Jurisdictions
Where we work
Regulators, key permits, statutory capital thresholds and practical notes for the fourteen jurisdictions we cover most often. The table is a starting point for a scoping call, not advice: figures are dated below and re-checked at least twice a year.
| Jurisdiction | Regulators | Key permits / minimum capital | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom UK · UK & Ireland |
FCA; HMRC (MSB / cryptoasset AML); Companies House | EMI €350k; API €125k; SPI / SEMI no threshold; cryptoasset registration | Ltd in one day; substance and UK-resident management effectively required for FCA |
| Ireland IE · UK & Ireland |
CBI; CRO | EMI €350k; PI €125k; VASP registration | Local director and office expected; CBI timelines are long |
| Lithuania LT · Europe |
Bank of Lithuania; Registrų centras | EMI €350k; PI €125k; CASP under MiCA | SEPA access via CENTROlink; stricter management requirements since 2023 |
| Cyprus CY · Europe |
CySEC; CBC; Registrar of Companies | CIF from €75k / €150k / €750k; EMI / PI via CBC; CASP under MiCA | IP Box, non-dom regime; popular holding jurisdiction |
| Malta MT · Europe |
MFSA; MBR | EMI / PI at EU thresholds; VFA / CASP; investment services | 35% headline tax with refunds up to 6/7; substance required |
| Poland PL · Europe |
KNF; KRS | MIP (small PI) no capital; KIP; CASP | Sp. z o.o. from PLN 5,000; fast local entry via MIP |
| Czech Republic CZ · Europe |
ČNB | PI / EMI at EU thresholds; small PSP; CASP | Stable regulator, moderate cost base |
| Switzerland CH · Europe |
FINMA; SRO (VQF, PolyReg, SO-FIT) | SRO affiliation for financial intermediaries; fintech licence; banking | SRO is membership under AMLA, not a licence; GmbH CHF 20k / AG CHF 100k |
| United Arab Emirates AE · Middle East |
ADGM FSRA; DIFC DFSA; CBUAE; VARA (Dubai) | Category 3C / 4 (ADGM / DIFC); SVF / RPSCS (CBUAE); VASP (VARA) | Free zone vs mainland; 9% CIT; substance and ESR apply |
| Hong Kong HK · Asia |
C&ED (MSO); SFC; HKMA | MSO licence (no minimum capital); SVF; VATP | MSO is a fast route for FX / remittance; bank onboarding is hard |
| Singapore SG · Asia |
MAS; ACRA | SPI / MPI (S$100k / S$250k) under the PSA | Resident director required; MAS restricts DPT licences |
| Canada CA · Americas |
FINTRAC; provincial registries | MSB / FMSB registration (no capital) | Registration, not a licence; revised FMSB and compliance-programme requirements |
| United States US · Americas |
FinCEN; state regulators | FinCEN MSB registration + state MTL | State MTLs drive cost and timeline; Delaware / Wyoming for entry |
| Kazakhstan KZ · CIS |
AFSA (AIFC); ARDFM; NBK | AIFC licences (payments, crypto); payment organisation registration | AIFC uses English law and its own court; growing crypto hub |
United KingdomUK · UK & Ireland
Regulators: FCA; HMRC (MSB / cryptoasset AML); Companies House
Permits / capital: EMI €350k; API €125k; SPI / SEMI no threshold; cryptoasset registration
Notes: Ltd in one day; substance and UK-resident management effectively required for FCA
IrelandIE · UK & Ireland
Regulators: CBI; CRO
Permits / capital: EMI €350k; PI €125k; VASP registration
Notes: Local director and office expected; CBI timelines are long
LithuaniaLT · Europe
Regulators: Bank of Lithuania; Registrų centras
Permits / capital: EMI €350k; PI €125k; CASP under MiCA
Notes: SEPA access via CENTROlink; stricter management requirements since 2023
CyprusCY · Europe
Regulators: CySEC; CBC; Registrar of Companies
Permits / capital: CIF from €75k / €150k / €750k; EMI / PI via CBC; CASP under MiCA
Notes: IP Box, non-dom regime; popular holding jurisdiction
MaltaMT · Europe
Regulators: MFSA; MBR
Permits / capital: EMI / PI at EU thresholds; VFA / CASP; investment services
Notes: 35% headline tax with refunds up to 6/7; substance required
PolandPL · Europe
Regulators: KNF; KRS
Permits / capital: MIP (small PI) no capital; KIP; CASP
Notes: Sp. z o.o. from PLN 5,000; fast local entry via MIP
Czech RepublicCZ · Europe
Regulators: ČNB
Permits / capital: PI / EMI at EU thresholds; small PSP; CASP
Notes: Stable regulator, moderate cost base
SwitzerlandCH · Europe
Regulators: FINMA; SRO (VQF, PolyReg, SO-FIT)
Permits / capital: SRO affiliation for financial intermediaries; fintech licence; banking
Notes: SRO is membership under AMLA, not a licence; GmbH CHF 20k / AG CHF 100k
United Arab EmiratesAE · Middle East
Regulators: ADGM FSRA; DIFC DFSA; CBUAE; VARA (Dubai)
Permits / capital: Category 3C / 4 (ADGM / DIFC); SVF / RPSCS (CBUAE); VASP (VARA)
Notes: Free zone vs mainland; 9% CIT; substance and ESR apply
Hong KongHK · Asia
Regulators: C&ED (MSO); SFC; HKMA
Permits / capital: MSO licence (no minimum capital); SVF; VATP
Notes: MSO is a fast route for FX / remittance; bank onboarding is hard
SingaporeSG · Asia
Regulators: MAS; ACRA
Permits / capital: SPI / MPI (S$100k / S$250k) under the PSA
Notes: Resident director required; MAS restricts DPT licences
CanadaCA · Americas
Regulators: FINTRAC; provincial registries
Permits / capital: MSB / FMSB registration (no capital)
Notes: Registration, not a licence; revised FMSB and compliance-programme requirements
United StatesUS · Americas
Regulators: FinCEN; state regulators
Permits / capital: FinCEN MSB registration + state MTL
Notes: State MTLs drive cost and timeline; Delaware / Wyoming for entry
KazakhstanKZ · CIS
Regulators: AFSA (AIFC); ARDFM; NBK
Permits / capital: AIFC licences (payments, crypto); payment organisation registration
Notes: AIFC uses English law and its own court; growing crypto hub
Data as of 03.09.2026. Statutory minimums shown; regulators may require more on the basis of the business plan. Verify before relying.
How a jurisdiction gets chosen
We start from the flow of funds and the customer base, not from a list of "best countries". Which activities are regulated where your customers sit, which permission those activities engage, what capital and substance the regulator actually expects, whether a bank will onboard the entity, and what the group's tax position looks like afterwards. The answer is usually a two- or three-jurisdiction shortlist with costs and timelines — that is what the first scoping call produces.
Not sure where to start?
A 30-minute call is usually enough to narrow the perimeter and the jurisdiction shortlist.
Ask about a jurisdiction