regime
USAGENIUS Act - federal law
Other jurisdictionsPatchwork or MiCA EMT rules
Rollout cost
USAStaged, seven figures for full
Other jurisdictionsOne authorisation
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | MSB + state MTLs · BitLicense | 21% federal + state | Staged rollout, 6-18 months |
 United Kingdom | FCA MLR → FSMA (2027) | 25% CIT | Exacting AML bar, 6-12 months |
 Czech Republic | MiCA CASP (ČNB) | 21% CIT | EU passport, 4-6 months |
 UAE (Dubai) | VARA VASP by activity | 9% CIT · 0% personal | Substance-heavy, 3-9 months |
USALicense typeMSB + state MTLs · BitLicense
Taxation21% federal + state
RequirementsStaged rollout, 6-18 months
United KingdomLicense typeFCA MLR → FSMA (2027)
Taxation25% CIT
RequirementsExacting AML bar, 6-12 months
Czech RepublicLicense typeMiCA CASP (ČNB)
Taxation21% CIT
RequirementsEU passport, 4-6 months
UAE (Dubai)License typeVARA VASP by activity
Taxation9% CIT · 0% personal
RequirementsSubstance-heavy, 3-9 months
Before you start
What the US stack requires.What the US stack requires.
The checklist scales with your map. Every state adds its own numbers, but the shape is constant: a real US company, a real AML program, and capital that matches the licences you seek.
01
US entity. Typically a Delaware C-corp or LLC, with a registered agent and real operations.
02
FinCEN MSB registration. Filed before operating, renewed biennially, with state list kept current.
03
BSA/AML program. A written program, designated compliance officer, training, independent testing.
04
KYC/CIP, monitoring and SAR filing. FinCEN-grade, with blockchain analytics in the stack.
05
State MTL applications via NMLS. Business plans, financials, fingerprints and control-person vetting.
06
Surety bonds - per state, commonly $25,000 to $500,000+ each, scaling with volume.
07
Net-worth and permissible-investment requirements. State-by-state capital that must stay on the balance sheet.
08
NY BitLicense where New York matters. Its own application, capital and compliance regime.
09
Audited financials and background checks for control persons across the stack.
10
For stablecoin issuers: GENIUS Act pathway. Reserves, attestations, disclosure and redemption mechanics.
11
Tax and reporting plumbing. Federal 1099-DA broker reporting live since 2025, state nexus mapping.
01
US entity. Delaware C-corp or LLC.
02
FinCEN MSB registration before operating.
03
Written BSA/AML program + officer.
04
KYC/CIP, monitoring, SARs, analytics.
05
State MTLs via NMLS. Wave by wave.
06
Surety bonds $25k-$500k+ per state.
07
Net-worth and investment requirements.
08
NY BitLicense where New York matters.
09
Audited financials, vetted control persons.
10
GENIUS pathway for stablecoin issuers.
Reflects the BSA, state money-transmission statutes, and the GENIUS Act as of 2026. The CLARITY Act may redraw SEC/CFTC lines. Structures we build are designed not to break when it does.BSA, state statutes and the GENIUS Act, 2026. Built not to break when CLARITY lands.
How it works
From first call to a working US stack.
01
Map and sequencing
Customer geography, product perimeter, SEC/CFTC exposure, and a written stack plan: which states, in which waves, at what cost.Geography, perimeter, waves and cost - in writing.
02
Entity and federal baseline
Delaware C-corp or LLC, FinCEN MSB registration and the BSA/AML program with a designated officer.Delaware entity, FinCEN MSB, BSA program.
03
Wave one states
NMLS filings for the priority states. Bonds posted, financials audited, control persons vetted. Opening most of the market.NMLS filings, bonds, audits - market opens.
04
Scale-out and New York
Further waves as volumes justify; the BitLicense campaign where the New York market warrants its cost.Further waves; BitLicense when it earns its cost.
05
Operate and adapt
Examinations, renewals, 1099-DA reporting, and restructuring on tap for the day the CLARITY Act lands.Exams, renewals, 1099-DA - CLARITY-ready.
Quick facts
Federal baselineFinCEN MSB
State licencesUp to 49 via NMLS
New YorkBitLicense
Wave one6-18 months
Bonds$25k-$500k+ / state
StablecoinsGENIUS Act (2025)
Market structureCLARITY - in the Senate
Broker reporting1099-DA live
Full national coverage is a multi-year programme. The plan is staged so revenue starts before the map is complete.
On the ground in the USA
Run from our Miami office.
Prifinance - USA
Miami · USA
Miami, Florida - meetings by appointment
01
Scoping first
Customer geography against the state map: which licences you need now, which can wait, and where partner models carry you lawfully.Which states now, which later, where partners carry you.
02
Entity and MSB baseline
Delaware entity, FinCEN registration and a BSA/AML program that stands up to examiner review. The foundation of every stack.Delaware + FinCEN + examiner-proof AML program.
03
The NMLS campaign
State applications in sequenced waves. Business plans, bonds, control-person files. Managed as one programme with local counsel.Sequenced waves, one programme, local counsel.
04
Stablecoin and federal tracks
GENIUS Act issuer scoping and CLARITY Act monitoring, so today's structure survives tomorrow's federal layer.GENIUS scoping; CLARITY monitored deal by deal.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
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 USA.
