Is Crypto Legal in Argentina?
Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated in Argentina. The jurisdiction has a comprehensive, dedicated crypto framework with licensing and active enforcement. Argentine Federal Administration of Public Revenue is among the 2 regulators with oversight. Primary legislation: General Companies Law. The FATF Travel Rule is adopted, with a $1,000 threshold.
Derived from 156 sourced facts for Argentina · last updated · primary sources
Overview
Argentina regulates crypto through a dedicated VASP framework anchored in Law N° 27,739 (March 2024), which defines PSAVs and requires mandatory registration in the CNV's VASP registry; unregistered VASPs cannot legally operate, with staggered CNV Resolution 1058/2025 deadlines applying to individuals, Argentine entities, and foreign entities through September 2025. The CNV and UIF jointly supervise registered PSAVs, imposing continuous AML/KYC obligations under Law 25,246 and UIF Resolution 242/2023, multi-list sanctions screening (OFAC SDN, EU/UN, and Argentina's RePET), and a fully enforced Travel Rule aligned with FATF standards, with full enforceability confirmed from 31 December 2025 and the first audit cycle running from 1 January 2026. The most decision-relevant nuance for foreign firms is that foreign entities targeting Argentine users faced a mandatory CNV registration deadline of 1 September 2025, meaning unregistered cross-border operators are already non-compliant and subject to UIF fines, license denial, and criminal exposure under Penal Code Articles 303–309. (argentina.gob.ar, cnv.gov.ar, sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov)
Regulatory Bodies
Argentine Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP): Enforces tax obligations on crypto-related activities, including capital gains reporting
National Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional de Valores, CNV): Primary regulator overseeing VASP registration, compliance, investor protection, and development of the crypto framework.
Operating Models
9/9 verdictsCan specific business models operate in Argentina? Each card answers the operational question for one kind of operator. Curated cells reflect counsel-grade review; AI-generated cells should be confirmed before relying on them.
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AI · UnreviewedPrimary Legislation
| Law / Regulation | Year | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Law N° 27,739 | Law N° 27,739: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/296092/20240314 (via ). | |
| General Companies Law | For companies operating in the crypto space, standard corporate registration under Law 19,550 (General Companies Law) is required, including appointment of a legal representative, but this is not a crypto-specific license; it is the… | |
| Law 27,430 | Foreign crypto businesses with a presence in Argentina may be subject to income tax on Argentine-sourced income under general provisions of the Income Tax Law (Law 27,430), but there is no crypto-specific interpretation in the available… |
Licensing Requirements
Registration-focused: Businesses register in the CNV's VASP registry for legal operation; unregistered VASPs cannot function.
Unlike full licensing (e.g., with ongoing supervision), this is entry-based but mandates ongoing AML/KYC and reporting to UIF/CNV.
CNV Resolution No. 1058/2025 updates emphasize transparency and compliance.
Minimum net worth of $5,000–$50,000 (classification-dependent) for contractor licenses; half in cash for new applicants; varies by license type (e.g., $50,000 for money transmitters).
AML/KYC: Robust policies for client identification, transaction monitoring, and FATF-aligned reporting (e.g., suspicious activities to UIF); mandatory compliance officer.
Local presence: Incorporate a local entity (e.g., SA or SRL/LLC) with 1 local director and 2 shareholders; virtual office allowed.
Additional: Clean criminal record (sworn statement, no money laundering convictions); business plan, management details.
Law N° 27,739: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/296092/20240314 (via ).
Argentina’s CNV regulates Virtual Asset Service Providers through its PSAV/VASP registry on cnv.gov.ar, but the regime has since evolved into a more detailed licensing/registration framework with ongoing supervisory, reporting, and compliance requirements; it is not just a simple static registry claim.
UIF guidelines in Argentina are issued and updated by the Unidad de Información Financiera (UIF) under Law No. 25.246; for current obligations, thresholds, procedures, and timelines, consult the UIF’s current resolutions and any sector-specific regulator guidance (e.g., CNV/BCRA where applicable), rather than relying on a generic UIF homepage link alone.
FATF Assessment: Argentina is listed on the FATF “Updated Travel‑Rule Monitoring List” as “Fully cooperative,” indicating adherence to cross‑border AML/CFT requirements for virtual asset service providers.
Moneyval Evaluation: Moneyval reported Argentina’s implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations as “Essentially compliant” for digital asset services in its 2023 review.
UIF Guidelines: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/uif (via ). Fees and timelines may vary; consult CNV for 2026 updates.
AML/KYC Requirements
VASPs must conduct continuous, risk-based screening of customers, wallets, and transactions against OFAC SDN, EU/UN lists, and other relevant global and national sanctions lists (e.g., OFSI, Argentina's RePET).
