El Salvador DASP LicenseGaming License
$5,475–6,270 government fee. 0% tax on digital asset activities. 3–6 months. 83 licences issued including Tether and Bitfinex.
El Salvador DASP Licenselicense
Table of contents
Key advantages of El Salvador DASP License Gaming License
0% Tax on Digital Assets
Zero corporate income tax, capital gains, VAT, and withholding tax on dividends — all under Article 36 of LEAD for registered DASPs.
Lowest Capital Threshold
$2,000 minimum share capital — the lowest entry requirement of any regulated crypto jurisdiction globally.
B2B White-Label Explicitly Permitted
CNAD explicitly authorises B2B service provision. The DASP licensee serves other operators under a regulated umbrella.
Established Regulatory Track Record
83 licences granted as of April 2026, including Tether, Bitfinex, and Bitget. CNAD supervises $300B+ in digital assets.
FATF Compliant Jurisdiction
El Salvador is not on the FATF enhanced monitoring list. GAFILAT evaluation completed January 2024, adopted August 2024.
Required documents of El Salvador DASP License Gaming License
- Certified passport copies (all shareholders and directors)
- Apostilled criminal record certificates (no financial crime convictions)
- Notarised proof of address
- Source of funds documentation
- CVs with relevant professional experience
- All foreign documents apostilled and translated into Spanish
Provide passports, criminal record certificates, proof of address, source of funds, and CVs for all shareholders and directors. MGL drafts the AML/CFT framework, KYT setup, business plan, and manages all CNAD correspondence.
How it works
Obtain a gaming license from 3–6 months
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step.
What Is a DASP Licence in El Salvador?
A Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) licence is a regulatory registration issued by El Salvador's Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales (CNAD) under the Digital Assets Issuance Law (LEAD, 2023). It authorises companies to operate crypto exchanges, custody services, wallets, and token issuance from El Salvador.
CNAD has granted 83 licences as of April 2026, including Tether (which relocated its global headquarters to El Salvador in January 2025), Bitfinex, and Bitget. CNAD supervises over $300 billion in digital assets as of January 2026.
Government registration fee: $5,475–6,270. Total cost for most applicants: $22,000–28,000 all-in. Timeline: 3–6 months from engagement to operational licence.
Tax treatment for registered DASPs: 0% corporate income tax, 0% capital gains, 0% VAT, and 0% withholding tax on dividends on digital asset activities.
Who This Licence Is For
The El Salvador DASP is for crypto and fintech businesses that need a regulated operating base for global operations:
Crypto startups launching an exchange, wallet, or payment product that requires regulatory status for banking and PSP access
Established operators adding a B2B white-label layer, payment infrastructure, or crypto treasury wrapper under a regulated entity
DeFi and NFT platforms seeking a legitimate operating jurisdiction outside the EU
The DASP does not provide EU passporting. Serving EU retail customers requires separate MiCA authorisation. Operators targeting exclusively EU markets should weigh this against a Lithuanian VASP registration or full MiCA preparation.
What the DASP Covers
Activity | Covered |
|---|---|
Crypto-to-fiat exchange | Yes |
Crypto-to-crypto exchange | Yes |
Custody and wallet services | Yes |
Derivatives and structured products | Yes |
Token issuance (utility, security, stablecoin, RWA) | Yes |
Investment advisory on digital assets | Yes |
DeFi protocol operations | Yes |
NFT marketplace operations | Yes |
Bitcoin-specific services (exchange, wallets, payments) | No. Requires separate BSP. |
Operators handling both Bitcoin and non-Bitcoin services need both licences. BSP runs concurrently with DASP. Separate applications, separate fees.
Cost Breakdown
One-time costs
Item | Amount |
|---|---|
CNAD registration fee | $5,475–6,270 |
Minimum share capital | $2,000 |
Company formation (S.A. de C.V.) | $1,500–3,000 |
AML/CFT framework drafting | $2,000–5,000 |
Document apostille and translation | $1,000–2,500 |
Banking setup assistance | $1,500–3,000 |
UIF registration | $50–150 |
Total one-time | ~$18,500–22,000 (DASP only); DASP + BSP: ~$28,000 |
Annual recurring costs
Item | Annual amount |
|---|---|
CNAD renewal fee | $3,650–4,050 |
2 certified AML officers (1 resident in El Salvador) | $36,000–72,000 |
Registered office | $1,200–3,600 |
KYT monitoring platform | $6,000–18,000 |
Legal and regulatory advisory | $3,000–8,000 |
Total annual | ~$52,850–109,650 |
Annual costs are staff-heavy. The two-officer requirement (Special AML Law, October 2025) is the largest recurring line item. Budget also for external cybersecurity audit ($3,000–8,000/year, Decree 143, November 2024).
