Cuba

Restricted

Activo virtual (Virtual asset) · Bespoke

VASPsExchangesMIPYMES (SMEs)

Comprehensive framework Approved · 2021 CASP / VASP regime Approved · 2021 Licensing Approved · 2021 AML / CFT Approved · 2021 Stablecoins Unregulated · Unregulated CBDC N/A Consumer protection Unregulated Travel rule — Advertising rules — Taxation Unclear

Summary

Cuba's Banco Central de Cuba (BCC) issued Resolution 215/2021 (published August 2021), establishing rules for the use of virtual assets in commercial transactions and a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The BCC grants discretionary one-year VASP licenses based on 'socio-economic interest', with mandatory AML/CFT compliance, customer due diligence, suspicious-activity reporting, and probity checks. In March 2026, Resolution 4/2026 authorized about ten SMEs (MIPYMES) and a mixed company to use virtual assets specifically for cross-border payments, while prohibiting domestic, speculative, and off-platform crypto use.

Timeline

Aug 2021: BCC publishes Resolution 215/2021 recognizing/regulating virtual assets and creating VASP licensing. 2022 onward: BCC issues annual VASP licenses based on socio-economic interest. Mar 2026: Resolution 4/2026 authorizes ~10 named legal entities to use virtual assets for cross-border payments.