Report blocked assets to OFAC/UIF; no dealing with 50%+ owned entities or crypto from sanctioned sources (e.g., Blender.io, SUEX).
Legal basis: Law 25,246 (AML), UIF Resolution 242/2023 (and modifications) for VASPs; RePET under National Law 26,268.
OFAC: Civil fines up to $1M+ per violation, criminal up to 30 years/$1M; strict liability.
Argentina: UIF fines up to ~ARS 13.5M (~$13.5K USD equivalent, adjusted; 35% increase), license revocation, criminal charges under Penal Code Arts. 303-309 for terrorism financing.
EU/UN sanctions enforcement is standardizing through harmonized directives and competent authority frameworks, though implementation timelines remain subject to member state discretion and phased rollout schedules.
RePET list: Primary Argentine list for terrorism/financing; VASPs must screen, high quality for region.
In Argentina, the Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) is the authority that oversees registration, regulation, and supervision of Proveedores de Servicios de Activos Virtuales (PSAV, i.e., virtual asset service providers), including their registration and compliance obligations, under the framework established by General Resolution 1058/2025 and related amendments, but there is no evidence of a CNV crypto/PSAV Resolution numbered 1125/2026.
UIF (Financial Information Unit): Defines cryptocurrencies and enforces AML reporting via Resolution 300/2014.
Travel Rule
The Travel Rule is fully live and enforced as a core PSAV compliance requirement, aligning with FATF standards.
Key timeline: Law 27.739 (March 2024) defined PSAVs; phased CNV registration in 2025; full enforceability of AML/CFT and Travel Rule obligations on 31 December 2025; first compliance audit cycle from 1 January 2026.
CNV Resolution 1058/2025 (March 2025) mandated VASP registration with staggered deadlines: individuals by 1 July 2025, Argentine entities by 1 August 2025, foreign entities by 1 September 2025.
FATF globally recommends ~$1,000/€1,000, but jurisdictions vary or apply to all transactions; Argentina's strict framework implies broad coverage, including systematic reporting for higher-value activity, without a stated cutoff.
Applies to registered PSAVs (domestic and foreign VASPs operating in or targeting Argentina users), post-mandatory CNV registration.
Unregistered platforms face higher risks and lack oversight; traditional banks can offer crypto services from April 2026 under supervision.
Strict on unhosted wallets and inbound cross-border transfers.
VASPs must collect, transmit, and retain originator/beneficiary information for in-scope crypto-asset transfers.
Includes KYC, risk assessments, suspicious activity monitoring, and AML/CFT standards; enhanced data sharing for Travel Rule-compliant transactions, even on international exchanges.
Systematic reporting for higher-value activity; first annual audits from January 2026.
No specific protocols (e.g., interoperability standards) detailed; aligns with FATF Recommendation 16 but faces global challenges like fragmented tech solutions.
Tax Reporting
Rates: 5-15%, depending on declaration timing, currency (ARS vs. foreign), and year (e.g., 5% for pre-March 2024 declarations; 15% in 2025).
Calculation: Sale proceeds (in ARS at market value) minus cost basis and expenses; losses offset same-year gains and carry forward up to 5 years.
Crypto-to-crypto trades and DeFi disposals count as taxable events.
Valued at ARS market rate on receipt; treated under Impuesto a las Ganancias (Ley 20.628).
February 2024 policy ended taxes on mere crypto ownership, but gains remain taxable above thresholds.
Individuals: Declare crypto gains/holdings on Ganancias (income/CGT) and Bienes Personales forms; file income tax returns April-June following the fiscal year. Keep full transaction records.
Businesses/VASPs: Register with Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) per Law 27.739 (2024); comply with AML/CFT (FATF-aligned). Declare under asset regularization (blanqueo, Law 27.743).
Worldwide income applies to Argentine residents; penalties for non-declaration include fines, interest, and potential criminal prosecution. DAC8 (effective 2026) does not apply to Argentina as a non-EU jurisdiction.
AFIP Ruling 2/2022: Classifies crypto as digital assets under Personal Property Tax framework.
Law of Foundations and Initial Measures for Argentinian Liberty (2024): Treats crypto as intangible property.
Law 27.739 (2024): VASP registration and AML/CFT rules (CNV oversight).
Law 27.743: Mandatory crypto declaration for tax/regularization.
Impuesto a las Ganancias (Ley 20.628): Covers CGT/income.
Official AFIP site: https://www.afip.gob.ar (general guidance; check for updates).
CNV site: https://www.cnv.gov.ar (VASP registration).
Custody Requirements
Custody regulation data collection in progress.
Stablecoin Regulation
Stablecoin regulation data collection in progress.
