Crypto License in Panama
- Unregulated Legal Crypto Activities
- Global Access
- Register your crypto company in up to 2 weeks
- 0% Corporate Tax Rate
- No Capital Requirements
A crypto license is an official permit that allows businesses to legally operate in the cryptocurrency industry.
AdamSmith law office provides full-scale legal support for crypto licensing:
• Setting up a company and obtaining a crypto license
• Buying a ready-made authorized VASP/CASP company
1000+ crypto licenses successfully obtained with our legal guidance in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries.
Get a free consultation Get a free consultationA crypto license shows clients and investors that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.
Licensing ensures you meet legal standards and protect your business from fines or shutdowns.
With a license, you can operate in more markets and form better partnerships.
We are among the first international experts to have begun securing crypto licenses for clients back when this field was just emerging in Estonia — the pioneering country in establishing a legal framework for cryptocurrency businesses. It was here that we commenced our practice and became one of the most experienced players in this niche.
Since then, we have successfully obtained over 1,000 licenses for crypto companies worldwide. Our expertise spans dozens of jurisdictions across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and offshore regions. We do more than provide consultation — we build comprehensive legal infrastructures for businesses, including the establishment of local offices, on-the-ground legal representation, continuous legislative monitoring, and active engagement with regulatory authorities.
Our team is more than just legal professionals. We are industry pioneers who have won cases in court, developed end-to-end legal strategies, and established working relationships with regulators in numerous countries. We are committed to the principles of decentralization and the long-term legal development of the crypto market.
If you are seeking a foundation rather than a temporary fix, partners rather than intermediaries — you’ve come to the right place. Our mission is to create legal resilience for crypto companies and to support the sustainable growth of the industry.
European regulation is characterized by rigor, transparency, and long-term stability. We have successfully obtained crypto licenses in jurisdictions with well-developed legal systems and strong support for innovation, including:
Estonia (FIU) – our point of departure and the foundation of our accumulated expertise.
Lithuania (FCIS) – a fast-evolving jurisdiction with a flexible regulatory approach.
Czech Republic (CNB) – a blend of local specificity and EU standards.
Poland (KNF) – a focus on consumer protection and regulatory oversight.
Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany – project-based licensing aligned with the specific needs of each client.
In each of these countries, we maintain local representatives and dedicated legal teams who ensure direct communication with regulators, track legislative developments, and support clients throughout both the licensing process and subsequent operations.
We do not merely facilitate licensing — we advocate for the interests of the crypto business. Our team has a proven track record of successful litigation in Estonia, Lithuania, and other EU jurisdictions, demonstrating our ability to defend clients in complex legal contexts.
At present, we are actively assisting crypto projects in adapting to the requirements of MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets), preparing our clients for the new pan-European digital asset regulatory regime. This enables our partners to operate within the EU’s legal framework while building on long-term strategic foundations.
Beyond Europe, we also assist clients in obtaining crypto licenses in flexible, business-friendly jurisdictions that offer rapid deployment, minimal bureaucracy, and cost-effective solutions. These include:
For each jurisdiction, we provide tailored solutions aligned with the client’s goals — whether for a cryptocurrency exchange, trading platform, custodial service, DeFi product, asset tokenization project, or international payment system. We support the entire process: from company formation and license acquisition to bank account opening, documentation, and ongoing compliance supervision.
With the implementation of MiCA and increased regulatory oversight across the EU, many clients are now considering alternative jurisdictions outside Europe. We actively recommend and implement streamlined, yet legally sound licensing models in jurisdictions such as Seychelles, SVG, Kazakhstan, and Panama. These structures enable businesses to launch quickly and affordably without compromising on legality or long-term stability.
If you are looking for flexibility, cost-efficiency, and strategic reliability — we will help you select and execute the most suitable licensing strategy for your global ambitions.
A trusted partner in EU crypto compliance, our firm helps crypto companies align with the latest Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. We deliver a ready-to-submit documentation package tailored to CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) licensing in the EU, including AML, IT, governance, and adaptation frameworks for both new and existing providers.
Timeframe: 1–2 weeks
Price: from 4 000 EUR
Expand your crypto business across Europe with a MiCA license that unlocks cross-border opportunities.
Timeframe: from 4 months
Price: from 19 900 EUR
A European Economic Area jurisdiction that is very supportive of cryptocurrency and has a large number of registered EMIs and operating within its borders. It also has stable legislation close to upcoming amendments to MiCA regulations.
Timeframe: from 2 month
Price: from 8 500 EUR
Ideal for European market-oriented crypto startups, supporting experimental projects; very low requirements, pretty simple and straightforward process of obtaining a cryptolicense.
