Crypto License in Georgia 2026

Launch a Georgia VASP structure with clear regulatory scoping, AML-ready documentation, and realistic banking strategy. RUE supports mainland Georgia and FIZ setups case by case.

Request Legal Assessment

Regulator

NBG

Timeframe

4-10 weeks

Cost

from €9,900

Capital

case-based

Mainland VASP and FIZ are different models. No EU MiCA passporting.

Why Georgia for a Crypto License

Georgia is used for crypto businesses that need a comparatively fast setup, moderate substance burden, and founder-friendly tax logic. The right structure depends on the business model: mainland Georgia VASP for regulated service activity, or FIZ for narrower international structuring cases.

Polina Merkulova

Polina Merkulova

Licensing Services Manager

[email protected]

As your point of contact, I help coordinate the licensing process end-to-end, keep communication clear, and move your application forward without unnecessary delays.

Regulated United Europe (RUE) structures Georgia crypto projects from the regulatory perimeter outward: business-model scoping, company setup, AML/KYC framework, filing package, and post-registration readiness.

We do not sell a generic “license.” We assess whether your model belongs in mainland Georgia VASP, FIZ, another jurisdiction, or a hybrid structure with separate banking and payments architecture.

Contact me

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Recognized VASP Framework

Mainland Georgia operates a formal VASP registration and supervision perimeter under the National Bank of Georgia, with AML/CFT obligations tied to local law and FATF standards.

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Fast Setup Potential

Where ownership, documents, and compliance pack are prepared correctly, company formation and filing can move faster than in many EU jurisdictions.

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Founder-Friendly Tax Logic

Georgia applies the Estonian-style model for corporate taxation: retained earnings are generally not taxed until distribution, subject to structure and transaction type.

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Good for Operational Buildout

Georgia can work well for exchanges, OTC desks, custody-linked models, and regional crypto operations that do not need MiCA passporting.

Licencia criptográfica en Georgia 2026

Package includes (8)

Preparation of necessary documents for registration of a new company in Georgia 2026
Translation of a certificate of no criminal record through a sworn translator
Payment of state fees related to company registration
Payment of notary fees related to company registration
Preparation of compliance documents for MiCA application
Preparation of a business plan
Submission of the necessary documents to NBG
Recruitment of local MLRO/Compliance officer

Timeframe: From 2 months

Comprehensive Requirements for Georgia Crypto License

A crypto license in Georgia usually means registration/authorization as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) on mainland Georgia under the supervision of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). This is not a universal permission for every crypto activity. The legal perimeter depends on what the company actually does: exchange, transfer, brokerage, custody, or services involving control over client assets.

The regulator and counterparties do not assess only formal documents. They assess whether the applicant is operationally credible: real ownership disclosure, coherent transaction flows, AML/KYC controls, sanctions screening, wallet governance, and realistic banking arrangements. In practice, weak substance or template-based compliance documentation is one of the main reasons applications are delayed or become commercially unusable after approval.

Georgia Company Formation and Legal Presence +

You normally start with a Georgian legal entity, most commonly an LLC. The company must be registered through the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) and have a verifiable legal address. For mainland VASP cases, the market expectation is stronger than a mail-forwarding setup: a real office, documented control over operations, and a governance structure that can answer regulator and bank questions.

Founders often underestimate one practical point: the office is not only a filing formality. Banks, EMIs, payment partners, and KYB providers use it as part of their substance assessment. A “paper-only” setup may pass incorporation but fail onboarding later.

Management, UBO Disclosure and Fit-and-Proper Review +

The applicant must disclose its ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), directors, and decision-makers with clean and consistent supporting records. Expect scrutiny of:

ownership chain and control rights;
source of funds used to capitalize the business;
CVs and professional background of management;
criminal record and sanctions exposure;
whether the declared management team can actually run the model described.

In Georgia, as in other regulated crypto markets, the real issue is not nationality but transparency. Nominee-heavy or poorly documented ownership structures usually create delays with both the regulator and banks.

