Cryptocurrency is legal in Uruguay. Law No. 20,345 (2024) gave the BCU powers over virtual assets, and BCU Circular No. 2507 (approved 10 July 2026) set a full authorisation and supervision regime for virtual asset service providers. Existing operators must apply for authorisation between 1 September 2026 and 31 March 2027; new operators need prior authorisation.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | south america |
| Currency | UYU |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | 12% IRPF on capital income (Category I); territorial basis |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | 25% IRAE corporate tax; territorial basis |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Staking Tax | May be subject to IRPF as capital income |
| Airdrop Tax | No specific guidance |
Uruguay operates a territorial tax system. Only Uruguay-sourced income is taxable. Foreign crypto gains may be exempt. The DGI has not issued comprehensive crypto tax guidance.
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | BCU / SSF |
| Framework | Law No. 20,345 (Virtual Assets Law, 2024) + BCU Circular No. 2507 (July 2026, PSAV regime in the Securities Market Regulations) |
| Ease | unknown |
VASPs require BCU authorisation under Circular No. 2507. Operators active before the rules must file between 1 September 2026 and 31 March 2027; new entrants need prior authorisation and must run a full AML/CFT programme.
BCU has issued guidance but limited enforcement.
| Status | Pilot |
| Name | e-Peso |
| Issuing Authority | Central Bank of Uruguay |
| Model | retail |
| Technology | Roberto Giori Company (Non-DLT) |
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | No |
| FATF Status | fsrb_only |
| FATF Body | GAFILAT |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: Unclear
Uruguay has no DeFi-specific regulation.
Status: unknown
No framework.
Status: no_rules
No regulation.
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.12/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 95% |
| Infrastructure | good |
Uruguay benefits from very high renewable energy penetration, mainly hydro and wind, making it attractive for sustainable crypto mining. Infrastructure is solid with good internet connectivity and data center facilities.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 73/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
| Sanctions Program Active | No |
Risk Factors
Uruguay is politically stable with a strong rule of law and low corruption in the region. It is not subject to international sanctions and offers a favorable environment for crypto businesses with open banking access and good internet freedom.
Cryptocurrency is legal in Uruguay. Law No. 20,345 (2024) gave the BCU powers over virtual assets, and BCU Circular No. 2507 (approved 10 July 2026) set a full authorisation and supervision regime for virtual asset service providers. Existing operators must apply for authorisation between 1 September 2026 and 31 March 2027; new operators need prior authorisation.
Uruguay is classified by FATF as: fsrb_only.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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