Puerto Rico regulates crypto under a clear legal framework including Act 273-2012 and recent amendments, with licensing and supervision by OCIF. It operates under US federal laws such as the Bank Secrecy Act and SEC securities laws, providing a stable regulatory environment.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | caribbean |
| Currency | USD |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | Subject to US federal tax rules; Act 60-2019 provides tax incentives for certain investors |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | Subject to US federal corporate tax rules; Act 60-2019 provides tax incentives for eligible businesses |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
Crypto taxation follows US federal tax rules with additional local tax incentives under Act 60-2019 for qualifying investors and businesses.
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | OCIF / SEC / FinCEN |
| Framework | Act 273-2012 (International Financial Center Regulatory Act) as amended by Acts 44/45-2024; Act 136-2010 (MSB licensing) |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $50,000 - $500,000 |
Licensing is managed by OCIF with detailed application and renewal procedures; compliance with US federal regulations is mandatory.
US federal enforcement applies. IRS has scrutinized Act 60 claimants.
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are subject to existing financial regulations and AML/KYC requirements under US federal and local laws.
Status: regulated
Stablecoins are regulated under US federal securities and money transmission laws applicable in Puerto Rico.
Status: Unclear
US federal approach applies.
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.22/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 10% |
| Infrastructure | fair |
Electricity costs are relatively high; limited renewable energy penetration; mining is legal but not widespread due to costs.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 45/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
| Sanctions Program Active | No |
Risk Factors
Puerto Rico benefits from US governance and legal framework, providing political stability and open banking access. Risks include natural disasters and relatively high operational costs.
Puerto Rico regulates crypto under a clear legal framework including Act 273-2012 and recent amendments, with licensing and supervision by OCIF. It operates under US federal laws such as the Bank Secrecy Act and SEC securities laws, providing a stable regulatory environment.
Puerto Rico 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: 2026-09-21 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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