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Cryptocurrency Business in Ireland
Open a Cryptocurrency Company in Ireland

LSC takes care of all you need
To successfully get your Crypto Exchange License in Ireland

Open a Cryptocurrency Company in Ireland
Ireland Advantages

The UK and Ireland are key jurisdictions in the development of the sector. The firm’s presence in both Dublin and London combined with the team’s cryptocurrency and blockchain experience, uniquely positions us to meet the ever-changing demands of companies and individuals involved in this area.

The crypto market has proved to be a lucrative industry on a global scale. Ireland stands as one of the major European markets for cryptocurrency companies. The country even has its own virtual currency known as the Irishcoin. However, it also supports most of the major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. In Ireland’s major cities such as Dublin, you will even find a bitcoin ATMs.

Why Register  your Crypto Exchange License in Ireland?

Ireland is the perfect gateway to do business and trade Bitcoin in the European Union;
One of the oldest bitcoin services providers, BitEx is based in Ireland;
Ireland hosts multiple global financial and information technology giants;
Corporate taxation in Ireland is low at 12.5%;
Blockchain Association of Ireland is bullish about the current state of the world’s most popular crypto- currency;
The Central Bank in Ireland considers implementing a bitcoin recognition procedures.

Registering a Bitcoin company in Ireland takes just 2 weeks to complete without personal travel required.

Cryptocurrency Regulation 2019

The investors who want to open a company in Ireland in this industry will be required to register for taxation with the Irish Revenue for capital gains (just like in the case of any other legal entity operating in this country) and with Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) for Anti-Money Laundering purposes.

The CBI (Central Bank of Ireland) is the competent authority in Ireland for the regulation of financial services including electronic money, payment services and securities law. The CBI has yet to indicate the extent to which existing financial regulation will apply. The CBI has issued warnings in relation to ICOs and cryptocurrencies and has also contributed to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)'s warnings to both consumers and to firms engaged in ICOs.

In respect of cryptocurrency regulation, we expect that the CBI will focus on securities law and the recognised EU concepts of "transferable security" and "financial instruments" as defined in the 2014 European Union Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the characteristics which they view as bringing cryptocurrencies or tokens within those definitions. Depending on their structure, cryptocurrencies could be classified as transferable securities, which would bring them within scope of a range of securities laws. For example, the issuer of a cryptocurrency may be required to publish a prospectus (or avail of an exemption) prior to their being offered to the public, or certain activities in respect of the cryptocurrency may require authorisation as an investment firm under MiFID II.

A pure, decentralised cryptocurrency is unlikely to be a transferable security, while a token with characteristics similar to a traditional share or bond may be. It is also possible that true "utility" tokens intended for exclusive use on a platform or service will not be transferable securities. The definition of transferable security is non-exhaustive, and it is for each issuer and their advisers to determine whether their cryptocurrency or token is a transferable security.

As in many jurisdictions, the regulatory environment in relation to cryptocurrencies and their interaction with securities law is not yet settled and ESMA acknowledges that depending on how an ICO is structured, it may fall outside the regulated space entirely.

Remark:

To the extent that virtual currencies, ICOs, or those involved in their issuance or trading, are not subject to existing regulation, then the question arises: has the regulation fallen behind developments and needs updating. Or is it the case that these activities are just new examples of old types of activity and there is no need for further regulatory intervention, beyond making consumers properly aware of the significant risks through consumer warnings? Or might it simply be too early to say? . . . At the Central Bank, we are actively engaged with other European and international policy makers as we all try to figure out a way forward, including for example, work at the ESAs [European Supervisory Authorities]. Given the cross-jurisdictional nature of virtual currencies and ICOs, we at the Central Bank welcome these efforts by the ESAs.

Ireland has harnessed the use of cryptocurrency to help its tourism industry, adopting the “Irishcoin,” a currency aimed predominantly at the tourism market that is accepted in some locations across Ireland.

