Gibraltar
Gibraltar is the post-Brexit DLT-native English-law jurisdiction. Companies file under the Gibraltar Companies Act 2014. The DLT Regulatory Framework 2018 was one of the first jurisdiction-level statutory frameworks for distributed ledger providers, predating EU MiCA finalization by several years. Pairs directly with Xapo Bank Gibraltar as the canonical crypto-native banking rail.
What makes Gibraltar different
- English common law in a post-Brexit independent jurisdiction.
- DLT Regulatory Framework 2018: first jurisdiction-level statutory framework for DLT providers.
- Xapo Bank Gibraltar pair: the strongest crypto-native banking rail on the platform.
- Gibraltar maintained a public UBO register after the 2022 ECJ ruling and is moving toward free public access. Honest trade-off vs anonymity-focused jurisdictions.
What we collect, and what Gibraltar filing requires
- Email, country of residence, intended use statement
- OFAC + EU + UN sanctions screen
- Tier 1 KYC on this SKU when it ships in Phase 2
- Beneficial owner identification per local AML obligations
- Notarized passport copies and proof of address
The honest note: Gibraltar licensed agents apply local AML rules to every formation. Anonymous formation is not available.
Where Gibraltar entities bank
Banking compatibility varies. We surface the rail categories that have a track record of onboarding Gibraltar entities. See the Banking page for named rails.
Full banking rankingWhen this jurisdiction is right (and wrong)
DLT operators who want a regulated home with an actual licensing-path option (Gibraltar DLT Provider license) at faster time-to-formation than the EU MiCA route.
Bitcoin-treasury holding companies that want Xapo Bank as the primary rail. The same-jurisdiction structure simplifies the banking relationship materially.
Post-Brexit operators looking for English common law where UBO public disclosure is acceptable in exchange for a credible regulated home.
Public UBO register applies. If your priority is UBO anonymity, Wyoming or New Mexico is the right pick instead.
Gibraltar's smaller market means fewer service providers and slower hiring for niche advisors. Not a problem for standard Ltd formations; a real friction for unusual structures.
Banking outside Xapo is workable but slow. If Xapo isn't the right fit for your business, expect 4-8 week onboarding with the mainstream Gibraltar banks.
DLT licensing is regulator-grade work, not a quick add-on. Budget six-figure compliance + legal spend if pursuing a full DLT Provider license.
Common Gibraltar questions
How long does Gibraltar formation take?
Most Gibraltar formations are filed within the published timeline shown on the jurisdiction's at-a-glance card. Apostille turnaround adds 5-10 business days where required.
Can I form a Gibraltar entity in Bitcoin?
Yes. Accepted forms of payment are BTC (on-chain and Lightning) and USDT (TRC-20 / ERC-20), settled via BitSettle, our proprietary settlement system. Settlement to local providers happens off-platform via our OTC desk where required.
Does the licensed agent collect KYC even if I'm in Tier 0?
Yes. The licensed registered agent in your selected jurisdiction is a regulated trust-and-corporate-service provider statutorily required to identify the beneficial owner regardless of our platform-level KYC tier.
What banking works with this entity?
See the banking page for our full ranking by rail. The most common rails for this jurisdiction are listed in the Banking compatibility section above.
Can I dissolve the entity later?
Yes. Dissolution / strike-off is a standalone SKU. Pass-through state fees apply per jurisdiction.