Blockchain.com has secured a definitive Virtual Asset Service Provider custody licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, expanding its regulated crypto services after meeting all licensing conditions on July 22, 2026. According to a Thursday announcement from Blockchain.com, the approval grants the company a full Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) custody services licence through its Cayman Islands subsidiary, replacing the conditional approval issued by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) in December 2025. The company said it had satisfied all of the regulator's conditions before receiving the definitive licence. This approval completes a regulatory trifecta for Blockchain.com, adding to its MiCA authorization in Europe and FCA registration in the UK, as it expands its compliance-focused global operations. As per PRNewswire, the licence marks a significant achievement in the company's regulatory process, transitioning from conditional status to definitive, long-term regulatory integration within one of the world's premier financial hubs.
The latest approval allows Blockchain.com to offer a comprehensive suite of regulated services from the Cayman Islands. As reported by Blockchain.com, the licence authorizes the company to offer exchanges between virtual assets and fiat currencies as well as exchanges between one or more convertible virtual assets. Through its Cayman Islands subsidiary, the company can now offer virtual asset custody, fiat and crypto exchange services, and staking products for both institutional and retail users. Before obtaining the licence, the company had operated under a VASP registration in the Cayman Islands since May 2022. The company identified institutional custody as a core offering, providing secure digital asset storage for organizations managing crypto holdings, while the licence also supports institutional staking infrastructure and retail staking services.
Beyond regulatory approvals, Blockchain.com is increasing its presence in the Cayman Islands through a partnership announced in June with TechCayman, an organization that helps international technology companies establish operations in the territory. According to the announcement, the partnership will support Blockchain.com's first local employee, who will join the company's Cayman Islands operations as it expands its presence in the jurisdiction. TechCayman will provide sponsorship, operational support and access to its local business network as part of the arrangement, with local hiring forming part of the company's effort to establish a permanent operating presence rather than maintaining only a regulatory registration. As per PRNewswire, TechCayman is providing the sponsorship framework, operational support, and local network needed to seamlessly integrate Blockchain.com into the island's tech community, with the Company soon welcoming its first on-island hire to support the growing operations and local ecosystem.
The Cayman licence follows several operational and regulatory initiatives undertaken by Blockchain.com during 2026. In May, the company confidentially submitted a draft registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a potential initial public offering, starting the SEC's review process but not disclosing the proposed offering size or valuation. Earlier in April, the company introduced perpetual futures trading within its non-custodial DeFi wallet through Hyperliquid, allowing users to trade more than 190 cryptocurrency markets with leverage of up to 40 times while keeping control of their private keys. Geographic expansion has continued this year, with Blockchain.com launching retail operations in Ghana in March and describing Nigeria as one of its fastest-growing markets following the establishment of local operations in Lagos. Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has supported over 94 million wallets, 43 million verified users, and more than ₹11,000 crore in crypto transactions, operating in more than 70 jurisdictions.
Founded in 2011, Blockchain.com has processed more than ₹90 lakh crore in transactions and serves over 43 million verified users worldwide. According to the company, the CIMA approval builds on the regulatory momentum established with recent MiCA and FCA approvals in Europe and the United Kingdom. Co-CEO Lane Kasselman stated that the approvals strengthen the company's ability to serve customers across the region, emphasizing that strong regulation is essential to the long-term development of digital assets. The company's journey has always been guided by a compliance-first mindset, with clear regulatory frameworks and local engagement essential for the long-term stability and adoption of crypto. Blockchain.com offers secure self-custody, institutional services, and a growing product suite aligned with global regulation and privacy standards.
