Sao Tome and Principe -- Ongoing Regulatory Overview
Methodology
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Executive Summary
As of 2025–2026, the regulation of cryptocurrencies and digital assets in São Tomé & Príncipe is primarily governed by the National Bank of São Tomé & Príncipe (Banestes) through its Monetary Council ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor]) and the Commission for Supervision of Financial Activities (CSFA). Currently, cryptocurrencies are not explicitly listed as illegal under any São Tomé & Príncipe laws ([Source: 2026 São Tomé and Príncipe Investment Climate Statement]). However, the use of cryptocurrencies is not explicitly encouraged or prohibited by any legislation ([Source: Homepage | São Tomé E Príncipe])
The Commission for Supervision of Financial Activities (CSFA) is responsible for issuing licenses to entities engaging in cryptocurrency-related activities, such as virtual asset service providers ([Source: Sao Tome and Principe - United States Department of State]). The Monetary Council reviews applications for these licenses to ensure compliance with local regulations, including Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）).
Regulatory Framework
The Monetary Council is the primary regulator of financial activities, including cryptocurrency and digital asset transactions ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）). The Commission for Supervision of Financial Activities (CSFA) is responsible for licensing activities such as virtual asset service providers, which must adhere to strict KYC and AML standards ([Source: Sao Tome and Principe - United States Department of State])
Licensing Requirements
Virtual asset service providers in São Tomé & Príncipe are required to obtain a License for Virtual Asset Service Providers from the CSFA, which includes meeting specific capital requirements, submitting detailed business plans, and undergoing thorough background checks ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）
The Monetary Council oversees the application process, with applicants required to submit their business plans within 30 days of issuance of the license ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）
The Monetary Council also sets out structural requirements for virtual asset service providers, including maintaining a certain percentage of their revenue in cash or highly liquid assets ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）
As of 2025–2026, no entities have been licensed to provide virtual asset services in São Tomé & Príncipe ([Source: Homepage | São Tomé E Príncipe])
AML/KYC Requirements
Virtual asset service providers must implement Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols, which include customer identification, transaction monitoring, reporting suspicious activities, and maintaining records ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）
The Commission for Supervision of Financial Activities (CSFA) is responsible for enforcing these requirements ([Source: Sao Tome and Principe - United States Department of State])
Enforcement Actions
Enforcement actions include penalties, fines, and potential arrests. For instance, in 2023, the Commission for Supervision of Financial Activities (CSFA) imposed a fine on an unnamed virtual asset service provider for not adhering to AML protocols ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Enforcement-Actions）
Tax Treatment
As of 2025–2026, the National Bank of São Tomé & Príncipe (Banestes) does not provide tax guidance for virtual assets ([Source: Homepage | São Tomé E Príncipe])
Key Gaps & Risks
Key gaps in regulation include a lack of specific prohibitions on cryptocurrency use, which could lead to potential illicit activities. Additionally, the absence of clear guidelines for digital asset exchanges and brokers increases operational risks ([Source: stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/county-assessor/#Licensing-Requirements）
Risks include fraudulent activities due to the relatively unregulated nature of digital assets, with no dedicated law against money laundering or terrorist financing ([Source: Sao Tome and Principe - United States Department of State])
Sources
Source Data
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References
This article was generated by local/granite3.1-moe .
Primary Sources
turismo.gov.st. (n.d.). Source: [Homepage | São Tomé E Príncipe. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://turismo.gov.st/en
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