AML/KYC Framework and ML/TF Risk Controls +

A Georgia VASP must implement a business-specific AML/CFT framework aligned with local law, Financial Monitoring Service (FMS) expectations, and the FATF risk-based approach. A usable framework includes:

customer onboarding and risk scoring;
CDD and EDD rules for high-risk clients and geographies;
sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening;
transaction monitoring and escalation workflow;
suspicious transaction reporting;
source-of-funds and, where needed, source-of-wealth review;
record retention and staff training.

For 2026-ready applicants, KYC alone is insufficient. Banks and serious counterparties expect KYT/blockchain analytics and a documented approach to wallet screening, exposure to mixers, darknet typologies, sanctioned addresses, and high-risk chains or bridges.

IT Security, Wallet Governance and Auditability +

Crypto compliance in Georgia is judged partly through technical controls. A serious applicant should maintain:

2FA for privileged access and customer accounts;
encryption of sensitive data at rest and in transit, typically AES-256 and TLS 1.2/1.3;
segregation of hot, warm, and cold wallet functions;
MPC or multisig approval logic for treasury and custody operations;
immutable audit logs and incident-response procedures;
vendor due diligence for KYC, KYT, hosting, and custody providers.

A frequent hidden issue is wallet authority mapping. If the company cannot clearly show who controls private keys, who can approve transfers, and how emergency freezes work, both the regulator and banking partners may view the model as immature.

Business Plan, Transaction Flow and Target Market Mapping +

The business plan must explain the model in operational terms, not marketing language. A strong Georgia VASP application package should describe:

products and services by legal function;
target markets and excluded jurisdictions;
retail vs institutional customer mix;
fiat on-ramp/off-ramp design;
custody model and asset flow map;
outsourcing, vendors, and control points;
risk matrix and mitigation measures;
3-year financial projections with conservative assumptions.

One advanced point many applicants miss: if you target foreign clients, the plan should state where you will not onboard users. Cross-border restrictions, geoblocking logic, and restricted-country policy materially improve credibility.

Banking and Fiat Settlement Readiness +

A Georgia crypto license does not guarantee a bank account. Banking remains risk-based and depends on your client geographies, fiat flows, sanctions exposure, P2P intensity, and whether the business handles custody or only software-related activity.

Applicants that prepare a proper banking file perform better. This file should include:

transaction flow diagram;
AML/KYC summary and vendor stack;
risk appetite statement;
excluded countries and customer categories;
source-of-funds controls;
expected monthly volumes and counterparties.

In many cases, the workable structure is a combination of local company setup plus EMI/PSP or external fiat rails rather than reliance on one domestic bank.

Travel Rule and Blockchain Analytics Layer +

For a serious Georgia VASP in 2026, Travel Rule readiness is no longer optional in practice. If the business sends or receives virtual asset transfers with other VASPs, it should be able to collect, verify, store, and transmit originator/beneficiary data under a risk-based framework.

Operationally, this usually means integrating:

Travel Rule messaging tools such as Notabene, Sygna, or VerifyVASP;
blockchain analytics tools such as Chainalysis, TRM Labs, or Elliptic;
case management for compliance review and escalation.

This layer is often absent from low-cost applications and becomes a major obstacle later, especially when the company seeks banking, institutional liquidity, or payment processing.

Jurisdiction Comparison

Compare Georgia with other jurisdictions by key conditions for obtaining and operating a MiCA/CASP license: regulator, review period, fees, capital, local substance, and passporting.

* This table focuses on MiCA/CASP authorization conditions. Use the settings icon to customize countries and parameters.

Taxation of Crypto Companies in Georgia

Georgia is attractive for crypto entrepreneurs primarily because of its corporate tax logic, not because it is a “zero-tax crypto haven.” For most Georgian companies, the key principle is the Estonian model: retained earnings are generally taxed at 0% until profit is distributed, while distributed profit is generally taxed at 15%. This is highly relevant for exchanges and service businesses that reinvest cash flow into growth, compliance, and technology.