Timeframe: from 2 month
Price: from 4 900 EUR
A global leader in digital innovation, Estonia was the first country that introduced crypto licensing. Nowadays the Estonian crypto license requires a live structure in the country with several requirements, such as a physical office and an AML specialist.
Timeframe: 8 weeks
Price: from 15 000 EUR
Located at the heart of Europe, Poland provides a well-regulated crypto industry, additionally having quite low requirements for obtaining the license.
Timeframe: 4 - 6 weeks
Price: from 3 000 EUR
A license in Bosnia and Herzegovina allows cryptocurrency companies to operate worldwide, except for countries on the sanctions list (such as North Korea, Iran, etc.).
Timeframe: 2-3 weeks
Price: from 4 000 EUR
Slovakia offers a favorable legal framework and a stable business environment, making it an ideal choice for cryptocurrency companies looking for a reliable base in Europe.
Timeframe: 4 weeks
Price: from 3 000 EUR
Timeframe: from 2 weeks
Price: from 4 500 EUR
Ideal for global crypto businesses looking for tax efficiency and regulatory freedom; SVG offers complete privacy, no corporate taxes, and zero reporting obligations, making it a top choice for agile operations.
Timeframe: 7 business days
Price: from 2 900 EUR
Seychelles is a global leader in financial innovation and has a simple licensing regime for cryptocurrency companies.
Timeframe: from 5 months
Price: from 8 000 EUR
A European Economic Area jurisdiction that is very supportive of cryptocurrency and has a large number of registered EMIs and operating within its borders. It also has stable legislation close to upcoming amendments to MiCA regulations.
Timeframe: 1-6 weeks
Price: from 12 500 USD
The United Kingdom is a globally respected jurisdiction with a strong regulatory framework for cryptocurrency businesses. It offers credibility, access to banking, and a clear licensing process under the supervision of the FCA. Ideal for exchanges, wallet providers, and crypto platforms targeting the UK and international markets.
Timeframe: 2–4 weeks
Price: from 6 000 EUR
Costa Rica is an entrepreneur-friendly jurisdiction in Latin America with a favorable environment for cryptocurrency businesses. It offers regulatory flexibility, no formal licensing barriers, and low operational costs under a stable commercial law system. Ideal for blockchain startups, crypto service providers, and fintech companies seeking fast market entry and regional expansion.
Timeframe: 2–3 weeks
Price: from 3 900 EUR
Obtain your crypto license in El Salvador and attract global clients by operating from the world’s first Bitcoin-legalized jurisdiction.
Timeframe: 12 weeks
Price: from 19 900
Unlike many jurisdictions, Georgia does not impose a minimum capital requirement, making it accessible for startups and smaller businesses.
Timeframe: 8 - 12 weeks
Price: from 14900 EUR
Ideal for globally-focused crypto startups, especially those targeting the Asian market; supports innovative projects with a relatively hassle-free and clear-cut process for obtaining a crypto license.
Timeframe: 5 weeks
Price: from 5000 EUR
Connect with our licensing experts to discuss tailored solutions designed specifically for your business. We’ll get back to you with a personalized offer within 1 hour on work days.
Request an offer Request an offerWe help businesses navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence. With us, you can focus on what matters most—growing your business—while we take care of the legal details.
Since 2017, we have been guiding businesses in obtaining cryptocurrency licenses, ensuring smooth, compliant setups
From innovative startups to established enterprises, we have helped secure ove 1000 crypto licenses worldwide
We provide crypto licensing with local legal offices and in-house lawyers in every jurisdiction we operate.
A legal expert from Adam Smith shares insights on the latest trends and strategies for obtaining crypto licenses — from CASP in Europe to MSB in Canada and Montana (USA).
Recorded at Blockchain Life 2025, this interview covers key updates on regulation, MiCA compliance, and global crypto licensing practices.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), a southern European gem, is emerging as a promising destination for cryptocurrency businesses. The country’s favorable business environment, streamlined procedures, and…
Under Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, a single authorization in any one EU Member State gives CASPs EU-wide “passporting” rights — get authorised once and operate across all 27 countries.
Under Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, a single authorization in any one EU Member State gives CASPs EU-wide “passporting” rights — get authorised once and operate across all 27 countries.

This article is brought to you by the team at AdamSmith. AdamSmith is a team that helps crypto companies establish and maintain legal structures in 20+ countries.
Please note: none of this information should be considered as legal, tax, or investment advice. While we’ve done our best to make sure this information is accurate at the time of publishing, laws and practices may change. For help with the legal structuring of your project, speak to us.
