Argentina Compliance Report

Generated 2026-09-22

Comprehensive Framework

Regulatory Overview

Regulatory Status: Dedicated crypto/VA legislation, licensing regime, active enforcement
Key Regulator(s): Argentine Federal Administration of Public Revenue, National Securities Commission
Primary Legislation: Law N° 27,739: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/296092/202, Argentina does not have a comprehensive, dedicated cryptocurrency or digital asset law as of 2025, General Companies Law, Decree 366/2025, effective May 29, 2025, introduced new requirements for health, Law 27,430, e.g., a new law or regulatory resolution
Travel Rule: Adopted — Threshold: $1,000
Tax Reporting: No comprehensive list or test is specified in recent resolutions like CNV General Resolution 1125/2026, which defines virtual assets as "any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred digitally and used for payments or investments," encompassing cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins—but this is for qualified investor net worth calculations, not security classification.. Security tokens may qualify as securities similar to other marketable instruments.. General references suggest ICO tokens could be securities if they meet the definition of "standardised certificated or..." (incomplete in sources), requiring authorization for trading.. VASPs (including those dealing in tokens) must register with the CNV under Law 27,739 to operate legally, with requirements including operational structure details, KYC/AML compliance (e.g., identifying officers), cybersecurity certification, and CNV AML/CFT review; unregistered VASPs cannot operate.. No specific exemptions or issuer registration for tokens-as-securities are detailed; crypto licensing types remain underdeveloped.

