Buying a Ready-Made VASP License in Argentina: The Shortcut Into the Crypto Game

This approach skips the long bureaucratic dance of registration and lets you start operating immediately under Argentina’s current regulations. The buyer gets a functional platform with a proven compliance record — something banks and partners always appreciate.

This piece dives into the legal and practical sides of the deal: the regulatory framework, tax implications, and what due diligence looks like before signing anything.

Buying a licensed virtual asset provider (PSAV) in Argentina has turned into a practical entry point for fintech ventures — from crypto exchanges and custody services to payment gateways. But for any investor, the real question remains: how do you buy a licensed crypto company in Argentina while keeping legal risks low and proving that the target’s past operations were clean and legitimate?

Argentina’s Crypto Rulebook: Where Digital Assets Finally Went Legit

By 2024, Argentina stopped playing catch-up and went all in on regulating the crypto business. The country finally gave virtual asset service providers — or VASPs — an official place in the legal world. The key rule now? Every crypto company has to register in the PSAV list run by the Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV), Argentina’s securities watchdog.

So if you’re buying a company that already has this VASP status, your first homework is to check that it’s really in that registry — and that it’s been playing by the book when it comes to anti–money laundering and compliance rules.

The whole thing rests on Law 27.739, which basically said, “Yes, crypto companies are real financial players now,” and Law 25.246, which made them follow the same money-laundering rules as traditional institutions. The CNV followed up with a set of resolutions — 994/2024 and 1058/2025 — to create the registry and move everything online through the TAD digital system. Meanwhile, the UIF (Argentina’s financial intelligence unit) passed Resolution 49/2024 to put VASPs under its official supervision.

Now, here’s the fun twist: Argentina insists this isn’t “licensing” in the old bureaucratic sense. Being on the PSAV list doesn’t mean the CNV is breathing down your neck — it just means you’re playing inside the legal sandbox. Still, a registered company has to keep some local substance: a real office, local staff, proper accounting, and regular reports to the UIF. The goal? Transparency without the paperwork nightmare — a system small and mid-size crypto firms can actually survive in.

In practice, the CNV splits crypto players into three tribes:

• Exchangers — swapping fiat for crypto and back.
• Custodians — holding clients’ assets and private keys.
• Platform builders — the tech layer behind trading and token transfers.

Each tribe follows the same golden rules: solid KYC, internal controls, recorded transactions, and keeping data safe for five years. Getting on the list means sending in your corporate docs, a breakdown of your ownership, your business model, and even a peek under the hood of your tech stack.

So, when you buy a ready-made VASP company in Argentina, you’re getting something with all that already done — a clean compliance record, a unique ID in the CNV registry, and a green light to operate. The only thing you still need to do is tell the CNV who’s in charge now — within ten working days of the deal, through TAD. Bureaucracy never sleeps.

One final detail: having a VASP registration doesn’t mean you can issue securities or investment tokens. Those are still under different CNV rules. But this status does let you legally run crypto and payment services — a golden ticket for international fintechs eyeing South America or setting up a local base in Argentina’s new digital frontier.

So You Want a VASP License in Argentina? Here’s What It Really Takes

To play legally in Argentina’s digital asset arena, you can’t just hang a “crypto” sign on your office door. You’ve got to meet the standards set by the Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) and the Unidad de Información Financiera (UIF). These rules aren’t there to make life miserable — they exist to keep the system transparent and clients protected.

And if you’re thinking about buying an already registered crypto company, here’s the catch: the rules still apply to you. Buying a ready-made VASP doesn’t mean you inherit immunity. Once ownership changes hands, the new buyer has to confirm that the company still meets PSAV registry standards and must officially notify the CNV through the TAD digital platform.

The registration process unfolds in steps. First, you submit an online application with a document package that includes:

• Updated articles of incorporation and bylaws.
• Details of directors, company secretary, and shareholders.
• Certificates proving no criminal record or unpaid taxes.
• A description of crypto-related activities.
• AML and KYC policies.
• Proof of office space (lease or ownership).
• Tax ID and banking details.

Once everything lands on the UIF’s desk, the regulator reviews the files. If everything checks out, your company gets a unique PSAV identifier and becomes part of the public registry. Any change — directors, shareholders, or office address — must be reported to the CNV within 10 business days. If you’re buying a ready-made VASP, you inherit this same duty to keep the information updated.