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) is the European Union’s new legal framework that harmonises rules for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and issuers across all 27 member states. Existing virtual asset service providers may benefit from national transitional regimes until 1 July 2026, after which MiCA authorisation will be required to operate in the EU. Under MiCA, CASPs such as exchanges, custodians, and crypto-brokers must meet strict requirements on governance, safeguarding of client assets, IT security, and disclosure. Authorisation in one EU country gives firms “passporting” rights to serve clients across the entire Union.
Sources: ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority), Official Journal of the European Union (OJ).
Unlike national VASP registrations, MiCA creates a single authorisation regime across all 27 EU member states. It applies to issuers of Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs), issuers of E-Money Tokens (EMTs), and CASPs such as exchanges, custodians, brokers, and trading platforms. Authorisation in one member state gives “passporting” rights to operate throughout the Union.
MiCA does not apply to financial instruments governed by MiFID II (e.g. securities, shares, derivatives) or to fully decentralised protocols with no identifiable issuer. These fall under other EU or national regulations.
National Competent Authorities (NCAs). Authorise CASPs in their home Member State and supervise ongoing compliance. Scope includes governance, safeguarding of client assets, IT/outsourcing, disclosures, marketing practices, and enforcement (information requests, inspections, sanctions, suspension/withdrawal of authorisation).
ESMA (EU-level coordination and transparency). Promotes supervisory convergence through guidelines and technical standards, coordinates cross-border matters, and maintains the EU public register of authorised CASPs and their passporting notifications.
EBA (stablecoins and prudential focus). Leads on prudential expectations for significant ART/EMT issuers (e.g., reserves, liquidity, recovery/wind-down planning), working with NCAs and ESMA.
ECB and national central banks (financial-stability input). Provide opinions and participate where relevant for significant tokens, focusing on monetary policy and payment-system implications.
Entry into
the force of MiCA
Entry into
application
of MiCA
MiCA becomes
mandatory for
service providers
Transitional
phase ends
MiCA replaces fragmented national registrations with a single authorisation. Once your CASP is authorised by its home NCA, you can “passport” services across all 27 EU countries; your authorisation and passporting notices appear in ESMA’s public register (useful for banks and partners).
Regulators expect real decision‑making in the EU (place of effective management) and at least one director resident in the EU—not a letter‑box set‑up. ESMA/EBA guidelines also emphasise time commitment, competence and clear roles for the management body and qualifying shareholders.
If you receive client fiat (other than e‑money tokens), you must place it with an EU credit institution or a central bank by the end of the next business day, and never use client assets for your own account. Expect segregation, daily reconciliation and clear custody contracts—plus liability where a loss is attributable to you.
Trading platforms must monitor market abuse, keep complete order/traceability records, and publish pre‑ and post‑trade data (near real‑time; free after a short delay such as 15 minutes and kept available for 2 years). Keep order‑book data ready for supervisors for years and formalise best‑execution.
For tokens other than ARTs/EMTs, the offeror must be a legal person and draw up, notify and publish a crypto‑asset white paper before public offering or admission—unless a narrow exemption applies (<150 persons per Member State, or ≤€1m over 12 months, or qualified‑investor only). Retail buyers get a 14‑day withdrawal right if they purchased before trading starts. If a token has no identifiable issuer (e.g., BTC), the platform/person seeking admission shoulders disclosure and warnings.
“Algorithmic” models do not qualify as ARTs/EMTs under MiCA. Asset‑backed issuers face strict reserve quality, 1:1 backing, liquidity and disclosure requirements; EMTs link to a single fiat and follow an e‑money‑style regime. Only the issuer (or a party with its written consent) may publicly offer or seek admission. Significant tokens trigger stricter EBA‑coordinated oversight.
57 unique CASPs across 11 Member States are in the register.
Top home states: Germany (18) and Netherlands (14) lead; then France (6), Malta (6); Spain (3), Luxembourg (3); Austria (2), Ireland (2); Cyprus (1), Lithuania (1), Finland (1).
First-wave approvals landed on 30 Dec 2024 in the Netherlands (BitStaete, Hidden Road Partners, MoonPay, Zebedee).
Peak months for new entries in 2025: May–July (steady flow of large names and banks).

Infographic: Where companies are getting their CASP licences in 2025 (MiCA)
Germany: a cluster of regulated banks and broker-banks (Commerzbank, flatexDEGIRO Bank, Baader Bank, N26, Trade Republic) plus custodians (BitGo, Tangany) and the Boerse Stuttgart group. If you want bank-grade optics and deep capital‑markets links, Germany is where many incumbents went.
Netherlands: strong crypto‑native and payments mix (Bitvavo, Amdax, MoonPay, Finst, Fiat Republic, Acheron Trading) and several first‑day approvals. Good for on/off‑ramp and brokerage‑style models.