Taxation

According to Revenue, while companies are entitled to prepare their accounts in a currency other than euro, they are not entitled to do so in crypto - “Accounts, for tax purposes, cannot be prepared in cryptocurrencies: euro or functional currency accounts must be prepared”.

And when it comes to making a gain on a cryptocurrency, the Revenue guidance states that individuals will be subject to capital gains tax at a rate of 33% on gains, while losses will be allowable against offsetting CGT bills. For companies, chargeable gains will be subject to corporation tax 12,5%.

On VAT, Revenue says that as bitcoin and other crypto currencies are deemed to be “negotiable instruments”, they are exempt from VAT. This means that those engaged in exchanging cryptocurrencies won’t be subject to VAT.

In cases where employees are paid in bitcoin, the amount must be converted to euro at the time of the payment so that income tax can be calculated.

The territoriality aspect of cryptocurrencies is still an involving area. In the case of an Irish resident (and for an individual ordinarily resident) person, they will usually be liable to tax in Ireland on their worldwide income and gains (subject to any reliefs or exemptions, including double tax treaty reliefs). A non-resident person will generally only be subject to tax on Irish-sourced income or gains, or profits of an Irish trade. (In the case of individuals, tax may also apply where amounts are remitted into Ireland.) It is evident therefore that understanding the source or situs of cryptocurrencies is of significance in international dealings. This is likely to be an area that will be developed further.

Money Transmission Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Requirements

There is a risk that certain ancillary services in connection with cryptocurrency could be subject to regulation as a form of money remittance or transmission under the Payment Services Directive (PSD) or, where PSD does not apply, under the Irish regulatory regime for money transmission. For example, the operator of a cryptocurrency platform who settles payments of fiat currency between the buyers and sellers of cryptocurrency could be viewed as being engaged in the regulated activity of money remittance/transmission. There are a number of exemptions which may be applicable, for example, where the platform operator is acting as a commercial agent or where the platform could be viewed as a securities settlement system. The application of the exemption would depend on the features of the trading platform.

Where the cryptocurrency or any activity relating to it is subject to regulation (e.g. it has the characteristics of transferable security), then Irish anti-money laundering requirements will apply.

The 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD5) will impose new anti-money laundering requirements on cryptocurrency exchanges and custodians operating in Europe. AMLD5 has not yet been implemented in Ireland.

Border Restrictions and Declaration

In Ireland, there are no border restrictions or obligations which are specifically aimed at cryptocurrencies. The traditional reporting requirements for "cash" (which is defined as currency, cheques and money orders or promissory notes) when entering or leaving the European Union do not apply to virtual or cryptocurrencies. This is because they are deemed to be neither "cash" nor "currency".

Registration for AML Purposes

Central Bank of Ireland warns certain firms need to register for AML purposes; a number of firms will need to register with the Central Bank as ‘Schedule 2 firms’.

The Central Bank of Ireland has posted a guidance for registration of the so-called “Schedule 2 Firms”. This type of registration must be done for anti-money laundering (AML) purposes.

Digital Currency Business
Requirements to Incorporate and Register
Cryptocurrency Company in Ireland

Entities and individuals who:

  -  live or have a place of business in Ireland or at any other EEA country; and
  -  are in the business of trading in digital currency (in Ireland or overseas)

Our Business Development Managers will be at your entire disposal to help, assist and guide you all over this registration process.

Contact us now!

What we offer you
Services and Inclusions

Processing and Registration Fees for your legal Irish entity
Draft of Constitution to be filed with CRO (Irish Registrar)
Tax Registration with Irish Revenue
Application for Irish Tax Identification Number
Preparing and draft of:
  - Internal Procedures Manual
  - Anti-Money Laundering & Compliance Procedures Manual;
Registration with Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) for AML purposes;
Supervision and review of all company documents, inclusive Business plan with 3-year projections;
Corporate management;
DHL Courier Services;

For further information …
Contact Us Now!
Our team of Business Development Managers
Is ready to guide and assist you!

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