How the Estonian model works in practice

Assume a Georgia crypto company earns 500,000 GEL accounting profit in a year. If it retains 300,000 GEL for operations and distributes 200,000 GEL, the tax event is usually triggered on the distributed portion:

Accounting profit: 500,000 GEL
Retained in business: 300,000 GEL
Distributed profit: 200,000 GEL
Corporate tax on distribution at 15%: 30,000 GEL

Result: no corporate tax is generally paid on the retained 300,000 GEL, while 30,000 GEL arises on the distributed amount. This makes Georgia efficient for founder-led businesses that prioritize reinvestment over immediate dividend extraction.

VAT and service classification matter

Not all income of a crypto company is treated the same way. Exchange-related services, software, consulting, white-label infrastructure, and cross-border B2B revenue may fall under different VAT analyses. The correct answer depends on the exact service, counterparty location, and invoicing structure. This is why tax review should be done together with regulatory scoping, not after incorporation.

Budget beyond tax

Tax is only one part of the cost model. Founders should also budget for compliance software, accounting, legal maintenance, KYT tools, banking onboarding, and local substance.

Corporate Income Tax

Taxed mainly on distributed profit

15% / 0%*

Georgia generally applies the Estonian-style corporate tax model: 0% on retained earnings and 15% when profits are distributed. This is one of the main reasons Georgia is used for growth-stage crypto businesses. The analysis still depends on the exact transaction and accounting treatment.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Depends on service type and place of supply

18% / case-based

The standard Georgian VAT rate is 18%, but crypto-related services are not all treated identically. Exchange activity, software licensing, consulting, and ancillary services may produce different outcomes. A transaction-by-transaction review is recommended before launch.

Dividend Taxation

Requires shareholder-level review

case-based

Dividend treatment depends on shareholder profile, residency, and treaty position. Founders should not assume that company-level efficiency automatically equals tax-free extraction. For international groups, treaty analysis and substance planning remain important.

FIZ Tax Treatment

Separate regime with structure-specific logic

case-based

Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) structures may benefit from a different tax profile, but only if the actual business model, counterparties, and revenue streams fit the legal conditions of the zone. FIZ should not be marketed as a universal substitute for mainland VASP registration.

Accounting and Annual Maintenance

Mandatory operational cost

from €2,400

Even a lean Georgia crypto structure should budget for bookkeeping, tax filings, annual corporate maintenance, and support for regulator or bank requests. Costs rise materially when the company handles fiat settlement, custody, or high transaction volumes.

AML/KYT Tooling

Recurring compliance software spend

from €4,000

KYC, KYB, sanctions screening, blockchain analytics, and Travel Rule tools create recurring annual costs. Typical vendors include Sumsub, Veriff, Chainalysis, TRM Labs, and Notabene. Exact cost depends on volumes and feature set.

Office and Substance

Varies by mainland vs FIZ model

from €3,000

Mainland Georgia VASP structures usually need stronger substance than a minimal registration address. Office, local administration, and management support should be budgeted from the start, especially if banking is part of the plan.

Banking and Payments

Often underestimated by founders

case-based

Banking and EMI onboarding may involve setup fees, monthly account fees, transaction charges, FX spread, and reserve requirements for card or merchant flows. In practice, this line item often matters more than the official filing cost.

Compliance & Ongoing Obligations

Registration is only the start. A Georgia VASP must maintain ongoing AML, reporting, governance, and operational controls to remain bankable and regulator-ready.

