Virtual asset service provider registration in the Cayman Islands

About This Company

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) decides whether to grant registration to virtual asset businesses operating from Grand Cayman. Statutory authority derives from the Virtual Asset (Service Providers) Act (2024 Revision). Under this statute, the regime provides for VASP Registration or VASP Licence, with a licence mandatory for virtual asset custody and virtual asset trading platforms since 1 April 2025. Permissions mapped under this framework cover Virtual asset exchange (FATF), Virtual asset transfer (FATF), and Virtual asset safekeeping (FATF). Geographic reach is domestic and does not passport into other jurisdictions. Cross-border operations stop at national borders. Entities seeking to operate in foreign territories must secure separate local authorisations because Cayman permissions carry no extraterritorial passporting rights. Established in 1997 and based in George Town, Grand Cayman, CIMA supervises 18 entities of this licence type on the register (counted 2026-09-24). Public register searches allow typing a full or partial entity name with sector filters to inspect reference numbers, licence type, and effective dates. Acquiring shares reaching 10% or more requires CIMA's prior approval under s.28(1) of the VASP Act, supported by a Personal Questionnaire and fitness documentation. Initial assessment requires an application fee of KYD 1,000.