Insight category
Jurisdictions insights: how to choose a legal hub that actually fits your model.
This category focuses on practical jurisdiction selection: not “top 10 crypto-friendly countries”,
but how to match your users and investors, banking reality, licensing scope, substance, costs,
timelines, and IP ownership to a workable route.
What you’ll get from this category
A real-world way to shortlist jurisdictions:
- Where your users and investors are — and why that matters legally.
- Banking and payments reality: what is feasible vs what is “marketing”.
- Licensing scope and regulator expectations (substance, team, reporting).
- Costs, speed, and long-term credibility for fundraising.
The “best” jurisdiction is the one that matches your model and timeline — not the one that looks trendy on Twitter.
Quick map
The 3 filters that cut the shortlist fast
If you answer these clearly, you will avoid 80% of “wrong jurisdiction” decisions.
People
Filter
Geography drives regulation, marketing limits, onboarding rules and enforcement risk.
Operations
Filter
A “crypto-friendly” jurisdiction without banking is a dead end for most business models.
Regulation
Filter
Scope, substance, team and reporting expectations: what the regulator will actually ask for.
Key topics
Jurisdiction choice explained in practical terms
These are the questions that separate a workable setup from a “cool on paper” one.
1) Users, investors and geography
- Where are your users and investors (EU, UK, MENA, Asia, US)?
- Retail vs professional clients: marketing and onboarding differences.
- How “reverse solicitation” and geo-blocking myths fail in practice.
- Enforcement reality: where disputes and complaints may happen.
Practical output: a market map that drives licensing, marketing and document strategy.
2) Banking and payments reality
- Where you can realistically open an account for your model and clients.
- PSPs/EMIs: when they are essential and what they require.
- Consistency: your story must match flows, documents and compliance stack.
- Why banking should be tested early, not “after the license”.
Practical output: a “banking-ready” checklist and document expectations.
3) Licensing fit and regulator expectations
- Different regulators tolerate different risk profiles and business models.
- Substance: who is local, who is responsible, what can be outsourced.
- Documentation depth: policies, manuals, IT controls, audits, reporting.
- Timeline vs readiness: the fastest route is often the “most prepared” route.
Practical output: a jurisdiction shortlist based on your actual readiness level.
4) The “holding + operating” structure question
- When you need a holding company vs a single operating entity.
- IP placement: where code, trademarks and contracts should sit.
- Investor optics: what structures look “clean” in due diligence.
- How to avoid future migration costs (and broken contracts).
Practical output: a simple structure diagram that remains stable as you scale.
Featured in Jurisdictions
Start with these jurisdiction insights
Anchor texts that help you shortlist and avoid “jurisdiction shopping” mistakes.
Jurisdictions • Strategy
Framework
A practical way to narrow options: users/investors, banking, licensing, tax, substance and IP placement.
Good first read before comparing “popular” jurisdictions.
Comparisons • Routes
Comparison
What founders experience: regulator expectations, timelines, documentation depth and banking implications.
Useful for choosing a primary regulatory hub.
Structuring • Practical
Guide
Why “just open a company in X” rarely works, and how to combine operating entities and holdings cleanly.
Relevant for fundraising and long-term scaling.
Related to Jurisdictions
Go from shortlist to implementation
Once you have 2–3 preferred routes, the next step is usually entity setup + licensing roadmap + documents.
Jurisdictions
Directory
Explore individual pages (UAE, EU MiCA, AIFC, El Salvador, Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and more).
Products
Package
A structured start: jurisdiction shortlist, incorporation plan, governance basics and practical next steps.
Licensing
Dependencies
If your route includes exchange, custody, issuance or advisory — licensing scope should be locked early.
How to use this category
A simple way to pick a jurisdiction without “guessing”
Think in three layers: market → banking → regulation. Everything else (tax, costs, substance) follows.
If you are a founder or team
- Write down where users and investors are (and who is retail).
- List required rails: fiat, cards, PSP/EMI, banking, custody, off-ramps.
- Define scope: exchange, custody, issuance, advisory, payments.
- Shortlist 2–3 jurisdictions and test them against readiness and timeline.
The fastest decision is usually “what is bankable + licensable for our scope”, not “what is trendy”.
If you are an investor or advisor
- Check if the route matches the real user journey (not only marketing).
- Look for substance and accountability (who is responsible for compliance and controls).
- Ask for banking readiness evidence, not just “we will open later”.
- Confirm whether the chosen route blocks fundraising or market entry.
Want a shortlist tailored to your model?
Send a short description of your business model, target users/investors and what licensing scope you consider.
We’ll propose 2–3 realistic jurisdiction routes and explain trade-offs.
We focus on practical fit: banking, licensing, substance, timeline and investor optics.
What to include in a short message:
- Where users/investors are (and whether retail is involved).
- Your scope: exchange, custody, issuance, advisory, payments.
- What rails you need: banking/PSP/EMI, fiat on/off ramps, cards.
- Your timeline and current stage (MVP, live product, fundraising).
If you already shortlisted 2–3 jurisdictions, mention them — we’ll sanity-check the choice.