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Reporting and Governance

Maintain accurate corporate, accounting, and transaction records
Respond to NBG and FMS information requests within required timelines
Keep ownership, management, and control data up to date
Document board or management decisions affecting compliance
Notify material changes in business model, control, or key personnel

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AML/KYC Duties

Apply CDD and EDD under a risk-based framework
Screen customers and counterparties against sanctions and PEP lists
Perform ongoing transaction monitoring and wallet risk review
File suspicious transaction reports where required
Refresh customer risk profiles and source-of-funds evidence periodically

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Operational Controls

Maintain access control, audit logs, and incident response procedures
Segregate company assets from client assets where custody is involved
Review wallet governance, key management, and transfer approval logic
Retain records for auditability and regulator inspection
Reassess vendor risk for KYC, KYT, hosting, and custody providers

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2026-Ready Enhancements

Implement Travel Rule procedures for relevant virtual asset transfers
Use blockchain analytics for exposure to sanctioned or high-risk wallets
Train staff on typologies involving mixers, mule accounts, and cross-chain obfuscation
Maintain country restrictions and geoblocking controls for prohibited markets
Run periodic gap analysis against FATF, banking, and partner expectations

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RUE handles compliance for you. Our team provides ongoing compliance support, including AML officer services, regulatory reporting, and policy updates. We ensure your license stays in good standing year after year. Contact us for compliance support →

What a Crypto License in Georgia Actually Means

What Is a Crypto License in Georgia in 2026?

A crypto license in Georgia usually means a mainland Georgia VASP registration/authorization regime rather than a single universal financial license. In market language, founders say “license,” but the legal question is narrower: does the company perform a regulated virtual asset service for third parties, and if yes, under which Georgian perimeter?

In 2026, the correct starting point is not incorporation but regulatory scoping. Exchange, brokerage, transfer, and custody-linked models are commonly inside the VASP perimeter. Pure proprietary trading, software-only tools, some non-custodial interfaces, and mining-only businesses may fall outside or require a separate legal memo. The decisive factors are control over client assets, execution role, and whether the company intermediates transfers for others.

Short answer: Georgia can be a strong jurisdiction for selected crypto models, but it is not an EU passporting regime and it does not remove client-country licensing risk.

Discuss Your Business Model

Who needs registration and who may fall outside the VASP perimeter

Who actually needs registration and who may fall outside the VASP perimeter?

A business usually needs Georgia VASP analysis when it provides crypto services for clients, not only for itself. The strongest indicators that registration may be required are:

operating a crypto exchange or brokerage desk for third parties;
holding or controlling client assets or private keys;
executing or arranging virtual asset transfers for customers;
running an OTC desk where the company intermediates client trades;
providing custodial wallet functionality or settlement services.

By contrast, some models may sit outside the core VASP perimeter or require only case-by-case analysis:

proprietary trading with no client service element;
mining-only operations that do not provide exchange or custody services to others;
software-only vendors selling infrastructure without handling client assets;
non-custodial wallet interfaces where the provider never controls private keys;
certain DeFi frontends where the legal role depends on actual control, fee model, and user interaction design.

The underappreciated nuance is functional control. A company may call itself “non-custodial,” but if it can pause, route, approve, or practically control transfers, the legal analysis changes. This is why RUE starts Georgia projects with a scoping memo before company formation.

Order VASP Scope Memo

Mainland Georgia VASP vs Tbilisi FIZ

Parameter	Mainland Georgia VASP	Tbilisi FIZ / Free Zone Structure
Primary use case	Regulated crypto services for third parties, including exchange and custody-linked models	International structuring, export-oriented or limited-function models, selected tax planning cases
Main authority	NBG for VASP supervision; FMS for AML/CFT perimeter	Zone administration + general corporate/tax framework; not a substitute for mainland VASP where regulated activity exists
Timeline	4-10 weeks in straightforward cases, longer if remediation is needed	1-4 weeks for setup depending on structure and documents
Bankability	Usually stronger than FIZ, but still risk-based and not guaranteed	Often more difficult for local banking and fiat rails
Substance expectation	Higher practical expectation for office, management, and compliance readiness	Can be lighter structurally, but operational credibility still matters
Tax logic	General Georgian tax framework, including distributed-profit model	Special regime may apply depending on actual business profile and zone conditions
EU passporting	✗ No MiCA passporting	✗ No MiCA passporting
Best for	Operators needing a credible regulated footprint in Georgia	Founders with narrow international structuring goals and limited local banking dependence

FIZ and mainland Georgia solve different problems. Choosing the wrong structure is one of the most common strategic mistakes in Georgia crypto planning.

