British Virgin Islands
British Virgin IslandsA 2023 law registers crypto exchanges and custodians, while the BVI business company remains a common vehicle for issuing tokens.
Key Regulatory Progress
Every law, rule and official guide on crypto in British Virgin Islands: 10 apply today, and the rest show what's coming and how regulators read the rules. Each is explained in plain words and linked to the official original.
Last checked against the originals on 15 Oct 2026.
Core framework
The primary statutes that define crypto assets and who may deal in them.
- In forceApplies today
Virtual Assets Service Providers Act, 2022 (No. 17 of 2022)
Requires FSC registration to provide virtual asset services in or from within the BVI, in three categories: general services, custody and exchanges. Assented on 23 December 2022 and in force from 1 February 2023.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Financial Services (Regulatory Sandbox) Regulations, 2020
Lets firms test innovative FinTech under FSC approval for up to 18 months, with one extension of up to six months. Gazetted on 10 June 2020 and in force from 31 August 2020.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
The Regulatory Sandbox Guidelines
Describes the sandbox application, testing and exit process; participants that want to continue must apply for a licence at least 60 days before testing ends.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Guidance on Regulation of Virtual Assets in the Virgin Islands (BVI)
Explains when tokens are investments under SIBA, such as fund interests, shares, debt or derivatives, and when pure utility and payment tokens fall outside financial services law. It predates the VASP Act.
Read the original
Exchanges & custody
Licensing, conduct and custody rules for trading platforms and service providers.
- GuidanceNot binding law
BVI FSC Newsletter, September 2026 (Quarter 3)
Reports from the Q2 2026 statistical bulletin that regulated VASPs stood at 27 at 30 June 2026, against five a year earlier, and that five thematic VASP inspections were completed in the quarter.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
BVI FSC Statistical Bulletin Q1 2026
Showed 24 VASP licensees, 13 VASP authorised representatives and one sandbox participant at 31 March 2026, alongside 362,165 business companies and 2,242 funds.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Understanding Virtual Assets & VASP Regulation FAQs (Industry Circular 43 of 2025)
Plain-language FAQs on who needs registration and on VASP obligations. Providing virtual asset services without registration carries a penalty of US$100,000 or five years' imprisonment, or both, for a company.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
BVI FSC Guidance on Application for Registration of a Virtual Assets Service Provider
Sets out what a complete application needs, including governance, capital and liquidity, technology audits and client asset safeguarding. Fees are US$10,000 for custody or exchange applicants and US$5,000 for others.
Read the original
Tokenisation & securities
Security tokens, RWA, funds and ETFs.
- In forceApplies today
Private Investment Funds Regulations, 2019
Regime for closed-ended private investment funds recognised by the FSC; 447 were registered at 31 March 2026.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Securities and Investment Business (Incubator and Approved Funds) Regulations
Incubator funds are limited to 20 sophisticated private investors and US$20 million of net assets; approved funds to 20 investors and US$100 million.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Securities and Investment Business Act (Revised Edition 2020)
Licenses investment business and regulates mutual funds and private investment funds. Tokens that qualify as investments, and the funds that hold them, are regulated under it.
Read the original
AML & travel rule
Anti-money-laundering obligations and the FATF travel rule.
- In forceApplies today
Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Code of Practice, 2023
Corrected the originating VASP obligations in the virtual asset transfer rules and set administrative penalties for breaches of them. In force from 17 March 2023.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Code of Practice, 2022
Gazetted on 29 August 2022; its provisions on virtual asset transfers, the BVI travel rule, took effect on 1 December 2022. It also set a US$1,000 threshold for due diligence on one-off virtual asset transactions.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Anti-money Laundering (Amendment) Regulations, 2022
Made providing virtual asset services in transactions of US$1,000 or more a relevant business under the AML Regulations, with the virtual asset provisions in force from 1 December 2022.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Virgin Islands' Progress Recognised at FATF Plenary in Paris, France
After the June 2026 FATF plenary, the government reported continued progress on its action plan since its June 2025 commitment, with more than 92% of actions in its revised national plan completed or ahead of schedule.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Press Release No. 7 of 2026: Compliance Inspection Priorities & Expectations for 2026
The March 2026 to February 2027 inspection cycle targets 50 licensees, up from 40 inspections in 2025, focusing on trust and company service providers, investment business and VASPs.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Evolution of the Digital Era in the Virgin Islands: A Virtual Asset Perspective
Strategic analysis of virtual asset suspicious activity reports filed by BVI exchanges, covering typologies such as layering, cross-border transfers to evade sanctions and unhosted wallets.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
VASP Travel Rule Guidance
Lists the originator and beneficiary information that must accompany transfers of US$1,000 or more between VASPs, and explains how to handle counterparties in jurisdictions without the travel rule.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Virtual Assets Service Providers Guide to the Prevention of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing
Explains how the AML Regulations and the AML/TF Code of Practice apply to VASPs, covering risk assessment, customer due diligence, the travel rule, sanctions screening and suspicious activity reporting.
Read the original
Tax
How gains, income and transactions are taxed.
- In forceApplies today
Mutual Legal Assistance (Tax Matters) (Amendment) Act, 2026 (No. 1 of 2026)
Gives effect to the OECD's amended Common Reporting Standard, including digital money products, deemed effective from 1 January 2026. Gazetted on 5 March 2026.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnerships) Act
Requires BVI companies and limited partnerships carrying on relevant activities, such as holding, financing and leasing, fund management or IP business, to show economic substance in the territory.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
CRS 2.0 and CARF
Notice that CRS 2.0 applies from 1 January 2026, with first reports due by May 2027, and that the BVI has committed to CARF with first exchanges in 2028.
Read the original
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