The most common questions from founders considering Panama for their crypto company in 2026.
How much does Panama crypto company registration cost?
€6,000 fixed fee. Includes Panama Sociedad Anónima registration, notarization of passport + utility bill for 1 person, 2 directors, and onboarding introductions to 7 crypto-friendly payment providers. Each additional person added to the structure (director or UBO) costs €250 to notarize. No hidden fees, no surprise add-ons.
How long does Panama crypto company registration take?
2-3 weeks end-to-end. Process: (1) sign contract, (2) pay €6,000, (3) collect passport + 12-month bank statement as proof of address, (4) notarize documents, (5) register Panama Sociedad Anónima, (6) start operating, (7) open accounts with payment providers. Fully online - no documents need to be sent by post and no travel to Panama required.
What can I do with a Panama crypto company?
11 allowed activities: (1) launch crypto exchange (centralized or decentralized), (2) OTC desk, (3) IEO (Initial Exchange Offering), (4) crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto transactions (crypto-to-fiat requires stablecoin in between), (5) issue branded debit cards, (6) crypto fund activity, (7) custodial services, (8) futures and shorts, (9) NFT minting and trading, (10) token issuing, (11) staking. Same jurisdiction used by Deribit, Wallet.tg, and Lulubit.
What is the tax on a Panama crypto company?
0% corporate tax and 0% dividends tax on foreign-source income. Panama operates a territorial tax system - income earned outside Panama is exempt from Panamanian income tax. For crypto businesses serving global users, this means no Panamanian tax on operating profits. Small annual government franchise tax (~$300/year).
Do I need to do accounting for a Panama crypto company?
No formal accounting is required. You only need to keep internal records of any invoices, contracts, or agreements and submit them within 4 months of the financial year-end. These records are kept internally - not filed with any government agency. This is dramatically simpler than EU jurisdictions that require annual audited financials filed publicly.
Are Panama crypto company directors and UBOs disclosed publicly?
Director information is public (appears in Panama Public Registry). Shareholder and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) information is confidential - disclosed only to the registered agent and Panamanian authorities upon request, not publicly searchable. This is a significant privacy advantage vs EU jurisdictions where UBO registers are publicly searchable.
Is there a minimum capital requirement for Panama crypto company?
No. Panama Sociedad Anónima requires zero minimum paid-up capital. Authorized capital is typically set at $10,000 (the standard franchise tax tier) but no money needs to be deposited. Compare to Lithuania CASP which requires €125,000 paid-up capital.
Do I need to travel to Panama or send documents by post?
No. The entire registration is fully online. Documents are signed and notarized in your home country, sent electronically. No travel to Panama is required. No postal documents. The Panama company registration completes in 2-3 weeks without any physical presence on your part.
Can a US citizen or US-resident open a Panama crypto company?
Yes, US persons can own and direct a Panama company. Note that the US taxes its citizens and residents on worldwide income regardless of where the company sits, and a US-owned foreign corporation typically triggers IRS reporting (e.g. forms 5471, FBAR/FinCEN 114, and potential GILTI/Subpart F). Panama's 0% territorial tax still removes Panamanian tax, but it does not remove US obligations. We coordinate the Panama setup and recommend you pair it with a US tax adviser for the filing side.
Is Panama a reputable jurisdiction, or is it grey-listed?
Panama was removed from the FATF grey list in 2023 and from the EU list of high-risk third countries in 2024. It is a fully regulated, treaty-connected jurisdiction with an established financial-services framework - which is why operators such as Deribit, Wallet.tg and Lulubit use it. Banking partners still apply standard AML/KYC due diligence, which is exactly why the €6,000 package includes introductions to 7 crypto-friendly payment providers.
Should I choose Panama or an EU licence like Lithuania?
It depends on your customers. If you serve EU retail users, you'll need an EU/MiCA licence (e.g. Lithuania CASP) for passporting - budget ~€40,000+ and 4-8 months. If you serve a global or non-EU audience and want speed, low cost and 0% tax, Panama is the stronger fit at €6,000 in 2-3 weeks. Many founders start on Panama and add an EU licence later. See the full comparison table.
