Antigua and Barbuda has enacted comprehensive securities legislation, the Securities Act 2020 (No. 7 of 2020), which establishes a modern framework for regulating securities and digital asset-related activities ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) serves as the primary regulator for financial services, including securities and digital asset businesses, operating under the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC has a dedicated Digital Asset Business Regulations framework and is actively engaged in regulating digital asset businesses within the jurisdiction Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Investment Funds Act 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) complements the securities regime by regulating collective investment schemes and fund structures ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

The practical reality is that the legal framework is in place, but specific public records of licensed digital asset securities entities are limited, and the FSRC actively exercises its regulatory authority through enforcement actions such as license revocations and regulatory notices Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) is the central regulatory authority for Antigua and Barbuda's financial services sector, created by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Commission's principal functions are provided for at section 5 of the Financial Services Regulatory Act No. 5 of 2013, and the regulatory laws through which it functions are set out in section 2 of that same Act Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC's stated mission is "to develop Antigua and Barbuda as an effectively regulated, well managed major financial services jurisdiction," and its vision commits to "effective regulation and supervision of Antigua and Barbuda’s financial services sector, by upholding internationally recognized standards of compliance" Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Securities Act, 2020 (No. 7 of 2020) serves as the primary securities legislation, establishing the legal framework for securities regulation including digital assets that qualify as securities ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) provides the regulatory framework for collective investment schemes, which is relevant to digital asset funds and crypto investment vehicles ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

The FSRC's website includes a dedicated section for "Digital Asset Business Regulations," indicating that digital asset businesses are a recognized and regulated category within the financial services framework Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

Antigua and Barbuda's international financial services sector has a long history, beginning with the International Business Corporations Act CAP 222 ("the IBC Act") in 1982, establishing the jurisdiction's commitment to international financial services Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

Antigua and Barbuda has signed a Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA), demonstrating its commitment to international tax transparency and information exchange standards Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC regulates a wide range of financial services beyond securities, including corporate management and trust service providers, international banking, credit unions, international trust corporations, international insurance, money services businesses, gaming, and pensions Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The regulatory framework covers international insurance, with the ECCU governments implementing public consultations on the Single Insurance Market, indicating regional regulatory cooperation Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Securities Act, 2020 (No. 7 of 2020) establishes licensing requirements for persons engaged in securities activities, including dealing in securities, advising on securities, and operating a securities exchange or trading facility ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The licensing regime under the Securities Act applies to digital assets where they constitute securities, meaning crypto businesses dealing in digital asset securities must obtain appropriate licenses from the FSRC ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The FSRC's Digital Asset Business Regulations section on its website indicates that digital asset businesses require registration or licensing with the Commission Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) requires licensing for investment funds, including those that invest in crypto assets or digital securities ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

The FSRC provides an incorporation procedure as part of its services, indicating that companies seeking to operate in the financial services sector, including securities and digital asset businesses, must follow specific incorporation steps Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The licensing framework requires applicants to meet the regulatory standards set by the FSRC, which operates under the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC's services include the regulation of Corporate Management & Trust Service Providers, which may be relevant to the structuring of digital asset businesses and funds Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Money Services Businesses regulatory framework under the FSRC may apply to crypto businesses that engage in money transmission or payment services Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) is a standalone piece of legislation, indicating that fund managers and operators of digital asset funds must comply with specific licensing conditions under this Act ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

Based on the available public sources, there is no publicly listed register of licensed digital asset securities entities on the FSRC website, meaning that either no entities have been publicly confirmed as licensed or the register is not publicly accessible through the FSRC website Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC operates under the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013, which provides for the Commission's functions in regulating financial services, including compliance oversight Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Securities Act, 2020 (No. 7 of 2020) includes provisions for the regulation of securities activities, which would encompass AML/KYC obligations for digital asset securities businesses as part of their compliance requirements ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) requires investment funds, including digital asset funds, to maintain appropriate compliance procedures, which would include customer due diligence and record keeping ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

The FSRC's mission to uphold "internationally recognized standards of compliance" indicates that AML/KYC standards align with international requirements such as FATF recommendations Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC's regulatory scope includes money services businesses, which are typically subject to comprehensive AML/KYC obligations under international standards Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC provides for registration procedures for various financial services, which would involve the submission of compliance documentation and AML policies as part of the application process Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The regulatory framework requires ongoing supervision of licensed entities by the FSRC, which includes monitoring compliance with AML/KYC obligations Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The specific details of beneficial ownership reporting, PEP screening, and STR filing requirements are not publicly detailed on the FSRC website, but the framework operates under the general regulatory authority of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC issued a Regulatory Notice regarding Gaming Ventures Ltd., as published in a press release dated from the FSRC's records Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The FSRC issued a Notice of Revocation for Ansbacher (Antigua) Ltd., revoking that entity's license, as evidenced by the official notice of license revocation from 2016 Financial Services Regulatory Commission_Ltd.pdf).

The FSRC actively exercises its regulatory enforcement powers, including the ability to revoke licenses and issue regulatory notices to address non-compliance Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The enforcement actions demonstrate that the FSRC does not merely have a paper framework but actively enforces regulatory compliance in the financial services sector Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The enforcement powers derived from the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 empower the regulator to take action against entities that fail to meet their regulatory obligations Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

No tax guidance has been issued for virtual assets.

The FSRC's website does not provide any information regarding the tax treatment of digital assets or crypto gains Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) does not address the tax treatment of investment funds or their crypto holdings ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

Antigua and Barbuda has signed a Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA), which relates to tax information exchange rather than domestic tax rules for virtual assets Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Securities Act, 2020 (No. 7 of 2020) applies to digital assets only insofar as they constitute "securities," creating potential classification uncertainty for hybrid or utility tokens that may not clearly fall within the securities definition ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

The FSRC's website does not provide a publicly accessible register of licensed digital asset businesses or securities entities, creating transparency gaps for market participants seeking to verify licenses Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The regulatory framework lacks publicly available guidance on the specific application of the Securities Act to crypto exchanges, token issuers, and digital asset custodians ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

There is no publicly available tax guidance for virtual assets, creating uncertainty for businesses and investors regarding their tax obligations Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The Investment Funds Act, 2020 (No. 9 of 2020) does not specifically address the unique operational and custody requirements of digital asset funds, potentially leaving regulatory gaps ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020.

While the Securities Act provides for a licensing regime, the specific capital requirements and operational thresholds for digital asset businesses are not publicly detailed on the FSRC website, creating uncertainty for prospective applicants Financial Services Regulatory Commission.

The practical reality is that Antigua and Barbuda has enacted a modern legal framework but the implementation details for digital asset securities businesses remain partially opaque, and the number of licensed entities is not publicly confirmed ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA THE SECURITIES ACT, 2020 No. 7 of 2020

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2020 No. 9 of 2020

Financial Services Regulatory Commission - Digital Asset Business Regulations

Financial Services Regulatory Commission - Corporate Management & Trust Service Providers

Financial Services Regulatory Commission - Money Services Businesses

Financial Services Regulatory Commission - Incorporation Procedure

Antigua and Barbuda Signs A Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA)

ECCU Governments implement public consultations on the Single Insurance Market

FSRC Press Release - Regulatory Notice: Gaming Ventures Ltd.

FSRC Notice of Revocation - Ansbacher (Antigua) Ltd._Ltd.pdf)