Structurally, Argentine VASPs usually take one of two forms: Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL) or Sociedad Anónima (SA). The SRL suits small projects and startups, while the SA is better for bigger ventures planning to attract investors. Both allow foreign ownership and come with the right to open a corporate bank account. The SRL requires at least two partners, while the SA can start with one shareholder. But in both cases, you must appoint a local resident director — the piece that seals the “economic presence” requirement.

In short, Argentina’s VASP system rewards the serious players — the ones ready to show they’re real, traceable, and here to stay.

Buy or Build? The Real Choice Behind a VASP License in Argentina

When it comes to breaking into Argentina’s crypto scene, investors face a classic dilemma: buy a ready-made VASP company or build one from scratch? The right move depends on your goals, timing, and appetite for bureaucracy.

If speed is your top priority, buying an existing VASP makes perfect sense. A ready-made company is already listed in the PSAV registry and has passed UIF scrutiny. That means you can start operating immediately, skipping the months of waiting and uncertainty that come with new registration. For international holding groups, this shortcut can save both time and sanity.

But building a VASP from the ground up gives you total control. You design the corporate structure, shape the compliance culture, and ensure that every cent of capital has a clean, documented origin. The process is entirely digital via the TAD platform — paperwork submission, CNV and UIF checks — and usually takes about two to three months. Costs vary depending on how complex your business model is and how demanding your reporting will be.

Before you buy, though, every VASP must survive a legal autopsy. The audit isn’t a formality — it’s a survival test. It usually includes:

• Checking CNV and UIF registry data.
• Reviewing corporate documents and ownership history.
• Verifying shareholders and beneficiaries against state records.
• Auditing tax filings and outstanding debts.
• Examining transaction logs and UIF reports.

Only companies that pass this audit with no red flags are considered “clean assets.” They can be transferred to a new owner without restrictions. But if regulators detect AML issues, the company’s PSAV status can be frozen until everything’s fixed. That’s why skipping due diligence is like buying a sports car without checking the brakes.

Now, money talks. Buying a pre-licensed company costs more upfront, but you’re paying for instant market access. Building one from scratch is cheaper but slower. A fresh registration covers state fees, legal assistance, and document translation. A ready-made entity, on the other hand, already includes those sunk costs — registration, bank verification, and a working compliance framework. For businesses planning international settlements, acquiring a PSAV-registered firm is often the smarter financial move — it’s operational from day one.

And then there’s reputation — something you can’t fake. A ready-made VASP already exists in CNV’s official databases, has financial statements, a banking track record, and often even active client contracts. You’re not just buying a license; you’re buying a functioning ecosystem with legal credibility baked in.

In short, registering from scratch gives you purity and control; buying a ready-made VASP gives you momentum and presence. The choice isn’t about rules — it’s about rhythm.

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How to Buy a Crypto Company in Argentina Without Stepping on a Landmine

Buying a licensed crypto company in Argentina isn’t a casual handshake — it’s more like a chess match where every move has to be precise. One wrong step, and the regulators will make you start from square one.

The first thing you do? Check the CNV’s public registry. That’s the master list of who’s real and who’s bluffing. You can search online and see the company’s name, registration number, and the date it was officially added to the PSAV list. If it’s not there, don’t even bother negotiating — that company might as well not exist in the eyes of the law.

Once you’ve confirmed it’s legit, the serious part begins: due diligence. Think of it as a forensic investigation with lawyers, accountants, and compliance people combing through every corner of the company’s history. You’re looking for hidden problems — unpaid taxes, shady transactions, or AML failures that could come back to bite you later. Anything the old owners did wrong could land on your plate. That’s why skipping legal help is like skydiving without a parachute.

If the company passes these checks, it’s time to sign the deal. The share purchase is notarized, and then the CNV must be notified about the change of ownership under Resolution 1058/2025. This step happens online through the TAD system and must be done within ten business days — miss it, and the CNV can freeze your registration.

Once the CNV updates its records, the new owner officially takes over. Next step: update internal policies, compliance manuals, and management details. Banks may double-check everything if there’s already an account open — which is why buying a VASP that’s already bank-approved saves time and gray hair.

The legal audit also covers contracts and court stuff. If the company has open deals or lawsuits, they have to be disclosed before you sign. Your lawyer then prepares a risk report listing all possible issues. Ignoring that is like buying a house without checking for termites.

After all that, you’re the owner. You can operate freely, even as a foreigner — Argentina allows full foreign ownership of VASP firms. From start to finish, the process takes about 30 to 45 days: due diligence, paperwork, notary, CNV notification — the whole dance.