Timeline
Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
Corporate formation (S.A. de C.V.) | Weeks 1–4 |
Banking setup: complete before CNAD | Weeks 3–8 |
BSP registration, if required | Weeks 5–10 |
CNAD pre-registration | Weeks 8–14 |
CNAD definitive registration | Weeks 12–22 |
Post-registration (UIF, monitoring activation) | Week 22+ |
Realistic total: 3–6 months. Banking must be established before CNAD registration begins. Operators who attempt CNAD registration without a functional corporate account are routinely delayed 8–16 weeks.
CNAD registration is two-stage. Pre-registration: initial form with entity info, planned services, directors, compliance officers. CNAD issues "no objection" or "objection". Only after "no objection" does definitive registration begin.
Tax Regime
Article 36 of LEAD exempts registered DASPs from:
Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
Corporate income tax on digital asset activities | 0% |
Capital gains on digital asset transactions | 0% |
VAT on digital asset services | 0% |
Transfer tax on digital asset transactions | 0% |
Withholding tax on dividends from digital asset activities | 0% |
The exemption extends to shareholders individually. For mixed-income structures, only the digital asset portion is exempt.
Tax-exempt fund layer: PAIF
The PAIF Law (Decreto 430, in force 25 October 2025) created a tax-exempt private fund vehicle for operators holding stablecoins and digital assets. PAIFs are exempt from income tax, dividends, royalties, capital gains, and any economic benefit on fund activities. Minimum participant investment: $250,000. Supervised by SSF and BCR, not CNAD.
UBO personal tax planning
Salvadoran tax residency exempts foreign-source income and digital asset capital gains at the individual level. El Salvador's Freedom Visa programme (launched December 2024) grants citizenship through a $1 million donation payable in Bitcoin or USDT, with no physical residency requirement. Citizenship in 4–6 weeks, capped at 1,000 grants/year. Salvadoran citizens qualify for US Global Entry as of April 2025.
El Salvador vs Other Crypto Licence Jurisdictions
Factor | El Salvador (DASP) | Lithuania (VASP) | Cayman Islands | BVI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Corporate tax | 0% on digital assets | 15% | 0% | 0% |
Capital gains | 0% | 20% | 0% | 0% |
EU passporting | No | MiCA pathway | No | No |
Regulator | CNAD | Bank of Lithuania | CIMA | BVI FSC |
Timeline | 3–6 months | 3–6 months | 6–12+ months | 3–6 months |
Government fee (one-time) | $5,475–6,270 | ~EUR 1,000 | $10,000+ | $3,000–5,000 |
Minimum capital | $2,000 | EUR 125,000 | $100,000+ | Variable |
B2B white-label | Explicitly permitted | Restricted | Case-by-case | Case-by-case |
FATF grey list | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Named licensees | Tether, Bitfinex, Bitget | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple |
For operators who do not need EU retail access, El Salvador has the lowest capital threshold and tax rate, with B2B white-label explicitly permitted. Lithuania remains the choice if EU passporting is the priority.
Requirements
Corporate form:
S.A. de C.V. (Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) or a registered branch of a foreign joint-stock company. SAS entities are explicitly excluded from DASP and BSP applications under the October 2024 LEAD reform.
Compliance officers:
At least two certified AML/CFT officers registered with UIF. At least one must be physically resident in El Salvador (Special AML Law, October 2025).
Banking:
A functional corporate bank account must be in place before CNAD definitive registration. Options: Banco Hipotecario (personal presence required) and international EMIs licensed in Lithuania, the UK, or Cyprus.