No crypto-specific federal levy. Companies pay ordinary corporate tax, individuals fall under capital-gains rules, and since 2025 the information-reporting net has tightened decisively.
Federal corporate tax 21%
The flat federal rate since 2017, with state corporate taxes from 0% (Wyoming, South Dakota) to roughly 9% on top. State choice is part of the structure.Plus state 0-9%. State choice is structure.
Individuals: capital gains
Long-term gains at 0/15/20% plus the 3.8% NIIT; short-term at ordinary rates to 37%. Every disposal is an event. Basis tracking is not optional.LT 0/15/20% + NIIT; ST to 37%.
1099-DA reporting live
Broker reporting of digital-asset proceeds runs from 2025, with basis reporting phasing in. Exchanges report clients to the IRS, so books must match.Exchanges report to the IRS. Books must match.
No federal VAT
No VAT or GST at the federal level; state sales taxes rarely touch exchange activity itself.Sales taxes rarely touch exchange activity.
Mining and staking as income
Rewards are ordinary income at receipt at fair value. With self-employment tax exposure for individuals; corporate wrappers change the calculus.Ordinary income at receipt, at fair value.
60+ tax treaties
A broad network, though the US taxes citizens worldwide. Founder residence planning matters more here than anywhere.But citizens are taxed worldwide - plan accordingly.
Tax summary
Federal corporate tax21%
State corporate tax0-9%
Long-term capital gains0/15/20% + NIIT
Short-term gainsto 37%
Broker reporting1099-DA from 2025
Federal VATNone
Tax treaties60+
*Figures as of 2026. Entity type, state choice and founder residence drive the real rate. We model them together.
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: US entity, 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, licensed US operation.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
USA · MSB + state stack
Enter the US market with expert support.
Full-service assistance - entity, FinCEN baseline, the state campaign and the federal tracks.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is the USA the right next market for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which stack, sequencing, or structure fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The US crypto stack - the questions we hear.
Is there a single US crypto licence?+
No. The federal baseline is FinCEN MSB registration; market access comes from state money-transmitter licences - up to 49 of them via NMLS - plus New York's BitLicense. The GENIUS Act added a genuine federal regime for one model: payment-stablecoin issuers.
Do I really need all 49 states?+
Almost never on day one. We sequence by customer geography: a first wave of priority states typically opens the bulk of your addressable market, with later waves following revenue. Several states also exempt pure crypto-to-crypto models - the map is checked state by state.
How long and how much?+
FinCEN registration takes days; a first state wave lands in 6-18 months. Bonds run $25,000-$500,000+ per state, plus net-worth requirements and audited financials. Full national coverage is a seven-figure, multi-year programme - priced in stages in your quote.
What is the BitLicense?+
New York's separate virtual-currency licence - its own application, capital, compliance and examination regime. Expensive and slow, but for institutional and retail depth in New York there is no substitute. We scope whether and when it earns its cost.
What did the GENIUS Act change?+
Since 18 July 2025 payment-stablecoin issuance is federally governed: permitted issuers, 1:1 high-quality reserves with attestations, disclosure and redemption duties, and a statutory ban on paying holders interest. For issuers it replaced the grey zone with a rulebook.
Where is the CLARITY Act?+
Passed the House 294-134 in July 2025; before the Senate as of mid-2026. It would split oversight between the SEC and CFTC and define digital-commodity status. We structure today's entries so they benefit from it rather than break.
Can partner structures carry me while licences mature?+
Yes - used properly. Agent-of-payee arrangements and licensed-partner models put products in market lawfully in many states. They are bridges with real conditions, not licence substitutes - we draft them tightly.
What AML obligations apply?+
The Bank Secrecy Act: a written AML program, designated officer, KYC/CIP, monitoring, SAR and CTR filing, OFAC screening and the travel rule - examined by IRS-CI delegation and state examiners alike.
How are companies and founders taxed?+
Companies: 21% federal plus 0-9% state. Founders: capital-gains rates on disposals with 1099-DA reporting making the IRS's picture near-complete; citizens are taxed worldwide, so residence planning has limits.
Why the US rather than - or after - other markets?+
Because it is the market. Most groups license the EU or UAE first for speed, then enter the US in waves once product-market fit justifies the spend. We run both sides of that sequence.
One US licence?+
No - FinCEN baseline + state MTLs + BitLicense for NY.
All 49 states?+
No - priority waves open most of the market.
Cost and time?+
First wave 6-18 months; bonds $25k-$500k+/state.
BitLicense?+
New York's own regime - scoped when it earns its cost.
GENIUS Act?+
Federal stablecoin law since July 2025 - reserves, disclosures.
CLARITY Act?+
Passed the House; before the Senate in mid-2026.
Partner models?+
Lawful bridges while licences mature - drafted tightly.
AML rules?+
BSA program, KYC, SARs, OFAC, travel rule.
Taxes?+
21% + state for companies; capital gains for founders.
US first or later?+
Usually after the EU/UAE - in waves, once fit justifies it.
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
Start today
One message away from your US market entry.
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 US stack and sequencing 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 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 FinCEN, the SEC, the CFTC, NYDFS or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.