Just sharing what I've learned about cryptocurrency businesses in Gibraltar

[kryptqnick]

I rarely start topics, but today I want to share some knowledge about crypto projects in Gibraltar and hear your thoughts on this matter. Gibraltar is among those rare countries that welcome not only crypto exchanges and other established blockchain projects, but also ICOs. They have a very brief law that regulates cryptocurrencies. It's an interesting one, because it does not even mention cryptos, but focuses on 'distributed ledger technology providers'. In essence, each crypto project has to obtain a DLT license to operate legally in the country. While obtaining it is pretty costly (about $15k to get it and $10k+ per year to keep it), it guarantees legal activity which is both good for reputation and saves from random lawsuits, charges and scam accusations. The 10% income tax also has to be payed.
The main benefit is that you are operating legally. It can also simplify things like listing fiat currencies on the exchange. The main downside is that it doesn't come free.
What do you think? Is Gibraltar a good place for a crypto project?

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[LeGaulois]

Did you see a really big difference compared with other countries? Because it doesn't look so different, they just call the industry another name.
For an ICO marketing, yeah that can help, but for marketing only. Attracting investors during the ICO and then? If we start to see altcoin marketed as "Approved by <country name>" then we will have a debate in which country's approval  is better to rely on lol

[BitHodler]

Attracting investors during the ICO and then? If we start to see altcoin marketed as "Approved by <country name>" then we will have a debate in which country's approval  is better to rely on lol

Gibraltar is easy on ICOs, a bit too easy if you ask me. I'm not at all in favor of over-regulating certain markets, but in this case the lack of regulations inflicts more damage on retail investors than anything else.

The worst thing about these ICOs is that they prevent legitimate projects to develop because they simply can't promise investors golden mountains like what the throwaway ICOs do.

Can anyone tell me what ICO that ended last year is doing well right now? As far as I can see (without considering everything to be a shitcoin) it's only Tron that's doing well. They even bought BitTorrent which is super bullish for them.

[davis196]

All this will change,when Gibraltar becomes a part of Spain.
Anyway,it's normal for the small countries to be more crypto-friendly.Look what happened in Malta.
Paying for a license in order to operate legally is a good idea that will wash away all the scammy ICOs.
I'm not sure that many crypto investors would choose Gibraltar anyway.

[exstasie]

I rarely start topics, but today I want to share some knowledge about crypto projects in Gibraltar and hear your thoughts on this matter. Gibraltar is among those rare countries that welcome not only crypto exchanges and other established blockchain projects, but also ICOs. They have a very brief law that regulates cryptocurrencies. It's an interesting one, because it does not even mention cryptos, but focuses on 'distributed ledger technology providers'. In essence, each crypto project has to obtain a DLT license to operate legally in the country. While obtaining it is pretty costly (about $15k to get it and $10k+ per year to keep it), it guarantees legal activity which is both good for reputation and saves from random lawsuits, charges and scam accusations. The 10% income tax also has to be payed.
The main benefit is that you are operating legally. It can also simplify things like listing fiat currencies on the exchange. The main downside is that it doesn't come free.
What do you think? Is Gibraltar a good place for a crypto project?

It sounds like they're moving to monetize licensing in the industry, much like Malta is doing. Both countries did that with online gambling, which I'm pretty sure represents a sizable chunk of their GDP. If you're looking for a rubber stamp license, check out competitor jurisdictions like Malta and shop around for the best price.

If you serve customers in nosy jurisdictions (particularly the United States), this license won't necessarily save you from regulators outside Gibraltar. That's why I'm not sure how much value it has.

[butka]

It is interesting to note that Gibraltar is one of the top 5 most lenient ICO countries. The other four are Estonia, Singapore, Switzerland, and Russia. (Source: https://medium.com/cindx/top-5-ico-friendly-countries-fff4c9b77072). But if you take a look at the countries with successful ICOs, Gibraltar is not among the top 5. The top 5 counties with successful ICOs are Singapore, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, USA, and UK. This by itself says a lot about the position of Gibraltar with respect to new ICO projects.

[yusupjatigumilar]

I think what the state government has done is a smart and courageous step because all this time I have just heard that there are countries that can take a stand against crypto currencies, and that will have a good impact on the development of crypto currencies because the most important thing in this business is strong trust from investors with the regulation of the government will automatically increase investor confidence in crypto currencies

[Theb]

Like I have said before small countries that has nothing to lose are getting it big when it comes to having a very welcoming regulation to cryptocurrencies. Belarus, Malta, Cyprus, Marshall Islands and many other small countries are seeing cryptocurrencies as a way to boost their economy may it be foreign investments or their own cryptocurrency. Unlike top GDP countries they cannot make a bold and fast move when it comes to their cryptocurrency regulation as one wrong move can affect their economy drastically.

[kryptqnick]

Did you see a really big difference compared with other countries? Because it doesn't look so different, they just call the industry another name.

Well, I think there is a difference in approach here. It's more universally applicable. If the legislation is about cryptocurrencies, it leaves out other blockchain projects, related to voting, ticket sales, weather forecast etc. If it's focused on blockchain, then cryptocurrencies like IOTA and Byteball are out of the picture, because DAG is a different technology. Their regulation of any distributed ledger technology just seems more efficient to me, and I've never seen such an approach before.

It is interesting to note that Gibraltar is one of the top 5 most lenient ICO countries. The other four are Estonia, Singapore, Switzerland, and Russia. (Source: https://medium.com/cindx/top-5-ico-friendly-countries-fff4c9b77072). But if you take a look at the countries with successful ICOs, Gibraltar is not among the top 5. The top 5 counties with successful ICOs are Singapore, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, USA, and UK. This by itself says a lot about the position of Gibraltar with respect to new ICO projects.