When mainland Georgia is the better choice

Mainland Georgia is usually the better choice when the business needs a regulated operating profile rather than only a tax or corporate shell. This is especially true for:

crypto exchange models serving third parties;
custodial wallet or settlement services;
OTC desks with client onboarding and fiat flows;
projects that need stronger credibility with banks, EMIs, liquidity partners, or institutional counterparties.

The practical advantage is not just regulation. Mainland Georgia tends to be easier to explain to counterparties because the company can show a clearer supervisory story under the National Bank of Georgia. That said, even a well-structured mainland VASP can face banking friction if it serves sanctioned-adjacent geographies, supports P2P-heavy flows, or lacks strong source-of-funds controls.

RUE generally recommends mainland Georgia when the founder wants a real operating company with documented compliance, not merely a low-tax wrapper.

When FIZ may be more suitable

FIZ may be more suitable when the founder is building an international structure with limited dependence on local fiat rails and where the activity does not require mainland VASP treatment. Typical examples include selected B2B technology models, some mining-related structures, or export-oriented service businesses with carefully ring-fenced operations.

The trade-off is operational. FIZ can look attractive on paper, but it often creates more friction in banking, merchant acquiring, and counterparty onboarding. It also does not solve foreign licensing obligations. If the company markets to EU retail clients, UK residents, or regulated MENA markets, local law in those target markets may still apply regardless of the Georgian zone structure.

In other words, FIZ can be useful, but only when it matches the real business model. It is not a universal shortcut around crypto regulation.

Activities covered by a crypto license in Georgia

Activities Covered by a Crypto License in Georgia

A Georgia VASP analysis typically covers activities where the company provides crypto-related services to third parties with an intermediation, exchange, transfer, or custody element. Activities usually inside scope include:

crypto-to-crypto exchange and crypto-to-fiat exchange;
brokerage or arranged dealing for clients;
custodial wallet services where the provider controls keys or transfer execution;
virtual asset transfer services;
OTC execution for customers.

Activities that should not be assumed to be automatically covered include:

derivatives or leveraged products linked to crypto;
token issuance, especially where securities, e-money, or collective investment rules may be relevant;
staking, lending, yield products, or DeFi interfaces with complex control structures;
white-label software sold without client-asset control.

The advanced distinction is between custodial and non-custodial design. The legal perimeter often turns on who controls private keys, who can initiate transfers, and whether the operator can practically intervene in user transactions.

Get Activity Mapping

Minimum compliance stack for a 2026-ready Georgia VASP

KYC / KYB Engine

Identity and business verification with sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening. Typical vendors: Sumsub, Veriff, Ondato.

KYT / Blockchain Analytics

Wallet screening, exposure scoring, tracing, and alerting for mixers, darknet, sanctions, and high-risk counterparties.

Travel Rule Messaging

Originator-beneficiary data exchange for relevant VASP-to-VASP transfers. Typical tools: Notabene, Sygna, VerifyVASP.

Case Management

Internal escalation system for alerts, suspicious activity review, documentation, and audit trail preservation.

Secure Custody Logic

MPC or multisig governance, role-based approvals, hot/warm/cold wallet segregation, and emergency freeze procedures.

SIEM and Audit Logs

Centralized logging, privileged access monitoring, and incident evidence retention for regulator, bank, and audit review.

Legal Framework and Regulators

Legal Framework and Regulators

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) is the key authority for mainland VASP registration and supervision. The Financial Monitoring Service of Georgia (FMS) is central to the AML/CFT perimeter, including suspicious transaction logic and risk-control expectations. The National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) handles company registration, while the Revenue Service and the Ministry of Finance are relevant for tax treatment and reporting.

