On-shore VASP in Dominica

No Dedicated VASP Licensing: Dominica does not have specific laws or regulations for crypto exchanges, custody providers, or virtual asset payment processors.

AML/CFT Oversight: The primary regulatory angle for virtual asset businesses in Dominica is through existing Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation, which views virtual assets as "funds" or "financial instruments" for reporting purposes.

General Business Registration: Companies engaging in crypto activities would typically register as a general business entity, such as an International Business Company (IBC), rather than applying for a crypto-specific license.

International Business Companies Act: For general business registration as an IBC, which is often used by non-resident entities.

Registration: Companies conducting virtual asset activities would primarily register under the International Business Companies Act or the Companies Act for domestic entities. This is a corporate registration, not a financial services license specific to virtual assets.

No specific capital requirements for virtual asset businesses.

General IBC registration has no minimum capital requirement.

Registered Office/Agent: An International Business Company (IBC) is required to maintain a registered office and a registered agent in Dominica. This is a statutory requirement for IBCs.

No requirement for physical operational presence or local staff specific to virtual asset activities, unless the business chooses to establish such a presence for operational reasons.

Offshore Banking Act: For entities engaging in offshore banking activities.

Money Services Business License: If handling traditional fiat money remittances, currency exchange, etc.

This is the most critical area of compliance. All financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) in Dominica are subject to the Money Laundering Prevention Act. Virtual asset businesses, even without a specific license, are expected to comply.

Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Implementing robust KYC procedures to identify and verify the identity of customers and beneficial owners.

Record-Keeping: Maintaining records of transactions and CDD information for a specified period (typically 5-7 years).

Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR): Reporting suspicious activities to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Dominica.

Internal Controls: Implementing internal policies, procedures, and training programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Risk Assessment: Conducting regular risk assessments related to ML/TF exposure.

The Financial Services Unit (FSU) is responsible for ensuring compliance with AML/CFT obligations across the financial sector.

Money Laundering (Prevention) Act [Chapter 12:29]: This is the core legislation that sets out the framework for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. It defines predicate offences, outlines the obligations of financial institutions and DNFBPs, and establishes the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Money Laundering (Prevention) Regulations: These regulations provide more detailed rules and procedures for implementing the provisions of the Act, including specific requirements for customer due diligence, record-keeping, and reporting.

Identification and Verification of Customers:

Natural Persons: Obtain and verify the customer's full name, residential address, date of birth, nationality, and an official identification document (e.g., passport, national ID card, driver's license).

Legal Entities (Companies, Partnerships, Trusts): Obtain and verify the entity's name, legal form, proof of existence (e.g., certificate of incorporation), registered address, names of directors/partners, and the constitutive documents (e.g., articles of association).

Beneficial Ownership: Identify and verify the natural person(s) who ultimately own or control the customer, or the natural person(s) on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted. For legal entities, this often involves identifying individuals holding 25% or more of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercising control.

Purpose and Intended Nature of Business Relationship: Understand the reason for the customer seeking services from the VASP and the nature of transactions they intend to conduct.

Ongoing Monitoring: Continuously monitor the business relationship and transactions to ensure they are consistent with the VASP's knowledge of the customer, their business, and risk profile, including (where necessary) the source of funds.

Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Apply EDD measures for higher-risk customers, relationships, or transactions. This includes, but is not limited to:

Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

Customers from high-risk jurisdictions identified by FATF or local authorities.

Complex or unusually large transactions.

Transactions with no apparent economic or lawful purpose.

Cross-border correspondent relationships for VASPs.

The "Travel Rule" (FATF Recommendation 16 for VASPs) requires VASPs to obtain, hold, and transmit required originator and beneficiary information for virtual asset transfers above a certain threshold.

Source of Funds/Wealth: For high-risk customers or transactions, VASPs may be required to obtain information on the source of funds or wealth involved.

Reporting Obligation: Any VASP employee or officer who knows, suspects, or has reasonable grounds to suspect that funds are the proceeds of criminal activity (including money laundering or terrorist financing) must report their suspicions to the FIU without delay.

Financial Services Unit (FSU):

Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU):

Virtual Asset Business Act, 2020 (Dominica) - available via legal resources or local government gazettes.

Regulator Name: Financial Services Unit (FSU)

Role: The FSU is Dominica's primary regulator for non-bank financial institutions. It is responsible for licensing, supervising, and regulating financial services entities, including Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Dominica has enacted the Virtual Asset Business Act, 2020, which brings VASPs under the FSU's oversight for licensing and AML/CFT compliance.

Dominica does NOT levy a general capital gains tax on individuals or corporations.

When Crypto May Be Taxable as Income:

Business Income: If an individual or entity is engaged in a trade or business of mining cryptocurrency, staking, running a validator node, trading crypto professionally, or providing crypto-related services (e.g., crypto exchange, advisory), the profits from these activities would likely be treated as regular business income.

Corporations: The standard corporate income tax rate in Dominica is generally 25%.

Exempt Financial Services: Many jurisdictions treat the buying, selling, or exchanging of cryptocurrencies for fiat currency (or other crypto) as a financial service. Financial services are often exempt from VAT. If Dominica adopts this view, the actual transfer of crypto would likely be exempt.

Taxable Services: Services related to cryptocurrency (e.g., transaction fees charged by a crypto exchange operating in Dominica, advisory services for crypto investments, software development for blockchain applications) would likely be subject to the standard VAT rate (currently 15%) if they are not specifically exempt.

General Income Reporting: Individuals and businesses in Dominica are required to file annual tax returns declaring all assessable income, regardless of its source (including income derived from cryptocurrency activities as described above).