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Crypto License

Licensing and authorisation for activities involving digital tokens and virtual currencies under Albania’s DLT regulatory framework, including DLT exchanges, third-party wallet custodians, digital token agents and ICO/STO activities.

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Albania’s Dedicated Crypto Regulatory Framework

Albania regulates financial markets based on distributed ledger technology under Law No. 66/2020. Depending on the licence or activity, regulatory responsibilities are exercised by the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (AFSA), the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), or both authorities. Operating an exchange, custody service, or token issuance business without the required license isn’t a grey area – it’s operating outside a framework that specifically exists to cover this activity.

Albania For Business Sh.p.k. supports crypto and virtual asset businesses through the licensing process – determining the right license category for your activity, preparing the application and AML program, and managing the regulatory relationship through to a granted license and beyond.

LICENSING

CRYPTO LICENSE APPLICATION

3,000 EUR
fixed service fee

PACKAGE OF CRYPTO LICENSE APPLICATION INCLUDES:

  • Eligibility assessment for your specific virtual-asset activity
  • Determination of the applicable licence or authorisation under Law No. 66/2020, including the relevant DLT Exchange category where applicable
  • Preparation of the license application and supporting documentation
  • AML/CFT program drafting to meet licensing requirements
  • Fit-and-proper documentation for directors and beneficial owners
  • Coordination with the competent Albanian regulatory authorities and the licensed Digital Token Agent involved in the application process
  • Response management for regulator information requests
  • Post-licensing compliance setup guidance
Service fee for managing a single-category license application with a straightforward ownership structure. This does not include official AFSA fees, any statutory minimum capital your business must hold, or notarisation/translation costs – all of which are additional and should be budgeted for separately.

License and Authorisation Categories

Albania’s framework distinguishes between different types of virtual-asset activity, and the category you need depends on your specific business model:

Category Typical Activity
DLT Exchange Categories A, B and C depending on the types of digital tokens, virtual currencies and fiat transactions permitted
Third-Party Wallet Custodian Holding and safeguarding private cryptographic keys and providing custody-related services on behalf of clients. Obtaining the relevant Bank of Albania licence for FIAT transaction intermediation is also a statutory prerequisite for this licence.
Digital Token Agent Licensed intermediary performing functions prescribed by Law No. 66/2020
Innovative Service Provider Technology-related services and system auditing under the DLT framework
ICO/STO Subject to the specific authorisation requirements applicable to initial digital token and security token offerings

The required licence or combination of licences depends on the exact activity. DLT Exchanges have separate Categories A, B and C, while custody and other regulated DLT activities are subject to distinct licensing requirements.

What the Regulator Requires

  • Minimum capital appropriate to the license category and scale of activity – the specific amount must be confirmed against current AFSA requirements for your category.
  • Fit-and-proper directors and beneficial owners, including background and source-of-funds checks.
  • A documented AML/CFT (anti-money-laundering / countering the financing of terrorism) program appropriate to virtual-asset risk.
  • The applicant must satisfy the legal-form and establishment requirements prescribed by Law No. 66/2020. Applicants for licences or authorisations under this framework are generally required to be incorporated as an Albanian joint-stock company (Sh.a.).
  • IT systems and security arrangements appropriate to safeguarding client assets and data.
  • Ongoing reporting obligations to AFSA once licensed, alongside standard corporate and tax compliance.

Crypto Licensing, Step by Step

  1. Eligibility & category assessment – we confirm which license category (or categories) your business model requires.
  2. Corporate & AML structuring – your company structure and AML/CFT program are built to meet the licensing standard.
  3. Application & documentation prepared – the full application package is prepared to AFSA’s requirements.
  4. Regulatory filing – applications under Law No. 66/2020 are generally reviewed in advance by a licensed Digital Token Agent, which submits the application to the competent authority on behalf of the applicant.
  5. Regulatory review & responses – we manage any information requests or clarifications raised during review.
  6. License granted & compliance setup – once granted, we help set up the ongoing reporting your license requires.

What We Need From You

  • A description of your business model – exchange, custody, issuance, or a combination.
  • Details of your ownership and management structure, including all individuals subject to fit-and-proper review.
  • Your planned capitalisation and evidence of source of funds.
  • Any existing licenses or regulatory history in other jurisdictions.
  • Technical documentation of your platform or systems, where relevant to the application.

Fee Schedule – Additional & Ongoing Services

Beyond the fixed package above, the following services are priced individually. Your adviser confirms an exact quotation once your structure, nationality and banking preference are known.

Service Indicative Fee
Crypto license application – single category (as above) €3,000 fixed service fee
Additional license category (combined application) from €1,500
AML/CFT program drafting (standalone) from €800
Ongoing compliance monitoring (monthly) from €400 / month
License renewal support from €1,000
IT systems / security audit coordination quoted individually
Regulatory response support (post-licensing enquiry) quoted individually, typically hourly
⚠ Practical note

The AML/CFT program is not paperwork you draft once and file away – virtual-asset activity attracts a materially higher level of ongoing regulatory scrutiny than most licensed sectors, and a weak or template-driven program is one of the more common reasons an application stalls or a licensed business runs into trouble later. It’s worth treating this as a genuine operational program your business will run, not a document written to satisfy a checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Albania has a dedicated law covering financial markets based on distributed ledger technology, establishing a licensing regime for virtual-asset activity distinct from traditional financial services regulation. Its specific provisions should be checked against the current version of the law for any application.

Regulatory responsibility depends on the licence. AFSA issues certain licences, while DLT Exchange and Third-Party Wallet Custodian licences involve both AFSA and AKSHI. Certain other licences fall within AKSHI’s competence.

It depends on your business model – exchanging virtual assets, custodying them on behalf of clients, and issuing new virtual assets are treated as distinct categories, and some businesses need more than one. We assess this against your specific model during the eligibility assessment.

Yes, minimum capital requirements apply and vary by license category and scale of activity. The specific figure must be confirmed against the current AFSA framework for your exact category – we do this as part of scoping your application rather than quoting a generic number.

Foreign ownership may be permitted, but the applicant must satisfy the corporate-form, fit-and-proper, capital, governance and other requirements applicable under Law No. 66/2020. Applicants under this framework are generally required to operate through an Albanian joint-stock company (Sh.a.).

Crypto licensing typically takes considerably longer than most other licensed sectors, given the depth of review applied to capital, AML/CFT programs and fit-and-proper checks. We give a realistic case-specific estimate once your application is scoped, rather than a generic timeline.

Licensed entities generally face ongoing reporting obligations to AFSA, continued AML/CFT program maintenance, and standard corporate and tax compliance on top of that. We support these as part of an ongoing engagement beyond the initial grant.

No – an Albanian license authorises you to operate under Albania’s framework and does not passport into the EU’s regulatory regime, since Albania is not an EU member state. If EU market access is part of your plan, that generally requires separate EU authorisation, which is outside the scope of an Albanian license.