Puerto Rico regulates cryptocurrency under the supervision of the Oficina del Comisionado de Instituciones Financieras (OCIF), which oversees financial institutions and licensing. The jurisdiction follows US federal securities laws and has a clear licensing framework for financial services including crypto-related activities.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | caribbean |
| Currency | USD |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | 0% for qualifying Act 60 bona fide residents on gains from assets acquired after residency establishment; standard US federal rates (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income bracket) apply to pre-residency gains and to non-Act-60 residents |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | 4% preferential corporate tax rate on Puerto Rico-sourced income for qualifying Act 60 entities; standard US federal corporate tax rate (21%) applies to non-qualifying entities |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| 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); Act 60-2019 (tax incentives); Regulation 9680 (August 2025); US federal: Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN MSB rules, SEC securities laws, GENIUS Act (July 2025) |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $50,000 - $500,000 |
Licensing is managed by OCIF with detailed application and renewal processes for various financial services including intermediaries and money transmitters.
US federal enforcement applies. IRS has scrutinized Act 60 claimants.
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | No |
| FATF Status | covered_under_us |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: unregulated
No explicit regulation for DeFi; activities fall under general financial and securities laws.
Status: federal_framework
Stablecoins in Puerto Rico are subject to the US GENIUS Act (signed July 2025), which establishes the first federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. Puerto Rico is explicitly referenced in the GENIUS Act as a US territory where stablecoin issuers may operate under certain regulatory conditions. Stablecoin issuers must maintain 1:1 reserves in USD or low-risk assets and undergo regular audits. Prior to GENIUS Act, stablecoins fell under OCIF/FinCEN MSB registration requirements and Act 136-2010.
Status: Unclear
US federal approach applies.
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.22/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 10% |
| Infrastructure | good |
Mining is legal with moderate electricity costs and limited renewable energy share. Infrastructure is adequate for mining operations.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 45/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
Risk Factors
Puerto Rico is a US territory with no OFAC sanctions. Politically stable under US governance. Growing crypto hub with 100+ IFEs by mid-2025. IRS actively auditing 300+ Act 60 decree holders in 2025. Hurricane risk remains elevated. Fiscal oversight board (PROMESA) still active but debt restructuring largely completed.
Puerto Rico regulates cryptocurrency under the supervision of the Oficina del Comisionado de Instituciones Financieras (OCIF), which oversees financial institutions and licensing. The jurisdiction follows US federal securities laws and has a clear licensing framework for financial services including crypto-related activities.
Puerto Rico is classified by FATF as: covered_under_us.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-06-01 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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