Primary-source legal review should be done through Matsne, Georgia’s official legislative database, together with official publications of the NBG and FMS. For international context, serious applicants should also benchmark their AML framework against FATF guidance and the expectations shaped by MONEYVAL.

The strategic point is simple: Georgia is a national regime. It does not provide MiCA authorization and does not create EU passporting rights.

Read Georgia Crypto Regulation Guide

Documents required for a Georgia crypto license application

Documents Required for a Georgia Crypto License Application

A strong Georgia VASP filing package normally includes:

incorporation documents and registry extracts;
shareholder and UBO disclosure documents;
passports, IDs, CVs, and supporting records for directors and key persons;
proof of address and office/lease documents;
detailed business plan and financial projections;
AML/CFT manual and business-wide risk assessment;
KYC, sanctions, transaction monitoring, and reporting procedures;
IT security policy, wallet governance description, and incident-response framework;
vendor list for KYC, KYT, Travel Rule, hosting, and custody solutions;
transaction flow maps and target market restrictions.

What regulators expect in the business plan and compliance pack

The business plan should read like an operating manual. It must explain customer types, onboarding logic, product flows, revenue model, excluded jurisdictions, outsourcing, governance, and risk controls. A two-page sales deck is not enough. The strongest applications also include a negative perimeter section stating which activities the company will not perform, such as derivatives, privacy-coin support, unhosted-wallet high-risk flows without EDD, or onboarding from sanctioned regions.

That negative perimeter is a subtle but powerful credibility signal because it shows the applicant understands not only what it wants to do, but also where it will deliberately stop.

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Common Reasons for Rejection or Delay

Issue	Why it causes problems	How to prevent it
Incomplete UBO disclosure	Creates ownership and source-of-funds concerns	Provide full chain-of-control documents and clean supporting evidence
Template AML manual	Signals weak operational readiness	Draft business-specific CDD, EDD, STR, and sanctions procedures
Unclear transaction flow	Regulator and banks cannot assess risk properly	Map fiat and crypto flows step by step
No real substance	Undermines credibility and bankability	Use a real office and coherent management setup
No KYT / Travel Rule plan	Looks outdated for 2026 operations	Show vendor stack and implementation roadmap
Risky geographies	Triggers sanctions and AML concerns	Adopt restricted-country policy and geoblocking logic
Inconsistent documents	Different names, figures, or roles create trust issues	Run legal and compliance QA before filing
Banking assumptions	Approval does not equal fiat operability	Prepare banking strategy in parallel with licensing

Banking, EMI, and fiat on/off-ramp reality

Many licensed crypto companies in Georgia still struggle with banking because banks assess risk independently from the regulator. The main red flags are:

client exposure to sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions;
P2P-heavy flows with weak source-of-funds evidence;
support for privacy coins, mixers, or high-risk DeFi bridges;
unclear merchant model or card-acquiring exposure;
weak KYT monitoring and no Travel Rule controls;
poor explanation of fiat settlement path.

For many Georgia-based operators, the practical solution is a layered payment architecture: local company for regulatory presence, plus crypto business bank account support, EMI/PSP structuring, merchant routing, or external payment partners depending on the target market. This must be built lawfully and documented clearly. Attempting to “solve” banking through opaque intermediaries usually creates a larger compliance problem later.

Georgia vs MiCA jurisdictions: the real trade-off

The biggest trade-off: flexibility vs passporting

Georgia is usually chosen for speed, lower setup friction, and tax efficiency. It is usually not chosen for pan-European market access. If your commercial goal is to serve EU retail clients at scale, advertise across the European Union, or build a regulated institutional offering inside the EU, a MiCA license in Europe is often the more suitable long-term route.

Georgia works best when:

the target market is not dependent on EU passporting;
the founders want a faster launch and can accept banking workarounds;
the business can maintain strong AML controls without the heavier EU cost base;
cross-border offering is limited or carefully ring-fenced.

