Principles-based DLT Provider licence from the GFSC
Gibraltar Crypto Licence
Gibraltar wrote one of the world's first purpose-built crypto frameworks in 2018, and its GFSC DLT Provider licence is a principles-based, risk-proportionate regime that banks respect. It sits outside the EU and MiCA, so it doesn't passport into the single market, but it gives you a credible English-common-law base. Vantegris runs the GFSC file.
What is the Gibraltar crypto licence?
Gibraltar got there before almost everyone. Its Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Regulatory Framework, launched in January 2018, was one of the first pieces of legislation anywhere written specifically for blockchain businesses, and it set a template many jurisdictions later followed. Any firm using DLT to store or transmit value belonging to others must hold a GFSC DLT Provider licence, backed by VASP registration for AML purposes.
What makes Gibraltar distinctive is its approach. Rather than prescriptive rulebooks, the GFSC applies ten regulatory principles (the original nine plus a tenth, Market Integrity, added in 2021) and regulates proportionately to your scale and risk. That flexibility, combined with a genuinely selective, quality-first regulator, is why a Gibraltar licence carries weight with banks and counterparties. You need a Gibraltar company, fit-and-proper management with real industry experience, AMLD5/6-standard policies and a risk-based capital reserve. The GFSC charges £45,000 to apply for the permission. The annual fee combines a £12,254 base fee, an additional fee of £28,183 and a trade activity fee of 0.1% of your reported trade volume, capped at £92,700. The process typically runs six to twelve months. The important caveat: Gibraltar is not in the EU (it left with the UK), so its framework is separate from MiCA and does not passport into the single market — to serve EU users you would pair it with an EU CASP. But as an English-common-law, credible, pioneering base, Gibraltar is a premium choice. We build the file to GFSC standard.
Why operators pick Gibraltar
A GFSC DLT licence is a mark of quality that opens doors with banks and partners.
A principles-based framework that scales to your risk rather than a rigid rulebook.
An English-common-law jurisdiction familiar to global counterparties.
Years of DLT supervision and a mature ecosystem of advisers and service providers.
A transparent flat annual fee, with complexity loading disclosed up front.
Gibraltar vs. an EU CASP
| Criteria | Gibraltar (DLT) | EU (CASP/MiCA) |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | GFSC (DLT framework) | National regulator under MiCA |
| Style | Principles-based (10 principles) | Prescriptive, harmonised |
| EU passport | No (outside the EU) | Yes (EU-27) |
| Capital | Risk-based reserve | €50k–€150k by class |
| Reputation | Pioneering, premium | Standardised across the bloc |
| Best suited to | Quality-first, global operators | EU-market operators |
Who the Gibraltar crypto licence suits
Gibraltar crypto licence requirements
How to get a Gibraltar crypto licence
- Readiness & principles Assess the model against the ten principles and set the substance and capital plan. 2–4 weeks
- Company & substance Establish the Gibraltar company, local substance and management. 3–5 weeks
- Build the file Prepare the business plan, AML/CFT and principle-by-principle evidence to GFSC standard. 6–10 weeks
- GFSC application File with the GFSC and manage a thorough, quality-focused review to licence. 6–12 months
- Launch On approval, operate under the DLT framework and ongoing supervision. On approval
Not sure Gibraltar is the right fit?
Tell us your product and target markets — we'll confirm whether Gibraltar or another jurisdiction gets you live fastest, at the lowest all-in cost.
How much does a Gibraltar crypto licence cost?
- Gibraltar company & structure
- DLT Provider application to the GFSC
- Business plan & principle evidence
- Regulator liaison to licence
- Everything in Licence
- Local substance & management
- AML/CFT (AMLD5/6) & MLRO
- Capital-reserve structuring
- Everything in Turnkey
- Crypto-friendly banking introductions
- Market-integrity & risk frameworks
- Ongoing compliance & reporting support
Budget the £45,000 GFSC application fee and an annual fee of £40,437 (the £12,254 base plus the £28,183 additional fee) before the trade activity fee of 0.1% of volume, which is capped at £92,700. On top sit a risk-based capital reserve proportionate to your model, local substance and a full compliance build. Gibraltar is a premium, reputation-first jurisdiction, and it does not passport into the EU. We model the full picture before you start.
Compliance obligations in Gibraltar
Technical & IT standards in Gibraltar
After you go live in Gibraltar
Which markets a Gibraltar licence reaches
A Gibraltar DLT Provider licence supports global business and carries strong reputational weight, but Gibraltar is outside the EU and the licence does not passport into the single market — to serve EU users, pair it with an EU CASP. You still geo-block the United States, sanctioned and FATF-listed territories and any market requiring separate authorisation.
Operators must use GEO-IP blocking for restricted countries and any FATF-blacklisted nation. Non-compliance can lead to licence suspension or revocation.
Gibraltar crypto licence FAQ
What is a Gibraltar crypto licence?
It is a DLT Provider licence from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC), under a framework launched in January 2018 — one of the world's first purpose-built crypto regimes. Any firm using distributed ledger technology to store or transmit value for others must hold it, backed by VASP registration for AML.
How does Gibraltar regulate crypto?
Through ten regulatory principles applied proportionately to your scale and risk, rather than a prescriptive rulebook — the original nine principles plus a tenth, Market Integrity, added in 2021. It's a quality-first, principles-based approach.
What does it cost and how long does it take?
The GFSC charges a £45,000 application fee. The annual fee is £12,254 plus an additional £28,183, and a trade activity fee of 0.1% of reported trade volume (capped at £92,700) comes on top. Add a risk-based capital reserve and setup costs. The process typically runs six to twelve months.
Does a Gibraltar licence work in the EU?
No. Gibraltar is outside the EU (it left with the UK), so its DLT framework is separate from MiCA and does not passport into the single market. To serve EU users you would pair it with an EU CASP licence.
Why choose Gibraltar over an EU CASP?
For reputation and a proportionate, principles-based regime in an English-common-law jurisdiction. If EU market access is essential, an EU CASP is the answer; if a respected licence matters more than passporting, Gibraltar is a strong option. Many groups hold both.
Reviewed by the Vantegris licensing team. Last updated September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time.
Start your Gibraltar file.
Tell us your product and target markets and we will map the licence route. The consultation is free and confidential, and most enquiries get a reply within 24 hours.