Lithuania cryptocurrency/bitcoin business set up in 2024
Since the inception of bitcoin in 2009, Healy Consultants Group assists our multinational Clients with business registration in lucrative, flexible crypto-friendly countries like Lithuania. Our Lithuanian crypto services include i) Lithuania cryptocurrency company formation ii) crypto Government authorization application iii) corporate bank account opening in Europe and beyond iv) EU Schengen visa applications and v) crypto wallet operator software solutions.
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Why register a Lithuanian cryptocurrency company?
- Lithuania is one of the few EU countries with a clear licensing model for crypto businesses.
- Lithuania is becoming a European hotspot for crypto fund pooling, with local crypto start-ups raising half a billion euros in the past decade.
- Despite occasional investor warnings from the Lithuanian Central Bank, the local crypto ecosystem is rapidly evolving, and is headed by the country’s dedicated Blockchain Centre.
- Registering a cryptocurrency company in Lithuania takes only 3 weeks, and no personal travel is required. However, cryptocurrency exchange providers must secure one of two available regulatory approvals offered to the public.
- Lithuania is an ideal gateway market to both EEA and EEU markets.
- Lithuania is a member of the EU. This gives locally incorporated entities access to the EU Single Market, removing borders to trade, employment and customs and duties with other EU states.
- Lithuanian companies receive an ‘Intra Community’ tax number to trade with EU member states.
- Corporate tax in Lithuania is low at just 15% flat.
For further information on the advantages of setting up a business in Lithuania, visit this page.
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Types of Lithuanian regulatory authorisation for crypto businesses
Lithuania does not have a dedicated crypto licence. However, our Clients can operate legally by securing a regulatory authorisation. View below summary of value:
Type of activity Cryptocurrency exchange operator Cryptocurrency wallet operator Can our Client secure both types of regulatory approval? Yes Yes Must our Client secure a license? No No Assessment of business plan required? No No Supervisory authority? Financial Crime Investigation Service Financial Crime Investigation Service Minimal capital required 2,500 EUR 2,500 EUR Resident AML officer required? Yes Yes Physical office legally required? No No Professional background of directors and UBO required? Yes Yes AML and KYC and suspicious transaction reporting policy required? Yes Yes Documents required Documents required Incorporation forms, power of attorney, notification forms and auxiliary documents Documents required Incorporation forms, power of attorney, notification forms and auxiliary documents Enhanced KYC on transactions above what threshold? €15,000 €15,000 Our client can be sole director and shareholder? Yes Yes Personal travel required? No No Readymade shell companies available? Yes Yes Time to secure company number 3 weeks 3 weeks Time to secure regulatory consent 3 months 3 months Time to secure corporate bank account 2 months 2 months -
Disadvantages of Lithuania business set up
- In comparison to other cryptocurrency friendly jurisdictions, Lithuania’s government is not tech-savvy.
- Lithuania’s regulatory framework does not cover initial coin offerings (ICOs) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
- Lithuania’s population is small, with limited access to talent. This may limit the growth potential of a Lithuanian business.
For further information on the disadvantages of setting up a business in Lithuania, visit this page.
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How to begin bitcoin crypto-currency trading in Lithuania
- The typical steps for incorporating a Lithuanian company are detailed on this page. Healy Consultants Group and your dedicated relationship officer will timely incorporate your business and where applicable apply for government authorisation for the crypto business.
- Your dedicated relationship officer will work with our banking team to timely open a bitcoin-friendly multi-currency corporate bank account with a local or international non-EU crypto-friendly bank. We encourage our multi-national Clients to open a corporate bank account outside of Lithuania to i) access SEPA cheap transfer ii) minimize international wire charges and iii) diversify political and financial risks.
- Our Accounting and Tax department will register the company for tax and VAT.
- If required, Healy Consultants will assist our Client to apply for a standard fiat payments license if required to expand their scope of operations.
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How to engage Healy Consultants for Bitcoin setup in Lithuania
- Send us an email (click link).
- Followed by a conference call with Mr. Petar Chakarov (click link) to agree corporate strategy, total engagement costs and timelines.
- Sign our engagement letter and supply us the required due diligence documents.
- Settle our engagement fees payable by instalments (click link).
- Immediately thereafter, Healy Consultants emails our Client a quality detailed project plan and business plan.
- We supply our Client weekly detailed engagement status updates, comprising quality deliverables including certificate of incorporation and corporate bank account numbers.
- Healy Consultants couriers to our Client complete corporate document inclusive of online banking activation device.
- Our Client completes a Client feedback survey.
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Healy Consultants fees for Lithuania business set up
Total engagement fees for Lithuania proprietary crypto business set up amount to €13,925.
For companies that wish to secure government authorization and operate as crypto wallet/exchange, our professional fees will range between €35,000 to €80,000 depending on the scope of support services required. These include but are not limited to i) monthly bookkeeping and payroll management ii) supply of a formally-employed resident AML manager iii) supply of resident professional nominee resident director iv) opening of a non-EU crypto friendly corporate bank account etc.
Conclusion
Registering a cryptocurrency trading company in Lithuania is an efficient way to i) operate from EU as a proprietary regulated or un-regulated cryptocurrency service provider business and ii) obtain a crypto-friendly SEPA corporate bank account and enjoy low operational costs paired with direct access to the EEA markets.