Securities Classification
The Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) is the Argentine securities regulator and operates under the authority of the Ley de Mercado de Capitales (Capital Markets Law No. 26,831), which was enacted in 2012 and remains the primary legal instrument governing securities offerings and trading in Argentina. Argentina, nuestro país | Argentina.gob.ar
The CNV's official website is argentina.gob.ar/cnv, and the regulator has formally codified its authority over digital assets through CNV General Resolution No. 1025 (2024), which establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework specifically for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including exchanges and custodians operating in Argentina.
The Unidad de Información Financiera (UIF), operating under the Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos, is the designated Financial Intelligence Unit responsible for AML/CFT oversight in Argentina and has issued UIF Resolution 49/2021 (successor to Resolution 30/2017), which specifically addresses virtual asset transactions and extends AML obligations to VASPs.
Argentina is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and underwent its most recent mutual evaluation in 2019 (FATF MER 2019), with the FATF's 2023 updated recommendations on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers creating international pressure that culminated in the issuance of CNV Resolution 1025. Argentina, nuestro país | Argentina.gob.ar
The Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA) has issued Communication A7779 (2022) and subsequent directives prohibiting financial institutions from providing services to crypto exchanges and from holding crypto assets on their own account, focusing on banking sector conduct rather than creating a comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework.
The Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos (AFIP) serves as Argentina's tax authority and has issued General Resolution 4614/2019 and General Resolution 4850/2021 on taxpayer declarations of virtual asset holdings, indicating the government's awareness of crypto activities for fiscal purposes.
Argentina has not enacted a dedicated "crypto law" or virtual asset act passed by the legislature, but CNV Resolution 1025 (2024) provides the primary administrative regulatory framework for VASPs, consolidating the CNV's authority over digital asset service providers into a single codified instrument.
Argentina's international standing on AML matters is monitored through FATF's mutual evaluation process, and the country's progress in implementing virtual asset regulation has been noted in FATF's follow-up reports on technical compliance, including the 2019 Mutual Evaluation Report and subsequent enhanced follow-up reports.
The CNV has issued various general resolutions and communications addressing initial coin offerings and digital asset offerings, but the issuance of Resolution 1025 in 2024 now provides a comprehensive regulatory regime that supersedes earlier piecemeal administrative interpretations.
Argentina, nuestro país | Argentina.gob.ar
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Sanctions & Restrictions
Sanctions data collection in progress.
Enforcement Actions
Legal basis: Law 25,246 (AML), UIF Resolution 94/2023 for VASPs; RePET under National Law 26,268.
Research & Articles
Regulatory Forecast
high confidenceLikely enforcement action expected around 2026-11-10
Based on 69 historical regulatory events for Argentina, averaging every 121 days, with increasing regulatory activity.
Recent Updates
Key timeline: Law 27.739 (March 2024) defined PSAVs; phased CNV registration in 2025; full enforceability of AML/CF...
Key timeline: Law 27.739 (March 2024) defined PSAVs; phased CNV registration in 2025; full enforceability of AML/CFT and Travel Rule obligations on 31 December 2025; first compliance audit cycle from 1 January 2026.
Unregistered platforms face higher risks and lack oversight; traditional banks can offer crypto services from April 2...
Unregistered platforms face higher risks and lack oversight; traditional banks can offer crypto services from April 2026 under supervision.
CNV General Resolution 994/2024: Defines VASPs and requires CNV registration for legal operations.
CNV General Resolution 994/2024: Defines VASPs and requires CNV registration for legal operations.
CNV General Resolution N°1025 (draft, public consultation October 2024) proposes finalized VASP rules on custody infr...
CNV General Resolution N°1025 (draft, public consultation October 2024) proposes finalized VASP rules on custody infrastructure, audits, and policies, expected to align closely with the draft.
BCRA is reviewing plans to lift the bank prohibition on crypto trading/custody, debating custody requirements, capita...
BCRA is reviewing plans to lift the bank prohibition on crypto trading/custody, debating custody requirements, capital treatment, and permitted tokens; approval would enhance consumer protection and AML.
Penalty: Nationwide access block; directed ISPs to restrict access; Google and Apple instructed to remove mobile ...
Penalty: Nationwide access block; directed ISPs to restrict access; Google and Apple instructed to remove mobile applications
Outcome: Platform blocked countrywide
Outcome: Platform blocked countrywide
Penalty Amount: $251 million in investor losses documented
Penalty Amount: $251 million in investor losses documented
Outcome: Coinbase suspended ARS-to-USDC trading operations after less than one year in the market
Outcome: Coinbase suspended ARS-to-USDC trading operations after less than one year in the market
Outcome: Platform banned; thousands of investors affected with millions in losses
Outcome: Platform banned; thousands of investors affected with millions in losses
Report blocked assets to OFAC/UIF; no dealing with 50%+ owned entities or crypto from sanctioned sources (e.g., Blend...