Luxembourg: global brands with rapid passporting (Coinbase, Bitstamp, Clearstream). If you need fast EU‑wide reach with a capital‑markets friendly home, this is the pattern.
Malta: large exchanges (OKX, Crypto.com, Gemini, ZBX, Bitpanda) — a clear “trading/exchange hub” narrative.
Plus France (CACEIS Bank; CoinShares AM), Spain (BBVA, Openbank, Cecabank), Austria (Bybit, Bitpanda), Ireland (Kraken), Cyprus (eToro), Lithuania (Robinhood), Finland (Coinmotion).
Firms that safeguard private keys or manage client crypto-assets (similar to custodians or wallet providers)
Providers that run order books or trading venues for crypto-assets
Companies that facilitate exchange between crypto and fiat or between different crypto-assets
CASPs that execute trades or transfers on behalf of clients
Firms that market or distribute new crypto-assets on behalf of issuers
Providers that transmit client instructions to other CASPs or venues
Entities that manage crypto portfolios for clients
CASPs giving personalised recommendations

What happens: choose the Member State and National Competent Authority (NCA), incorporate the legal entity, and establish “substance”.
Baseline expectations:
What happens: informal engagement with the NCA to confirm the service perimeter (custody/exchange/execution/venue, etc.), use of any transitional regime (if already operating), class implications, outsourcing approach and documentation set.
Outcome: aligned scope and expectations, which reduces later rounds of requests for information (RFIs).
Core dossier contents:
Submission: the dossier is filed with the NCA (Day 0).
Acknowledgement: typically within 5 working days.
Completeness check: up to 25–30 working days.
Possible outcomes:
What the NCA assesses:
Process: 1–3 RFI rounds, occasional interviews or remote system walk‑throughs.
Timing: MiCA foresees a decision within 40 working days from completeness, extendable by +20 working days where clarifications are requested; in practice, assessment typically takes 3–6 months from submission.
Decision: authorization or refusal. Upon approval, the firm is listed in ESMA’s public register; passporting notifications are then filed to serve other Member States.
Next steps: align T&Cs and marketing to the authorised status; keep register information current.
What banks/payment providers request: the authorization letter, board minutes, full policy set (especially safeguarding/AML), proof of reconciliations and segregation, and the UBO/KYC pack.
Result: operational accounts are opened and services begin under the MiCA regime.
We handle the entire MiCA authorization process for fixed fee
With extensive experience in licensing crypto companies since 2016, our team has successfully guided numerous businesses through complex regulatory landscapes, helping them achieve compliance and operate confidently within the European market.
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is an EU regulation that sets clear rules for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs), ensuring transparency, investor protection and market stability across all 27 EU member states.
All CASPs operating in the EU, including crypto exchanges, wallets, trading platforms and token issuers, must obtain a MiCA license to provide services legally.
MiCA will be fully implemented by December 2024, with a transition period extending into 2025 for compliance adjustments.
A MiCA license grants legal access to the EU market, enhances credibility, ensures regulatory protection and enables seamless operations across member states.
MiCA requires €50,000 for advisory services, €125,000 for custody and exchange and €150,000 for trading platforms. These thresholds ensure financial stability and regulatory compliance based on the CASP’s risk levels.
Under the MiCA regulation, (CASPs) must be licensed by their national authority, meet governance and capital requirements and comply with strict conduct, AML/KYC, and cybersecurity rules. They must safeguard client assets, provide transparent risk disclosures and follow fair trading and best execution practices. Ongoing obligations include reporting, record keeping and ensuring any outsourcing arrangements remain under full CASP responsibility.
The licensing process varies by country, but typically takes 3 to 6 months, depending on the business structure, documentation and regulatory approval timeline.
MiCA licenses are issued by national financial regulators in each EU member state, following ESMA guidelines.
Yes, a MiCA license obtained in one EU country allows a CASP to operate freely across all 27 member states without additional licensing.
CASPs operating without a valid MiCA license may face heavy fines, operational restrictions, or a ban on services in the EU market.
Yes, MiCA covers stablecoins, utility tokens and security tokens, requiring issuers to meet specific disclosure and reserve requirements.
ESMA oversees the implementation of MiCA, sets regulatory standards and ensures harmonization across EU financial markets.
Yes, but non-EU companies must register a legal entity in an EU country and meet all regulatory and compliance requirements.
Typical requirements include a business plan, AML/KYC policies, risk management framework, cybersecurity measures, governance structure and financial statements.
We provide full regulatory support, including consulting, application preparation, document drafting, communication with regulators and ongoing compliance assistance to ensure a smooth licensing process.
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