Georgia is usually a weaker fit when:

the product needs direct EU retail scaling;
institutional counterparties require EU-regulated status;
the business model depends on broad fiat rails and card acquiring from day one;
investors expect a MiCA migration path within the next funding cycle.

That is why RUE often compares Georgia with Lithuania, Malta, Dubai, and Singapore before recommending a final structure.

Compare Jurisdictions with RUE

Need a Georgia VASP Feasibility Check

Need a Georgia VASP Feasibility Check?

RUE provides a Georgia VASP feasibility assessment before incorporation or filing. The deliverable is practical: regulatory scoping of the business model, mainland vs FIZ recommendation, document gap list, estimated timeline, cost map, and banking-readiness comments.

This is the fastest way to avoid the most expensive mistake in Georgia: building the wrong structure first and discovering later that it does not support your target markets, fiat flows, or compliance obligations.

Disclaimer: this page is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Formal advice requires review of the specific business model, ownership chain, and target markets.

Book Feasibility Review

📝 Check Your Eligibility

Answer a few quick questions to find out if this jurisdiction suits your crypto business

Step 1 of 5

What type of crypto services will you provide?

Exchange (fiat ↔ crypto)

Custody & Wallet Services

Transfer & Payment Services

Advisory / Portfolio Management

Multiple / All of the Above

Step 2 of 5

What is your target market?

European Union only

EU + Global markets

Global (non-EU priority)

Step 3 of 5

Do you already have a registered company in the EU?

Yes, in this jurisdiction

Yes, in another EU country

No, I need to register one

Step 4 of 5

What is your available budget range?

Under €20,000

€20,000 – €50,000

€50,000 – €100,000

Over €100,000

Step 5 of 5

When do you plan to launch?

As soon as possible (1–3 months)

Within 6 months

Within a year

Just exploring options

✅

This Jurisdiction Is a Great Fit!

Based on your answers, this jurisdiction matches your business requirements well. Here's a quick summary:

Recommended License

CASP License

Estimated Budget

€24,000 – €35,000

Estimated Timeframe

4–6 months

EU Passporting

Available

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Step-by-Step Licensing Process

Step 1

Regulatory Scoping

Define whether the model fits mainland Georgia VASP, FIZ, another jurisdiction, or a hybrid structure. Map covered activities, excluded services, and cross-border risks. Typical duration: 2-5 business days.

Step 2

Company Setup

Register the Georgian entity, prepare ownership documents, arrange legal address and office, and align governance with the chosen model. Typical duration: several business days to 1-2 weeks.

Step 3

Substance Planning

Set up management roles, office evidence, internal control lines, and operational narrative that can withstand regulator, bank, and KYB review. This stage often runs in parallel with documentation.

Step 4

Compliance Pack Drafting

Prepare AML/CFT manual, business-wide risk assessment, KYC/KYT procedures, sanctions controls, business plan, transaction flow maps, and IT/security policies. Typical duration: 1-3 weeks.

Step 5

Filing and Review

Submit the application package, pay the official fee if applicable, and answer regulator questions. Review timing depends on complexity, ownership transparency, and quality of initial documents.

Step 6

Banking and Vendor Setup

Run bank/EMI onboarding, finalize KYC, KYT, and Travel Rule vendors, and align internal controls with real operating flows. This step is critical because approval alone does not create operability.

Step 7

Go-Live and Monitoring

Launch under documented onboarding rules, sanctions filters, transaction monitoring, reporting workflow, and periodic policy review. Post-registration compliance begins immediately after operations start.

Start Your Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is crypto legal in Georgia in 2026? +

Yes, crypto activity is legal in Georgia, but specific business models may require VASP registration/authorization and AML/CFT compliance. The key question is not whether crypto exists legally, but whether your company provides regulated services for third parties such as exchange, custody, brokerage, or transfer.

