Do you need a licence, a registration, or just a company? A decision guide for crypto founders
Crypto founders often confuse corporate incorporation with regulatory licensing, leading to costly mistakes. This guide clarifies when you need a licence, a simple registration, or just a company, using the EU's MiCA framework and Panama's corporate-friendly regime as key examples. CRYPTO LICENSE GUIDE · 2026 Do you need a Crypto licensing across 15+ jurisdictions CONSULTING24.CO Understanding the three options Before choosing a jurisdiction, you must distinguish between a company (a legal entity for any business), a registration (a lighter notification or AML compliance step), and a licence (a full regulatory authorisation with capital and governance requirements). Each carries different costs, timelines, and ongoing obligations. A company alone is sufficient for many non-custodial, non-exchange activities, such as developing open-source software or providing consulting. A registration applies when you handle small sums or limited counterparties, while a licence is mandat...