The Bahamas has a crypto-friendly regulatory environment with a clear legal framework under the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act (DARE Act 2024). The Securities Commission of The Bahamas actively issues guidance notes and consultation documents related to digital assets and registered exchanges.
| Status | crypto_friendly |
| Risk Score | 15/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | caribbean |
| Currency | BSD |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | SCB |
| Framework | Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act (DARE Act 2024) |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $20,000 - $150,000 |
Licensing is regulated under the DARE Act with specific licenses for digital asset service providers and exchanges. The process is structured but not overly burdensome.
SCB took significant enforcement action in the FTX collapse. Enhanced regulatory oversight and enforcement capacity have been implemented.
| Status | Launched |
| Name | Sand Dollar |
| Issuing Authority | Central Bank of Bahamas |
| Model | retail |
| Technology | Movmint (DLT) |
| Launched Date |
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are regulated under the DARE Act framework, requiring compliance with AML/KYC and licensing provisions.
Status: regulated
Stablecoins are regulated under the digital assets framework with requirements for issuers and service providers to comply with licensing and AML rules.
Status: no_rules
No NFT-specific regulation under DARE Act.
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.3/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 10% |
| Infrastructure | fair |
Mining is legal but electricity costs are relatively high compared to global averages, and renewable energy penetration is low, which may impact operational costs.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 55/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
| Sanctions Program Active | No |
Risk Factors
The Bahamas is politically stable with no international sanctions. Corruption levels are moderate. The country has open banking access for crypto companies but faces natural disaster risks such as hurricanes.
The Bahamas has a crypto-friendly regulatory environment with a clear legal framework under the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act (DARE Act 2024). The Securities Commission of The Bahamas actively issues guidance notes and consultation documents related to digital assets and registered exchanges.
Bahamas is classified by FATF as: compliant.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-09-04 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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