Licence by product · Payments
Crypto Payment Licence
A crypto payment company touches everyone's perimeter: transfers, exchange, sometimes fiat e-money. We license the stack that fits your flows — and the banking that makes it work.
overview
What you actually need.
Crypto payment businesses — gateways letting merchants accept crypto, processors settling to fiat, payout and OTC desks — sit at the intersection of several regimes: crypto transfer and exchange services on one side, money transmission and e-money on the other. The right licence depends on what your flows actually do, not what your pitch deck calls the product.
In the EU, MiCA covers the crypto legs: transfer services and crypto-fiat exchange are CASP classes starting at €50,000 capital, authorised in a member state and passported. If you hold fiat balances for customers beyond the payment moment, you drift into e-money territory — an EMI authorisation question we scope honestly, because it's a different animal in cost and time.
For the US, the route is FinCEN MSB registration federally plus money-transmitter licences state by state — a marathon we sequence by market priority. Outside both blocs, Georgia's ~60-day VASP registration covers crypto payment flows at minimal cost, and offshore VASP regimes (St. Vincent, Seychelles) work for globally-distributed processors.
your options
The routes that work.
VASP registration in ≈60 days covering crypto payment and exchange flows, ~$500 state fee, 0% personal crypto tax. Best value for non-EU-facing processors.
Transfer + exchange-services classes from €50k capital, passported across the EU. What European merchants' banks want to see from their gateway.
FinCEN registration plus state-by-state money-transmitter licensing, sequenced by market. The only real route to US payment flows.
head to head
Payment licensing routes compared
| Route | Capital / fees | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia (VASP) | ~$500 state fee | ≈60 days | Global processors, speed |
| Lithuania (MiCA) | €50k capital (transfer/exchange class) | 3–6 months | EU merchant gateways |
| Estonia (MiCA) | €50k capital (transfer/exchange class) | 4–6 months | EU flows, upgrade path |
| US FinCEN MSB | registration + per-state MTL costs | state-dependent, sequenced | US merchant/payout flows |
| St. Vincent (VASP) | ~$6k fees + XCD 100k deposit | months | Lowest-cost registered base |
| Seychelles (VASP) | capital by activity type | 3–6 months | Offshore processors with substance |
requirements
Eligibility & docs.
step by step
From product to licence.
- Scope callYour payment product, target markets and custody model — we confirm which activities are actually licensable, where, and what the all-in number is.Day 1
- Company & structureWe incorporate the entity where the regime wants it — with the substance (director, office, officers) that regulator expects, no more, no less.Week 1–3
- File & evidenceKYC on owners, business plan, AML/CFT programme, the funds-flow diagram and settlement model — we assemble the file and run the regulator dialogue to approval.Week 3+
- Authorisation & railsLicence or registration granted; banking/EMI accounts and on/off-ramps plugged in around it. We stay on for reporting and renewals.Regime-dependent
Want the shortlist for your exact product?
Tell us your product, target markets and payment mix — we'll confirm the route that gets you live fastest at the lowest all-in cost, with the number itemised.
costs
What it costs.
The number that matters in payments is all-in: licence + banking + acquiring. We quote the three together, because any one alone doesn't process a single transaction.
go deeper
Jurisdictions & related services.
FAQ
What licence does a crypto payment gateway need?
It depends on the flows: crypto transfer/exchange services (MiCA CASP from €50k capital in the EU; VASP registration in Georgia or offshore), plus money-transmission licensing in the US (FinCEN MSB + state MTLs) if you touch US flows. We map the licence set from your funds-flow diagram.
Do I need an EMI licence?
Only if you hold customer fiat balances beyond the settlement moment. Pure crypto-in/fiat-out processing with immediate settlement usually stays on the CASP/VASP side — and we often re-design holding periods so it stays there.
What's the cheapest way to start?
Georgia: VASP registration in ≈60 days at a ~$500 state fee, covering crypto payment and exchange flows for non-EU markets. Add MiCA or US licensing later, when the merchant book justifies it.
Can I serve US merchants?
Only with the US stack: FinCEN MSB registration plus money-transmitter licences in the states you operate. It's a sequenced, state-by-state build — we prioritise by your merchant geography rather than filing all 50.
What about banking and acquiring?
That's the real product. We line up EMI accounts, settlement banking and (where relevant) card acquiring alongside the licence — a payments licence without rails is a certificate on a wall.
other products
Licensing a different product?
Reviewed by the Vantegris licensing team. This page is general information, not legal advice. Fee schedules and timelines mirror our jurisdiction pages and change when regulators change them.
Free consultation
Start your licence file.
Tell us the product — we'll map the licence, banking and structure that gets it live. Free, confidential, no obligation — most enquiries get a reply within 24 hours.