It’s not fast, but it’s clean. And in Argentina’s crypto world, clean is gold.

Crypto Taxes in Argentina: What VASP Companies Really Pay

Running a licensed crypto business in Argentina doesn’t give you a tax holiday. Once your company is on the PSAV list, you’re still treated like any other corporate taxpayer — no secret crypto loopholes, no special privileges. The same rules apply: corporate income tax, VAT, and the provincial turnover tax known locally as Impuesto sobre los Ingresos Brutos.

The corporate tax works on a sliding scale, tied to your profits:

• 25% on profits up to 101,679,575 ARS (around USD 68,000)
• 30% on profits up to 1,016,795,752 ARS (about USD 681,000)
• 35% on anything above that

And when you distribute profits to shareholders, there’s a 7% dividend tax — though foreign investors can often reduce that rate thanks to Argentina’s double-tax treaties with various EU and Latin American countries. These numbers come straight from the Ministry of Economy and AFIP, the national tax agency.

If your crypto business works as an exchange or a custodial platform, VAT applies at 21% — just like in any other sector. The government doesn’t carve out exceptions for digital assets. But there’s one bright spot: if your services are provided abroad (say, you’re dealing with non-resident clients), those transactions count as exports and qualify for a 0% VAT rate. It’s a legal way for VASP companies to lighten their tax load and structure their international settlements efficiently.

Then there’s the turnover tax, which hits at the provincial level. Each region has its own rate, typically between 3% and 5%. In Buenos Aires — home to most registered VASPs — the rate is 3.5%. Unlike corporate tax, this one isn’t based on profit; it’s based on total revenue, meaning you pay it even if your books show a loss. Smaller operators with under 35,000 UVA per month in income (about 20 million ARS) can access a simplified, lighter regime.

Argentina also keeps a close eye on crypto asset accounting. Legally, cryptocurrencies are treated as intangible assets and must appear on the balance sheet at market value as of each reporting date. When a company sells or exchanges crypto, the resulting profit (or loss) goes straight into the corporate tax base. AFIP requires all bookkeeping to be in pesos, with crypto assets revalued at the official Central Bank rate.

One key detail for VASP intermediaries: they’re only taxed on commissions, not on the total transaction volume of their clients. That distinction matters — it’s what keeps your tax bill tied to your real income rather than the billions flowing through your platform.

Here’s what Argentina’s tax scene looks like if you’re running — or buying — a licensed VASP company:

Now, behind those numbers lies the real work — accounting precision. A VASP’s bookkeeping isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It has to reflect the movement and custody of tokens, transaction commissions, conversions, and crypto assets held as part of working capital. If AFIP (Argentina’s tax authority) finds any unverified capital sources, it can slap you with extra taxes and penalties.

Crypto companies in Argentina face monthly VAT declarations and quarterly corporate tax reports. Since 2024, everything runs digitally through the Clave Fiscal platform — a government system that finally made tax administration less of a nightmare.

A spotless tax record isn’t just about staying compliant; it’s a financial asset in itself. When a crypto company plans to expand, attract investors, or get acquired, a clean tax history can raise its valuation. That’s why smart investors who buy licensed VASP companies always start by checking one thing: is the tax story clean?

Because in Argentina, even in crypto — your numbers tell your truth.

Why Argentina Became the Smart Entry Point for Crypto Investors

Something big is happening in Latin America — crypto is going legit. And Argentina, of all places, has become the regional pioneer. With its official PSAV registry, the country turned what used to be a regulatory gray zone into one of the continent’s first structured crypto markets.

For investors, that shift changes everything. Buying a ready-to-go VASP company in Argentina isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a safety net. You’re stepping into a business already vetted by the CNV and UIF, which means it’s passed every compliance test that matters. Instead of gambling on uncertain approvals, you get a clean launchpad with a history, a system, and a green light to operate from day one.

And Argentina, for all its volatility, offers one priceless advantage — predictability within its rules. Taxes are defined, licensing is clear, and the government finally recognizes crypto as part of its financial ecosystem. That combination — legal certainty and market freedom — is what draws both local startups and international fintechs looking for a stable foothold in South America.

Buying a licensed VASP here gives you more than an entry ticket; it gives you credibility. Banks take you seriously, partners listen, and clients trust that you’re not operating in the shadows. In a region where regulation is still patchy, that matters.