What does “crypto license in Georgia” legally mean? +

In practice, it usually means mainland Georgia VASP registration under NBG supervision, not a universal financial license covering every crypto use case. The legal perimeter depends on the actual service performed, especially whether the company controls client assets or intermediates transactions.

How long does it take to get a crypto license in Georgia? +

Straightforward cases are often completed in about 4-10 weeks, including company setup and filing preparation. Complex ownership structures, weak AML documentation, or regulator questions can extend the timeline. Banking onboarding often takes longer than the regulatory phase.

Do I need a physical office in Georgia? +

For mainland Georgia VASP cases, a real office and genuine substance are strongly recommended. A bare virtual address may be insufficient in practice, especially for bankability and counterparty onboarding. FIZ structures can differ, but substance still matters commercially.

Is there a minimum capital requirement for a Georgia VASP? +

There is no safe one-line answer for every model. Capital expectations can depend on the activity profile, operating scale, and practical readiness of the applicant. Founders should budget not only for any formal threshold but also for compliance tooling, office, staffing, and working capital.

Can non-residents own a crypto company in Georgia? +

Yes, non-residents can own Georgian companies, including crypto-related structures, subject to full ownership transparency, UBO disclosure, source-of-funds review, and sanctions screening. The real issue is not foreign ownership itself but whether the structure is transparent and operationally credible.

Does a Georgia crypto license allow me to serve EU clients freely? +

No. A Georgia crypto license does not provide MiCA passporting or automatic rights to serve EU retail clients. If you target customers in the EU, UK, or other regulated markets, local licensing, notification, marketing, or consumer-law requirements may still apply.

What is the difference between mainland Georgia VASP and FIZ? +

Mainland Georgia VASP is a regulated operating model; FIZ is a separate corporate/tax structuring model. They solve different problems. Mainland is generally better for exchange and custody-linked operations; FIZ may work for narrower international structures with less dependence on local banking.

Can I open a bank account for a Georgia crypto company? +

Yes, but it is never guaranteed. Banking is risk-based and depends on your ownership profile, AML controls, target markets, fiat flow design, and transaction typology. Many successful Georgia crypto businesses use a combination of local setup and external EMI/PSP relationships rather than relying on one bank.

What are the main reasons applications are delayed or rejected? +

The most common reasons are incomplete UBO disclosure, weak AML manuals, unclear transaction flows, no real substance, and unrealistic banking assumptions. In 2026, lack of KYT/blockchain analytics and no Travel Rule implementation plan also create credibility problems.

How are crypto companies taxed in Georgia? +

Georgia generally taxes corporate profit on distribution, not on retention. Under the Estonian-style model, retained earnings are generally taxed at 0% until distribution, while distributed profit is generally taxed at 15%. VAT and dividend treatment require separate analysis based on the exact service and structure.

Is Georgia a good jurisdiction for every crypto startup? +

No. Georgia is a strong fit for founders who value speed, tax efficiency, and a manageable compliance environment without needing EU passporting. It is a weaker fit for projects that need broad EU retail access, institutional-grade EU status, or immediate deep banking and card infrastructure.

Regulated United Europe OÜ

Registration number: 14153440
Anno: 16.11.2016
Phone: +372 56 966 260
Email: [email protected]
Address: Laeva 2, Tallinn, 10111, Estonia

Company in Lithuania UAB

Registration number: 304377400
Anno: 30.08.2016
Phone: +370 6949 5456
Email: [email protected]
Address: Lvovo g. 25-702, Vilnius, 09320, Lithuania

Company in Czech Republic s.r.o.

Registration number: 08620563
Anno: 21.10.2019
Phone: +420 775 524 175
Email: [email protected]
Address: Na Perstyne 342/1, Prague

Company in Poland Sp. z o.o.

Registration number: 38421992700000
Anno: 28.08.2019
Email: [email protected]
Address: Twarda 18, Warsaw, 00-824, Poland

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