Key Facts

aml Law 27,739 (2024): Establishes the VASP registry under CNV oversight and amends AML laws to include VASPs. CNV General Resolution 994/2024: Defines VASPs and requires CNV registration for legal operations. UIF Resolution 49/2024: Mandates VASP registration with UIF for AML compliance. Anti-Money Laundering Law No. 25,246: Core law preventing money laundering, now extended to VASPs. Supporting resolutions: CNV General Resolution 1025 (October 2024 draft on VASP rules); CNV Resolution 1058/2025 (mandatory registration deadlines, net worth, AML standards). Earlier: UIF Resolution 300/2014 (crypto transaction reporting). CNV General Resolution N°1025 (draft, public consultation October 2024) proposes finalized VASP rules on custody infrastructure, audits, and policies, expected to align closely with the draft. BCRA is reviewing plans to lift the bank prohibition on crypto trading/custody, debating custody requirements, capital treatment, and permitted tokens; approval would enhance consumer protection and AML.
enforcement Regulator: Buenos Aires Court (Judge Susana Parada) Entity Targeted: Polymarket (crypto-powered prediction platform). Violation Type: Operating as an unlicensed online betting service without identity or age verification. Penalty: Nationwide access block; directed ISPs to restrict access; Google and Apple instructed to remove mobile applications. Outcome: Platform blocked countrywide. Regulator: Argentine Federal Police and Supreme Court Entity Targeted: President Javier Milei (for promoting $LIBRA cryptocurrency). Violation Type: Market manipulation; alleged rug pull scam. Penalty Amount: $251 million in investor losses documented. Outcome: Over 100 criminal complaints filed; judicial investigation launched; described as "Cryptogate" and The Economist called it the "first big scandal" of Milei's presidency. Regulator: National Securities Commission (CNV) under Law 27,739 (passed March 2024) Violation Type: Regulatory compliance requirements; FATF-aligned VASP oversight. Outcome: Coinbase suspended ARS-to-USDC trading operations after less than one year in the market. Regulator: National Securities Commission Entity Targeted: CoinX crypto platform. Violation Type: Operating without authorization; operating similar to a Ponzi scheme. Outcome: Platform banned; thousands of investors affected with millions in losses.
general RG 1058/2025 mandates disclosure of custody models, wallet infrastructure, and PSAV conduct expectations UIF Resolution 49/2024 imposes Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) programs, risk assessments, monitoring, and reporting requirements Stablecoins per se are explicitly not considered securities, though related economic activities or structures may trigger oversight. (https://www.dlapiper.com/insights/publications/2026/03/argentinas-securities-regulator-issues-cease-and-desist-order-virtual-coin-offering) Virtual assets are broadly defined as “any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred digitally and used for payments or investments”, encompassing cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins, but only those qualifying as securities fall under full Capital Markets Law. (https://www.mexc.com/news/1021038; derived from https://news.bitcoin.com/argentina-recognizes-crypto-as-qualified-investors-net-worth/) Argentina’s regulators have begun explicitly referencing and applying Howey-style investment contract criteria in crypto matters, even though Argentina has not formally incorporated the U.S. Howey Test into its statutory framework. In Argentina, crypto tokens that are structured or marketed as securities or public offerings—such as investment contracts or equity/debt-like claims—may fall under Capital Markets Law No. 26,831 and related securities oversight, while non-security virtual assets like pure cryptocurrencies are generally treated separately unless they confer securities-like rights. Examples: Tokenized assets mimicking traditional securities; pure utility/payment tokens or stablecoins generally excluded unless they meet public offering criteria. Under Law 27,739 and subsequent CNV resolutions, the CNV is the primary regulator of Argentina’s crypto sector: it directly regulates virtual-asset‑related activity by requiring all Virtual Asset Service Providers to register and comply with conduct, prudential, and AML/CTF rules, and it may treat some tokens (including certain cryptocurrencies when used as investment or security-like instruments) as regulated assets for investor-protection and supervisory purposes.
licensing Registration-focused: Businesses register in the CNV's VASP registry for legal operation; unregistered VASPs cannot function. Unlike full licensing (e.g., with ongoing supervision), this is entry-based but mandates ongoing AML/KYC and reporting to UIF/CNV. CNV Resolution No. 1058/2025 updates emphasize transparency and compliance. Minimum net worth of $5,000–$50,000 (classification-dependent) for contractor licenses; half in cash for new applicants; varies by license type (e.g., $50,000 for money transmitters). AML/KYC: Robust policies for client identification, transaction monitoring, and FATF-aligned reporting (e.g., suspicious activities to UIF); mandatory compliance officer. Local presence: Incorporate a local entity (e.g., SA or SRL/LLC) with 1 local director and 2 shareholders; virtual office allowed. Additional: Clean criminal record (sworn statement, no money laundering convictions); business plan, management details. Law N° 27,739: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/296092/20240314 (via ).
securities The Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV) is the Argentine securities regulator and operates under the authority of the Ley de Mercado de Capitales (Capital Markets Law No. 26,831), which was enacted in 2012 and remains the primary legal instrument governing securities offerings and trading in Argentina. Argentina, nuestro país | Argentina.gob.ar The CNV's official website is argentina.gob.ar/cnv, and the regulator has formally codified its authority over digital assets through CNV General Resolution No. 1025 (2024), which establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework specifically for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including exchanges and custodians operating in Argentina. The Unidad de Información Financiera (UIF), operating under the Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos, is the designated Financial Intelligence Unit responsible for AML/CFT oversight in Argentina and has issued UIF Resolution 49/2021 (successor to Resolution 30/2017), which specifically addresses virtual asset transactions and extends AML obligations to VASPs. Argentina is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and underwent its most recent mutual evaluation in 2019 (FATF MER 2019), with the FATF's 2023 updated recommendations on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers creating international pressure