Crypto License in Montenegro

The legal framework for crypto in Montenegro is established through the “Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing”, last amended in December 2025, along with updated guidelines on preventing money laundering in financial services organizations.

Montenegro requires all entities intending to provide crypto-related services to be formally entered into the Register of Crypto-asset Service Providers managed by the Capital Market Authority.

This framework follows years of a sandbox regime, that allowed the jurisdiction to gather experience and knowledge on properly regulating and incentivizing crypto companies.

Drawing inspiration from the MiCA framework, in the optics of joining the EU, Montenegro still chose to not apply the heavy aspects of the European framework until it joins the Union.

Who is the regulatory authority behind the Montenegro crypto license?

The Capital Market Authority (CMA, Komisija za tržište kapitala) is an independent national institution, created by law, and responsible for regulating the crypto business industry in Montenegro.

The Montenegrin AML law defines ten specific crypto-asset services that a registered entity may perform in Montenegro:

1. Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of customers;
2. Operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets;
3. Exchange of crypto-assets for official currency (crypto exchange);
4. Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets;
5. Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of customers;
6. Placing of crypto-assets;
7. Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of customers;
8. Providing advice on crypto-assets;
9. Portfolio management of crypto-assets;
10. Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of customers (including crypto-ATMs).

All of these activities fall under the same regulatory framework constituted by the AML law.

Montenegro’s emergence as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction marks a significant step forward for the digital asset industry. By establishing a clear legal framework for crypto assets and services, and aligning with international standards, the country offers a supportive environment for virtual asset service providers, cryptocurrency exchanges, and other crypto companies.

The Montenegro crypto license tends to do everything right: a reasonable cost, a low tax rate, obligations on the low end of the spectrum, and a reasonable compliance framework and substance requirements.

• Low barrier to entry: The costs range in the lowest end of modern crypto frameworks for registration, licensing and maintenance;
• Globally recognized compliance standards: Inspired by the MiCA regulation but without the heaviness;
• Progressive regulatory approach: Montenegro developed its crypto framework by evolving its previous sandbox license, showing an approach based on market needs;
• Financial benefits: In addition to being low cost and low fees to start and operate, Montenegro businesses benefit from one of the lowest tax rates in Europe;
• Simplicity: One reference text (the AML law), one regulator (the CMA) and one reporting entity (the FIU).

Does it sound like Montenegro offers the ideal conditions for your crypto business to flourish? Let’s talk about it with an expert! We offer free consultation and get back to requests within 24 hours during business days.

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An LLC (DOO) company in Montenegro requires a minimum registered capital of 1 EUR.

Major companies opting for the Joint Stock Company form (JSC, or AD in Montenegrin) are however required to deposit a minimum required capital of 25,000 EUR.

All the incorporation fees are included in LegalBison’s services.

Montenegro requires formal entry into the official Register of Crypto-asset Service Providers to start operating as a crypto company.

The CASP application fee is one-time state fee of 5,000 EUR, paid at the application stage to the Capital Market Authority.

A few other minor fees are included in our services’ pricing.

The main ongoing costs for a crypto licensed company in Montenegro are the maintenance of the corporate structure, accounting and auditing and the resident compliance officer.

While maintaining the company and bookkeeping are relatively unexpensive, having a compliance officer officiate in your company equates having a full-time employee with a monthly salary to pay to the individual on duty. The exact cost is variable and can be discussed directly with LegalBison’s experts during a free consultation.

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Montenegro offers one of the most competitive tax environments in Europe for crypto businesses.

• Corporate income tax: A flat rate of 9% for profits up to 100,000 EUR. For higher profits, a progressive scale applies, up to 15% for profits above 1,5 million EUR;
• Exemption of VAT for crypto assets services;
• Dividends are taxed at the fixed rate of 15%.

Registered crypto-asset service providers are subject to continuous monitoring by the Capital Market Authority. Key compliance duties include the identification of the clients of the services and the monitoring of the crypto asset transactions.

• Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Identifying customers and verifying beneficial owners for transactions exceeding 1,000 EUR;
• Transfer rules: Originator and beneficiary data must accompany all crypto asset transactions;
• Suspicious activity reporting: Mandatory reporting to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) when there are grounds for suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing;
• Annual audits: Depending on the size of the entity, regular internal controls and independent audits of the risk management system may be required.

Failure to maintain these standards can result in deactivation or deletion from the Register of Crypto-asset Service Providers.

No, the Central Bank of Montenegro isn’t the institution responsible for licensing and superivsing crypto companies in the jurisdiction. An independent governmental body, the Capital Market Authority (CMA), fulfills this role.

No, the deposited capital requirements are not aligned with EU’s MiCA regulation. There are no minimum capital requirements to register as a crypto company in Montenegro, beside the legal requirement to deposit 1 EUR for a LLC or 25,000 EUR for a JSC.

No, legally speaking, it is not correct to talk about a license in Montenegro. It is, in pure legal speak, a registration as a crypto-asset services provider.

The fundamental basis for the crypto framework in Montenegro is the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Zakon o sprečavanju pranja novca i finansiranja terorizma), last amended in 2025 and specifically formulating the framework for crypto-assets services providers at this occasion.

The amendments define crypto assets as digital representations of value or rights that can be transferred and stored electronically using distributed ledger technology. The legal framework also includes electronic money and tokens representing electronic money as part of the definition of crypto assets. Montenegro’s legal framework supports the registration of services like custody, trading platforms, and exchanges.

On December 25th of 2025, the CMA issued the Rulebook on the conduct of the registry of service providers associated with crypto-assets and reputation assessment for the director, members of the society, members of the governing and leadership bodies, and the actual owner of the legal entity or business society or entrepreneur or physical person who perform the services activities associated with crypto-asset, a 15-pages document that completed the AML law in terms of defining the business and registration framework for crypto companies in the jurisdiction.

As company registration in Montenegro is a mandatory requirement to register as a crypto business, the Law on Business Undertakings, last amended in 2021, also applies and sets the requirements and obligations proper to the legal entity itself.

Montenegro’s ongoing efforts toward EU integration offer significant advantages for crypto asset trading platforms and other emerging industry trends of the evolving crypto market dynamics. By aligning its regulatory framework with EU standards, particularly in areas such as anti money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, Montenegro ensures that its crypto assets sector remains robust and credible.

The anticipated adoption of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) will further harmonize the rules governing crypto assets across Europe, providing greater legal certainty and facilitating cross-border operations. Although Montenegro is not yet an EU member, its proactive stance on regulatory alignment positions its crypto businesses to seamlessly interact with EU-based entities and adapt to future regulatory changes. This commitment to international best practices helps maintain the trustworthiness of the local financial system and supports the sustainable growth of the crypto industry in Montenegro.

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