TLDR
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Blockchain.com receives full CIMA approval for regulated crypto custody services.
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The licence also permits crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto exchange services.
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Blockchain.com can now expand institutional and retail staking services in Cayman.
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The approval replaces Blockchain.com’s conditional Cayman status from December 2025.
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TechCayman will support Blockchain.com’s first local hire and wider operations.
Blockchain.com has secured a full Cayman Islands licence for regulated crypto custody and exchange services. The approval replaces its conditional status and expands its legal operating scope in the jurisdiction. The decision also strengthens the company’s broader regulatory position across major international markets.
Blockchain.com Gains Definitive Cayman Approval
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority issued the definitive Virtual Asset Service Provider licence on July 22, 2026. Blockchain.com met every condition attached to the regulator’s earlier approval from December 2025. The company can now provide custody services under a complete and long-term regulatory framework.
The licence also covers exchanges between virtual assets and fiat currencies in the Cayman Islands. In addition, it permits exchanges between different forms of convertible virtual assets. These permissions widen the company’s regulated product range beyond secure digital asset storage.
Blockchain.com previously held a VASP registration in the jurisdiction from May 2022. The new licence moves its Cayman operations from registration and conditional approval into full authorization. This change gives the company a stronger base for serving institutional and retail clients.
Licence Supports Custody and Staking Services
Blockchain.com plans to use the licence to expand institutional custody services for professional digital asset holders. The offering includes secure infrastructure designed for organizations managing large cryptocurrency balances. The framework also supports stronger operational controls within a regulated environment.
The approval further supports institutional staking services for organizations participating in blockchain network validation. Clients can use professional infrastructure while earning rewards from supported proof-of-stake networks. Blockchain.com will also provide retail staking services for eligible users under applicable local rules.
These services form part of a wider regulated product suite available through the Cayman subsidiary. The company has linked its custody expansion with recent approvals in Europe and Britain. Blockchain.com received a MiCA licence in Europe and completed registration with Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority.
Local Expansion Adds Operational Presence
Blockchain.com is also building a physical presence in the Cayman Islands through its TechCayman partnership. The company announced the collaboration in June to support local operations and community integration. TechCayman will provide sponsorship support, operating guidance, and access to local business networks.
The partnership will also help Blockchain.com appoint its first employee based in the territory. This hire will support growing operations and strengthen links with the local technology sector. The move signals a shift from regulatory access toward a more permanent operating presence.
Founded in 2011, Blockchain.com has processed more than $1.1 trillion in transactions worldwide. The company also reports more than 43 million verified users across its platforms. Its Cayman approval follows wider expansion across regulated markets, decentralized trading, and potential public listing plans.