that culminated in the issuance of CNV Resolution 1025. Argentina, nuestro país | Argentina.gob.ar The Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA) has issued Communication A7779 (2022) and subsequent directives prohibiting financial institutions from providing services to crypto exchanges and from holding crypto assets on their own account, focusing on banking sector conduct rather than creating a comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework. The Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos (AFIP) serves as Argentina's tax authority and has issued General Resolution 4614/2019 and General Resolution 4850/2021 on taxpayer declarations of virtual asset holdings, indicating the government's awareness of crypto activities for fiscal purposes. Argentina has not enacted a dedicated "crypto law" or virtual asset act passed by the legislature, but CNV Resolution 1025 (2024) provides the primary administrative regulatory framework for VASPs, consolidating the CNV's authority over digital asset service providers into a single codified instrument. Argentina's international standing on AML matters is monitored through FATF's mutual evaluation process, and the country's progress in implementing virtual asset regulation has been noted in FATF's follow-up reports on technical compliance, including the 2019 Mutual Evaluation Report and subsequent enhanced follow-up reports.
status Argentina does not have a comprehensive, dedicated cryptocurrency or digital asset law as of 2025–2026, but the legal framework has evolved through scattered administrative regulations and central bank communications; no specific crypto licensing regime has been established. TEXTO ACTUALIZADO - Ley 25871 - MIGRACIONES | Argentina.gob.ar The primary regulatory authorities with potential oversight over digital assets are the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA), the National Securities Commission (CNV), and the Financial Information Unit (UIF), though none of these bodies has yet issued a formal, comprehensive licensing regime for crypto service providers. MIGRACIONES No entity has been granted a specific "cryptocurrency license" because no such license category exists in Argentine law; businesses operate in a legal gray area, often registering as traditional financial or payment service providers. Visas | Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto While crypto is not prohibited, the absence of a dedicated legal framework means that businesses must rely on case-by-case interpretations and general commercial and tax laws, creating significant compliance risks and gaps. La Legislación Migratoria | Argentina.gob.ar The primary legal framework governing financial and commercial activity in Argentina includes the Argentine Civil and Commercial Code (Código Civil y Comercial de la Nación), Law No. 19,550 on commercial companies, and Law No. 27,739 on financial entities; none of these specifically addresses cryptocurrencies or digital assets. TEXTO ACTUALIZADO - Ley 25871 - MIGRACIONES | Argentina.gob.ar The Financial Information Unit (Unidad de Información Financiera, UIF) is the designated authority for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) oversight; it has issued regulations that subject certain virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to AML obligations under Resolution 26/2021 and related norms. MIGRACIONES The National Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional de Valores, CNV) regulates securities and capital markets; in 2024–2025, the CNV has begun to signal that certain digital assets, particularly those with security-like characteristics, may fall under its jurisdiction, though no specific regulatory framework has been published. Visas | Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (Banco Central de la República Argentina, BCRA) has issued communications (Comunicaciones "A") restricting financial institutions from facilitating crypto transactions, most notably Comunicación "A" 7502 from May 2022, which prohibits banks from engaging in digital asset operations. Embassy in Sweden | Requirements for entry and stay in Argentina
tax No comprehensive list or test is specified in recent resolutions like CNV General Resolution 1125/2026, which defines virtual assets as "any digital representation of value that can be traded and/or transferred digitally and used for payments or investments," encompassing cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins—but this is for qualified investor net worth calculations, not security classification. Security tokens may qualify as securities similar to other marketable instruments. General references suggest ICO tokens could be securities if they meet the definition of "standardised certificated or..." (incomplete in sources), requiring authorization for trading. VASPs (including those dealing in tokens) must register with the CNV under Law 27,739 to operate legally, with requirements including operational structure details, KYC/AML compliance (e.g., identifying officers), cybersecurity certification, and CNV AML/CFT review; unregistered VASPs cannot operate. No specific exemptions or issuer registration for tokens-as-securities are detailed; crypto licensing types remain underdeveloped. No explicit rules on secondary trading of tokens classified as securities appear in sources; a 2022 Central Bank ban persists on banks offering crypto services, though internal blockchain testing occurs and easing is anticipated. Trading VASPs must be CNV-registered per Law 27,739. No specific enforcement cases against token issuers or secondary trading are cited in available results.
travel rule The Travel Rule is fully live and enforced as a core PSAV compliance requirement, aligning with FATF standards. Key timeline: Law 27.739 (March 2024) defined PSAVs; phased CNV registration in 2025; full enforceability of AML/CFT and Travel Rule obligations on 31 December 2025; first compliance audit cycle from 1 January 2026. CNV Resolution 1058/2025 (March 2025) mandated VASP registration with staggered deadlines: individuals by 1 July 2025, Argentine entities by 1 August 2025, foreign entities by 1 September 2025. FATF globally recommends ~$1,000/€1,000, but jurisdictions vary or apply to all transactions; Argentina's strict framework implies broad coverage, including systematic reporting for higher-value activity, without a stated cutoff. Applies to registered PSAVs (domestic and foreign VASPs operating in or targeting Argentina users), post-mandatory CNV registration. Unregistered platforms face higher risks and lack oversight; traditional banks can offer crypto services from April 2026 under supervision. Strict on unhosted wallets and inbound cross-border transfers. VASPs must collect, transmit, and retain originator/beneficiary information for in-scope crypto-asset transfers.

Sources

This report is AI-generated from publicly available regulatory sources. Last updated: 2026-09-06. View full profile