Is crypto legal in Cuba? Regulation & rules (2026)

Published in Cuba's Gaceta Oficial in August 2021 and effective September 15, 2021, Resolution 215 granted the BCC authority to regulate digital assets, issue VASP licenses, determine permissible tokens, and require that financial and commercial entities obtain authorization before using virtual assets.

The BCC is the sole licensing authority; licenses are one-year renewable and evaluated on legality and demonstrated socioeconomic benefit. Even providers already licensed in another country must obtain a separate Cuban authorization. A 2024 amendment added mandatory AML probity checks by the General Directorate of Investigation of Financial Operations, energy-consumption disclosure, and international cybersecurity standards.

Published in Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria No. 46 on March 23, 2026, this BCC resolution named ten specific entities (nine private SMEs plus one mixed company) authorized to conduct international payments using virtual assets. Authorized entities must use BCC-licensed intermediaries and submit quarterly reports covering amounts, asset types, and platforms used; authorizations expire after one year.

Cryptocurrency mining was officially legalized in 2025 under new BCC guidelines, with sustainability conditions including a 5 MW cap per farm (special approval required above that) and requirements around renewable-energy sourcing.

The BCC announced in 2025 a plan to issue a government-backed Cuban-peso-pegged stablecoin for domestic commerce, intended to reduce reliance on foreign cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions. No implementing regulation had been published as of May 2026.

All licensed VASPs must conduct comprehensive KYC, monitor transactions, and report suspicious activity to Cuban authorities. Businesses authorized to use crypto must register operations with full transaction-level detail (accounts, amounts, assets), providing a de-facto audit trail.