Report blocked assets to OFAC/UIF; no dealing with 50%+ owned entities or crypto from sanctioned sources (e.g., Blender.io, SUEX).
OFAC: Civil fines up to $1M+ per violation, criminal up to 30 years/$1M; strict liability.
OFAC: Civil fines up to $1M+ per violation, criminal up to 30 years/$1M; strict liability.
Argentina: UIF fines up to ARS 10M (~$10K USD equivalent, adjusted), license revocation, criminal charges under P...
Argentina: UIF fines up to ARS 10M (~$10K USD equivalent, adjusted), license revocation, criminal charges under Penal Code Arts. 303-309 for terrorism financing.
EU/UN: Varies by member state enforcement; secondary risks amplify.
EU/UN: Varies by member state enforcement; secondary risks amplify.
No comprehensive list or test is specified in recent resolutions like CNV General Resolution 1125/2026, which defines...
No comprehensive list or test is specified in recent resolutions like CNV General Resolution 1125/2026, which defines virtual assets as "any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred digitally and used for payments or investments," encompassing cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins—but this is for qualified investor net worth calculations, not security classification.
No explicit rules on secondary trading of tokens classified as securities appear in sources; a 2022 Central Bank ban ...
No explicit rules on secondary trading of tokens classified as securities appear in sources; a 2022 Central Bank ban persists on banks offering crypto services, though internal blockchain testing occurs and easing is anticipated.
No specific enforcement cases against token issuers or secondary trading are cited in available results.
No specific enforcement cases against token issuers or secondary trading are cited in available results.
National Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional de Valores, CNV): Primary regulator overseeing VASP registratio...
National Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional de Valores, CNV): Primary regulator overseeing VASP registration, compliance, investor protection, and development of the crypto framework. It manages the mandatory VASP registry and recently issued General Resolution No. 1125/2026, allowing virtual assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum to count toward net worth for qualified investor status (threshold around $479,000).
Law N°27,739 (March 2024): Establishes the formal regulatory framework for VASPs, mandates CNV registration, and ...
Law N°27,739 (March 2024): Establishes the formal regulatory framework for VASPs, mandates CNV registration, and integrates AML/KYC processes. Full framework takes effect December 31, 2025.
Earlier measures: UIF Resolution 300/2014 (AML reporting); 2017 Income Tax Law amendments (taxes crypto profits).
Earlier measures: UIF Resolution 300/2014 (AML reporting); 2017 Income Tax Law amendments (taxes crypto profits).
Adopted through Law 27.739 (March 2024), which defines PSAVs, followed by phased registration in 2025 and UIF Res...
Adopted through Law 27.739 (March 2024), which defines PSAVs, followed by phased registration in 2025 and UIF Resolution 49/2024.
Traditional banks can provide crypto services from April 2026 under supervision.
Traditional banks can provide crypto services from April 2026 under supervision.
Results do not detail specific penalties; non-compliance risks regulatory enforcement, as Argentina's framework is "c...
Results do not detail specific penalties; non-compliance risks regulatory enforcement, as Argentina's framework is "comparatively strict," with potential future access limits on unregistered foreign VASPs.
Virtual assets are broadly defined as “any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred di...
Virtual assets are broadly defined as “any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred digitally and used for payments or investments”, encompassing cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins, but only those qualifying as securities fall under full Capital Markets Law. (https://www.mexc.com/news/1021038; derived from https://news.bitcoin.com/argentina-recognizes-crypto-as-qualified-investors-net-worth/)
CNV issued a cease-and-desist order against a virtual coin offering resembling a security (excluding stablecoins ...
CNV issued a cease-and-desist order against a virtual coin offering resembling a security (excluding stablecoins per se), demonstrating enforcement under securities authority. (https://www.dlapiper.com/insights/publications/2026/03/argentinas-securities-regulator-issues-cease-and-desist-order-virtual-coin-offering)
No additional specific cases (e.g., fines or prosecutions) detailed in results; historical context includes 2022 Cent...
No additional specific cases (e.g., fines or prosecutions) detailed in results; historical context includes 2022 Central Bank banking ban on crypto services (not CNV-led). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cryptocurrency_by_country_or_territory)
UIF (Financial Information Unit): Defines cryptocurrencies and enforces AML reporting via Resolution 300/2014.
UIF (Financial Information Unit): Defines cryptocurrencies and enforces AML reporting via Resolution 300/2014.
Outcome: Platform blocked countrywide
Outcome: Platform blocked countrywide
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