In 2019, Bahamian official body performing control over securities introduced the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act, 2019 (DARE Act) for cryptocurrencies and cryptoexchanges regulations. This regulatory act establishes provisions for control of trading operations with virtual tokens. Additionally, law also regulates activities of firms offering intermediary bases in this sector. The DARE license in Bahamas gives rights to carry out activities connected with digital assets.
Bill’s provisions describe that such activities mean:
- transactions conducted on digital asset exchanges;
- VA wallets;
- VA storage;
- other activities qualified as relevant.
Through the implementation of these rules, regulative grounds were created for issuing tokens and registering crypto-exchanges. In addition, certain crypto-businesses (particularly, escrow and wallet offers) have been identified, thereby providing official norms over them.
General Information
| Regulator | Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) |
| License Type | Digital Asset Business License under the DARE Act. Covers exchanges, custody, broker-dealer services, token issuance, staking, lending, and other digital asset activities |
| Minimum Capital | No single fixed minimum. Capital requirements are determined based on the business model, risk exposure, and scale of operations, subject to regulatory approval |
| Time to Obtain | No fixed official timeline. In practice, the process typically takes 2–4 months, depending on application quality and regulatory review |
| Passporting (EU) | No. A Bahamas DARE license does not provide EU passporting rights |
| Local Office | Required. The company must be incorporated in The Bahamas and demonstrate real presence, including local directors, governance structure, and operational substance |
Activities with virtual tokens ruled by Bahamas crypto license
In accordance with the provisions of the bill, it is determined which firms can officially carry out operations connected with digital tokens, necessary capital, points regarding filing reports and procedure for obtaining Commission confirmation, as well as penalty for non-compliance with certain points.
In addition, obtaining a crypto license in Bahamas demands industry participants to follow strict anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financial support (CFT) regulations, while safeguarding consumers’ data.
Central jurisdiction’s bank imposed certain restrictions on certain crypto-instruments with which firms can transact.
Registering commercial project dealing with virtual assets
Legal entities intending to get licenses for cryptocurrencies in Bahamas or run operations from its territory must be certified in accordance with provisions of this act. An application must be made in special form, indicating type of activity and must be submitted along with the documents provided for by the Law. In addition, the person is obliged to pay the prescribed administrative fee.
Digital tokens exchanges
Firms wishing to get cryptocurrency exchange license in Bahamas(i.e. act as a platform for digital tokens’ trade or exchange for fiat currency or multiple digital tokens among themselves) must apply for authorisation with the Securities Commission of The Bahamas for a crypto permission in the Bahamas. An application must be made in special form and sent with necessary documents and the payment of a fee.
A firm operating as a marketplace may conduct commercial operations with digital assets as an additional branch and must provide written notice to do so.
Applicant of cryptocurrency license in Bahamas must also show following to regulatory authority:
- availability of sufficient capacity and resources;
- systems and controls appropriate and sufficient for performance of functions to manage risks, including the prevention of fraudulent transactions and the abuse of market opportunities;
- the ability to fully comply with solvency norms and capital levels set by regulatory enactments;
- a clearly defined operational and technological framework; it includes technological aspects and remedies for ensuring security, an identified system of risks, solutions for protecting and storing data.
Token exchanges need to ensure systems and controls used in its operations are adequate for size and nature of its operations.Contact our experts to get explicit information about the licensing of cryptocurrencies in the Bahamas. In addition, we will help you find a company with cryptocurrency license and business in Bahamas, and provide professional support in concluding a deal.
