What is Puerto Rico's FATF status?

Puerto Rico is classified by FATF as: fsrb_only.

Are VASPs licensed in Puerto Rico?

Yes — licensing is required for VASPs.

What is the AML/KYC regime in Puerto Rico?

KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.

🇵🇷 Puerto Rico

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.

Overview

Status	Legal
Risk Score	30/100 (Moderate Risk)
Region	caribbean
Currency	USD

Tax Information

VAT on Crypto

Licensing & Registration

Required	Yes
Regulator	OCIF / SEC / FinCEN
Framework	Puerto Rico financial institutions licensing under OCIF and US federal securities laws
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.

Enforcement Activity

Level: High

US federal enforcement applies. IRS has scrutinized Act 60 claimants.

AML / KYC

KYC Required	Yes
Travel Rule	Yes
FATF Member	No
FATF Status	fsrb_only
FATF Body	FATF
Suspicious-Activity Reporting	Yes

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: unregulated

No explicit regulation for DeFi; activities fall under general financial and securities laws.

Stablecoins

Status: general_framework

Stablecoins are regulated under general financial and securities laws applicable in Puerto Rico as a US territory.

NFTs

Status: Unclear

US federal approach applies.

Mining

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.

Geopolitical Risk

Stability	stable
Sanctions	No
Corruption Index	45/100
Banking Access	open

Risk Factors

hurricane risk
US federal regulatory oversight

Puerto Rico benefits from US governance and regulatory frameworks, providing political stability and open banking access. Risks include natural disasters such as hurricanes.