AML framework:
Applications without active KYT monitoring, working KYC procedures, and documented onboarding receive information requests extending timelines 4–8 weeks. Must document compliance with Cybersecurity Law (Decree 143) and Personal Data Protection Law (Decree 144).
Documents per shareholder and director:
Certified passport copies
Apostilled criminal record certificates (no financial crime convictions)
Notarised proof of address
Source of funds documentation
CVs with relevant professional experience
All foreign documents apostilled and translated into Spanish
Non-Obvious Pitfalls
SAS is not eligible.
Many Salvadoran lawyers default to SAS for new subsidiaries. CNAD will not accept a DASP application from an SAS entity. Verify the structure before incorporation.
Banking before registration, not after.
The bank account must be open and active before filing with CNAD. Eight to sixteen weeks of delay is the typical cost of getting this wrong.
Two AML officers, one locally resident.
The supply of qualified AML officers with crypto industry experience in El Salvador is limited. Recruit or retain them before filing.
Compliance framework must function before submission.
CNAD no longer accepts "will implement post-registration" language. An active KYT system, working AML officer appointments, and documented onboarding must be in place at application time.
The January 2025 Bitcoin Law amendment did not affect DASP.
Article 36 of LEAD is intact as of June 2026. The 0% tax exemptions remain in effect.
Investment Bank pathway:
For operators capitalised at $50 million or above, the Investment Bank Law (August 2025) offers a single licence covering DASP, BSP, and token issuance with institutional banking services. Dual supervision: BCR and SSF.
Ongoing Compliance
Monthly transaction volume reports (10 business days after month-end, to CNAD); quarterly capital adequacy and financial statements (15 business days after quarter-end); audited annual financial statements within 3 months of fiscal year-end; Suspicious Activity Reports to UIF within 24 hours of detection; personal data breach notifications within 72 hours (Decree 144); cybersecurity incident reports to CNAD and ACE (Decree 143).
FATF Travel Rule compliance for transfers above applicable threshold. Enhanced Due Diligence for PEPs and FATF-listed jurisdictions. Annual AML/CFT training for all staff. AML officer departure: notify CNAD within 5 business days, appoint replacement within 30 days.
MGL Package Options
Basic | All-Inclusive | VIP | |
|---|---|---|---|
DASP/BSP registration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Company formation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
AML/KYC framework | No | Yes | Yes |
Business plan | No | Yes | Yes |
Banking setup | No | Yes | Yes |
International EMI introduction | No | Yes | Yes |
Compliance officer support | No | No | Yes |
Second banking relationship | No | No | Yes |
Priority support | No | No | Yes |
MGL fee | On request | ~$12,000 | On request |
80% of MGL clients choose All-Inclusive. It covers the two most common failure points: banking access and AML documentation.
WHY MGL?
Here are 5 reasons why we are the best fit for your project
1 form
Just one form to fill out — we handle everything else.
30 Minutes
All we need from you to kickstart the process.
1-3 Days
Fast company formation so you can start using your business immediately.
6-7 Weeks
Get your casino licensed.
FAQ
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Yes. Foreign shareholders and directors are permitted. Personal presence is not required for company formation if a Salvadoran Power of Attorney is executed. Banco Hipotecario requires an in-person visit for account opening.
No. Bitcoin-specific services require a separate Bitcoin Service Provider (BSP) registration. Most operators apply for both simultaneously.
No. El Salvador underwent a GAFILAT mutual evaluation in January 2024, adopted in August 2024. Not on the FATF enhanced monitoring list as of June 2026.
$2,000 paid-in capital for an S.A. de C.V. CNAD can require additional capital based on operational scale.
Yes. The DASP licence explicitly permits B2B service provision. The DASP licensee maintains compliance responsibility for the underlying service.
No. The DASP authorises operations in El Salvador and for customers actively receiving services from El Salvador. EU retail customers require separate MiCA authorisation.
No. The January 2025 amendment removed mandatory merchant acceptance of Bitcoin but did not affect the DASP framework. Article 36 of LEAD and the 0% tax exemptions remain intact as of June 2026.
Simplified Joint-Stock Companies (SAS) are explicitly excluded from DASP and BSP applications under the October 2024 LEAD reform. Applicants must form an S.A. de C.V. or register a branch of a foreign joint-stock company.
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Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step