American Samoa

American Samoa follows U.S. federal regulations for securities and investor protection, with no specific crypto framework established locally. The SEC and CFTC coordinate on market integrity and innovation, but no direct crypto regulations are detailed for American Samoa.

Overview

StatusLegal
Risk Score25/100 (Low Risk)
Regionasia pacific
CurrencyUSD

Tax Information

Capital Gains (Personal)No specific guidance
Capital Gains (Corporate)No specific guidance
VAT on CryptoNo
Staking TaxNo specific guidance
Airdrop TaxNo specific guidance

No crypto-specific tax guidance available.

Licensing & Registration

RequiredYes
RegulatorUS Federal Regulators (SEC, CFTC, FinCEN)
FrameworkNo crypto framework

Enforcement Activity

Level: Moderate

Enforcement focused on unlicensed operators and consumer protection

AML / KYC

KYC RequiredYes
Travel RuleYes
FATF MemberYes
FATF Statuscompliant_via_us
FATF BodyFATF
Suspicious-Activity ReportingYes

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: Unclear

No specific DeFi regulation

Stablecoins

Status: federal_framework

The US GENIUS Act (signed July 18, 2025) applies to American Samoa. The Act explicitly classifies stablecoin issuers domiciled in US territories including American Samoa as 'foreign payment stablecoin issuers' unless they qualify as 'permitted payment stablecoin issuers.' Stablecoins must be 1:1 backed by cash/short-term Treasuries and issuers must comply with AML/BSA requirements. No local AS-specific stablecoin rules exist beyond the federal GENIUS Act framework.

NFTs

Status: no_rules

No specific NFT regulation

Mining

LegalYes
Electricity Cost$0.2/kWh
Renewable Energy15%
Infrastructurefair

Mining is legal but electricity costs are relatively high. Infrastructure is fair with tropical climate affecting cooling costs.

Geopolitical Risk

Stabilitystable
SanctionsNo
Corruption Index45/100
Banking Accessmoderate

Risk Factors

American Samoa is politically stable as a U.S. territory with moderate corruption and moderate ease of doing business. No international sanctions apply. Geographic isolation and limited infrastructure pose operational challenges.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryptocurrency legal in American Samoa?

American Samoa follows U.S. federal regulations for securities and investor protection, with no specific crypto framework established locally. The SEC and CFTC coordinate on market integrity and innovation, but no direct crypto regulations are detailed for American Samoa.

What is the FATF status of American Samoa?

American Samoa is classified by FATF as: compliant_via_us.

Are VASPs licensed in American Samoa?

Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.

What is the AML/KYC regime in American Samoa?

KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.

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Last reviewed: 2026-06-01 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map

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