Crypto licensing • Seychelles

Seychelles VASP licensing and crypto structuring.

Legal support for Seychelles Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) projects: selecting the right structure, building an AML/CTF framework, preparing licensing-ready documentation, and aligning the operational model with counterparties (banks, PSPs, exchanges, custody vendors).

Best fit for exchanges, broker/dealers, custodial wallet services, crypto payment models and global teams needing an offshore setup with a compliance baseline.

What we clarify first

Your exact services: exchange, custody, brokerage, payments, token issuance support.
Client geographies and whether you market outside Seychelles.
How funds/keys move: custody and settlement responsibilities.
Banking/PSP strategy and compliance tooling (KYC, screening, blockchain analytics).

If you need a fixed starting scope, see Packages.

Overview

Offshore is not “no compliance”. It’s a different compliance model.

Counterparties (banks, payment partners, exchanges, custody vendors) expect a credible AML/CTF and governance setup. We build a licensing-ready baseline that works operationally.

Perimeter

Define the regulated scope

Map your services and confirm what your VASP “story” should be for licensing and counterparties.

Service mapping and restrictions baseline.
Cross-border positioning and marketing guardrails.
Token / product design considerations.

Outcome: clear scope and assumptions.

Structure

Company setup & governance

Set up the entity and governance baseline for operations, outsourcing and accountability.

Shareholding and management baseline.
Delegations and controls framework.
Outsourcing map and vendor oversight baseline.

Outcome: operationally workable corporate setup.

Compliance

AML/CTF & risk controls pack

Risk-based controls aligned with onboarding, monitoring, custody/settlement and your vendor stack.

AML policy + procedures baseline.
Sanctions screening + escalation logic.
Recordkeeping, reporting and incident handling baseline.

Outcome: implementable compliance baseline.

What we do

Core workstreams for Seychelles VASP.

Typically: perimeter and structure first, then documentation and licensing support. We scale scope depending on your activity (custody, exchange, payments, etc.).

Phase 1

VASP readiness & roadmap

Confirm if Seychelles fits your model and what a licensing-ready operating story should look like.

Service mapping and red flags.
Structure and governance baseline.
Roadmap, stages and document list.

Phase 2

Documentation pack

A coherent set of internal policies and procedures aligned with your real operations and vendors.

AML/CTF + sanctions policies and procedures.
Risk framework and compliance manual baseline.
Website legal layer and client disclosures baseline.

Phase 3

Licensing support & alignment

Coordinate filings via local counsel and keep the narrative consistent with evidence and operations.

Support for Q&A and revisions.
Evidence alignment (docs vs operations).
Vendor/outsourcing contracts alignment.

Support

Corporate structuring

Corporate setup, governance and contracting designed for institutional counterparties.

Entity and governance baseline.
Founder arrangements and authorities.
Commercial contracts support.

Open Corporate →

Support

Ongoing compliance

Support after go-live: updates, audits, reporting, vendor changes and incident handling.

Policy updates and control testing baseline.
Monitoring improvements and remediation.
Change management and documentation upkeep.

Open Compliance →

Support

IT/IP & website legal

Terms, privacy/data layer, vendor DPAs and platform legal baseline for launch.

Terms of Use and risk disclaimers baseline.
Privacy & cookie layer baseline.
Vendor contracts and data processing baseline.

Open IP/IT →

Process

How Seychelles VASP projects usually run.

Predictable flow: scope → structure → documents → local coordination → Q&A → implementation baseline.

Step 1

Kick-off & scope

Define services, client geographies, custody/settlement and banking/PSP strategy.

Step 2

Structure & governance

Confirm entity setup, management and outsourcing model with oversight controls.

Step 3

Compliance & docs

Draft AML/sanctions, onboarding/monitoring procedures and evidence-aligned narratives.

Step 4

Filing + Q&A

Support through clarification requests, revisions and go-live readiness actions.

What we need from you

Short description of services and target markets.
Custody/settlement flow (who holds keys, who can move funds).
Client onboarding approach (KYC/KYB) and compliance tooling.
Vendors: KYC provider, screening, analytics, custody tech, PSP/banks.

If you’re early-stage, we start with perimeter + a practical compliance roadmap.

Typical deliverables

VASP scope memo + structure and roadmap.
Compliance documentation pack (AML/sanctions + procedures baseline).
Client disclosures and website legal baseline.
Local coordination support and revision rounds.

Want a fixed-scope start? See Packages or request a tailored scope via Contact.

FAQ

Common questions about Seychelles VASP.

Short, practical answers. We confirm specifics in the initial assessment.

Is Seychelles VASP “light regulation”?

Even if the jurisdiction is offshore, you still need credible AML/CTF and governance to work with banks/PSPs and serious counterparties. We build a pragmatic baseline.

Can we run a global exchange from Seychelles?

Your target markets may still impose local rules (e.g., EU, UK, UAE). We map cross-border positioning and a staged licensing plan if expansion is planned.

Do we need compliance tooling?

In practice yes: KYC/KYB, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and (often) blockchain analytics. We align the policies with the tools you actually use.

Do you work with local counsel?

Yes. We typically coordinate with local partners for filings and local execution, while we handle structure, documentation, and operating-model alignment.

Want a practical Seychelles VASP roadmap?

Send a short description: what you do, whether you custody client assets, target markets, and what vendors you rely on. We’ll suggest the best starting scope (readiness → docs → local coordination → Q&A).

If you plan multi-jurisdiction expansion, we can map Seychelles baseline alongside MiCA/UAE/AIFC routes.

Useful to include in your message:

Services: exchange/custody/brokerage/payments/issuance support.
Client geographies and whether you market in EU/UK/UAE.
Asset flows (who holds keys, who settles, fiat rails).
Vendors and compliance tooling (KYC, screening, analytics, custody).

Even 8–10 lines is enough to start.