Fintech & digital payments rules in Belize (2026)

The Central Bank of Belize licenses payment service providers and electronic money institutions under the National Payment System Act. Requirements include a minimum paid-up capital of USD 75,000 confirmed by an auditor's report, corporate incorporation documents, and documented AML/CFT procedures.

SI No. 29 of 2024 formalized licensing application procedures and operational requirements for PSPs, complementing the primary 2017 Act and consolidating the Central Bank's supervisory and enforcement powers over payment service participants.

The Central Bank operates the Automated Payment and Securities Settlement System (APSSS), which includes an ACH with 24/7 Instant Funds Transfer (IFT) capability alongside RTGS for high-value payments and a Central Securities Depository.

An IMF technical assistance mission (October 2024, report published February 2025) found the Central Bank conducts only off-site monitoring of non-bank EMIs with no on-site inspections yet performed, and e-money wallet use is very low (1.23% of digital transactions by volume as of end-2023). The IMF issued nine recommendations covering risk-based supervision, fund safeguarding, agent oversight, and domestic regulatory collaboration.

Digital asset services fall under the Financial Services Commission (Digital Asset Services Licensing) Regulations, 2025, which came into force on 30 December 2025 and are regulated by the Financial Services Commission—entirely distinct from the Central Bank's payment services regime.

No dedicated open banking framework or buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) rules have been introduced in Belize as of mid-2026; these product categories remain unaddressed in the existing regulatory architecture.