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

As of mid-2026, Tuvalu has not enacted any law or regulation specifically addressing cryptocurrency exchanges, token offerings, stablecoins, custody, or DeFi. Crypto activity is neither licensed nor prohibited.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime Act 2009 establish Tuvalu's AML/CFT baseline obligations, but neither statute contains virtual-asset-specific definitions or VASP categories aligned with FATF Recommendation 15.

Tuvalu became a full member of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering in 2023, committing to implement FATF standards including Recommendation 15 on virtual assets, but no FATF mutual evaluation of Tuvalu has been published.

Tuvalu's 'Digital Nation' initiative, announced at COP27 and advanced into 2025-2026 with the activation of the Tuvalu Vaka Cable, targets digital preservation of statehood, e-government, and blockchain-based digital identity — not the regulation of crypto markets or financial services.

The National Bank of Tuvalu has not published any formal statement, circular, or policy on the permissibility, risks, or oversight of cryptocurrency or stablecoin activities.

The IMF has recommended that Pacific Island countries without their own currency — including Tuvalu, which uses the Australian dollar — consider foreign-currency-backed stablecoins subject to robust regulation, but Tuvalu has not acted on this recommendation legislatively.