Gibraltar is easy on ICOs, a bit too easy if you ask me. I'm not at all in favor of over-regulating certain markets, but in this case the lack of regulations inflicts more damage on retail investors than anything else.

Okay, it's not in the top-5 countries with successful ICOs, but maybe it's not that far behind. And their approach to ICOs is becoming more strict. Instead of banning them, at least they are trying to let good projects grow: https://blog.dream.ac/why-gibraltar-is-quickly-becoming-the-leading-place-for-token-sales/, https://icowatchlist.com/statistics/geo.

[3acaga]

I am also positive about the rules for obtaining a license in Gibraltar.
I have studied and participated in one project for almost a year - this is the Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX) cryptocurrency exchange.
This project received all the permissions and I trust him.
I ask you to consider that this is not an advertisement, and everyone should make decisions for himself !!!

[Semosuchi Tesongrato]

They seem interesting to me and thank you for sharing them. In fact, Gibraltar is not the only small nation to show openings to the crypto. The difficulty arises when we try to interact with other countries, also because the "legality" is always questionable.

[1Referee]

The difficulty arises when we try to interact with other countries, also because the "legality" is always questionable.

I'm not sure if that's much of a problem still in today's time. In all cases, problems means money making opportunities. I have seen entities who bought tons of KYC/AML restricted ICO shitcoins straight from the source, and they sold them to foreign investors with a premium. Once investors have their tokens they can cash them out a later point either to BTC or ETH on their own exchange.

I like the creativity in this industry. It makes governments and their shitty laws less effective than they hoped them to be.

[HODL2090]

Cryptocurrency is getting lots of popularity and various countries are becoming cryptocurrency hubs with lots of projects springing up from such regions, this would naturally gain interest from the government, while some have been hostile to digital assets, it's inevitable that this technology is here to stay, and this countries would be trying now to harness that potential and profit from it.
Regulations is one of the ways that can be done.

[pabpete]

As you wrote, there is nothing for free. Gibraltar has a very friendly policy for cryptocurrencies and ICO projects. It all depends on whether its geographical location and what it offers suits you. I think that, as an alternative, you should consider Malta - there are also very friendly tax and political conditions for the development of the crypto business.

[jossiel]

Same thoughts like what others are thinking. It's like buying a license for marketing and attracting purposes only if its with these ICOs. They aren't tight with it as long as that company is willing to pay them right?

It's amazing to see when there are countries like Gibraltar who are looking to adopt crypto's through different applications that they can like what you have mentioned OP. For ICOs, it will be abused if upcoming projects will consider that approval from them.

[el kaka22]

Considering 15 thousand dollars to start and 10 thousand dollars to run every year is fraction of what many exchanges make this is a welcomed news for many of them. Of course, there are some that barely started or even some old ones like cryptopia that doesn't really make any proper money at all but even with that 15k looks quite inexpensive. The 10% tax looks like it could be a problem depending on what they charge.

If that is 10% of the profit than that is fine since you get to keep the 90% of the profits however if its the 10% of all revenue to be paid as a tax that seems like a deal breaker since there are a lot of costs to run as well and that would cause a huge profit margin problems for all coins.

Think about the ICO founder, if he collects 150 million dollars for a new coin than he has to pay 15 million right away and that means selling more of their coin or eth they collect which would cripple their improvement.

[timerland]

I rarely start topics, but today I want to share some knowledge about crypto projects in Gibraltar and hear your thoughts on this matter. Gibraltar is among those rare countries that welcome not only crypto exchanges and other established blockchain projects, but also ICOs. They have a very brief law that regulates cryptocurrencies. It's an interesting one, because it does not even mention cryptos, but focuses on 'distributed ledger technology providers'. In essence, each crypto project has to obtain a DLT license to operate legally in the country. While obtaining it is pretty costly (about $15k to get it and $10k+ per year to keep it), it guarantees legal activity which is both good for reputation and saves from random lawsuits, charges and scam accusations. The 10% income tax also has to be payed.
The main benefit is that you are operating legally. It can also simplify things like listing fiat currencies on the exchange. The main downside is that it doesn't come free.
What do you think? Is Gibraltar a good place for a crypto project?

Like others said, I think that the licensing aspect that Gibraltar has is pretty similar to the rest of the world's approach to regulating crypto.

The low income tax which is payable could be an attraction for crypto businesses potentially, especially as BitHodler mentioned how lax they are in terms of the actual regulation around crypto based projects that are operating within their country. But there are probably countries that have even lower taxes for corporates, which obviously businesses will look into as well.

Anyways, even though there is a high entry price, I think that they're trying to encourage crypto businesses from entering instead of restricting access, which is always a good thing. They are getting revenue both from licensing and taxes as well, as oppose to countries which ban bitcoin outright (or attempt to do so).

[sunanbonang]

this is a very extraordinary rule because this rule can reduce ico scam. now ico scams are increasing and in my opinion this kind of regulation must be applied to avoid ico scam.

[countryfree]

This is expensive. Really expensive. I guess they want to play it safe. They want the world to know that if you deal with a crypto company from Gibraltar, you'll play safe, because only guys with serious money can afford to start a business there. Gibraltar is not Ukraine, but the talented Ukrainians who could launch a great new crypto start-up will never have the money to register their business there.

[gentlemand]

The smaller the jurisdiction, the lairier I'd be about pinning my future on it. Places like Malta and Gibraltar are minnows who are going to do what they're told if pressure is put on them by larger forces.

They could become crypto havens but if it starts to encroach on bigger interests then they won't be for long.