Puerto Rico (PR)
Money transmission and virtual currency licensing planning data for Puerto Rico. US territory.
Population weight (planning): 0.92% · Back to matrix · Launch map
How to read this page: confirmed cells are checked against a primary regulatory source and dated. Under review marks a cell where primary sources conflict or a figure awaits confirmation.
MTL required
Yes. Act 136-2010 requires an OCIF money transmitter licence for the fiat leg, 10 L.P.R.A. section 2601. Virtual currency is not exempted: OCIF Circular Letter CIF-CC-2021-03 states that an administrator or exchanger that accepts, transmits, buys or sells convertible virtual currency for any reason is a money transmission business requiring a licence.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
Fiat treatment
Receiving any payment order or other means of money transfer, including electronic transfers, for a service charge is a licensed 'Negocio de Transferencias Monetarias' under 10 L.P.R.A. section 2581(p). The fiat on/off ramp of a CVC exchange fits this definition directly.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
Virtual currency treatment
Act 136-2010 does not itself define virtual currency, but OCIF Circular Letter CIF-CC-2021-03 (22 April 2021) confirms that businesses accepting, transmitting, buying or selling convertible virtual currency, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether and similar assets, are money services businesses requiring an OCIF licence. OCIF later issued a cease and desist against an unlicensed crypto ATM operator.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
Regulator
Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF), Financial Regulation Division.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
NMLS / portal
Money Transmitter licence via NMLS; Puerto Rico has used NMLS for money services business licensing since at least 2019.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
MTMA adoption
none: not tracked by CSBS; this jurisdiction operates its own regime.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
Launch posture
amber: OCIF licenses convertible virtual currency exchange and transmission but requires substantial capital, liquid assets and bond, and has actively shut down unlicensed crypto kiosk operators.
Verified 2026-07-16. Source
Net worth / capital (locked)
Net worth / capital is included with access.Permissible investments (locked)
Permissible investments is included with access.Exam / audit timeline (locked)
Exam / audit timeline is included with access.Practitioner notes (locked)
Practitioner notes is included with access.Under the planning scenario
LicenceMap's bond and net worth figures use one scenario throughout: a virtual currency exchange with a fiat on and off ramp, $50m in annual US transmission volume, $2m in average daily outstanding liability, and a single principal office.
Surety bond: Surety bond is included with access.
Net worth / capital: Net worth / capital is included with access.