Blockchain(.)com lands full custody license in the Cayman Islands

@blockchain has converted a conditional approval into a full Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) custody services license from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), clearing the way for regulated institutional custody and staking services from one of the world's leading offshore financial centers.

From Conditional to Definitive

CIMA granted Blockchain.com a conditional approval in December 2025. As of July 22, 2026, all conditions were met and the company is now fully licensed through its Cayman Islands subsidiary. The license covers virtual asset custody as well as crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto exchange services.

Blockchain.com had held a basic VASP registration in the territory since May 2022. The new full license marks a step up in regulatory standing under CIMA's tightened framework. Since April 2025, firms offering custody or trading services in the Cayman Islands have been required to hold a full license rather than a simple registration, following the introduction of CIMA's phase two licensing regime.

Beyond custody and exchange, the approval also clears Blockchain.com to offer institutional and retail staking from its Cayman subsidiary. The company has also partnered with TechCayman, a local technology facilitator, and said it will soon bring on its first on-island hire to support local operations.

Part of a Broader Regulatory Push

The Cayman approval caps roughly 12 months of regulatory progress across multiple jurisdictions. Blockchain.com secured its MiCA license in 2025, giving the firm passporting rights across all 30 European Economic Area countries, followed by FCA registration in the UK in February 2026, which enables brokerage, custody, and institutional services under one of the world's stricter regulatory regimes.

Together, the three approvals, Europe via MiCA, the UK via the FCA, and the Cayman Islands via CIMA, give Blockchain.com regulated footholds across key financial markets as the broader crypto industry faces increasing compliance demands globally.

Sources:
Blockchain.com VASP Custody Services Licence announcement, PR Newswire
Blockchain.com FCA Registration announcement, PR Newswire
Blockchain.com FCA and MiCA regulatory milestones, Decrypt