The Securities Commission of The Bahamas has opened a public consultation period on draft amendments to its Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (Fees) Rules, 2026, introducing significant fee increases for regulated digital asset businesses operating in or from the Caribbean nation. The consultation window runs from Friday, August 28, 2026, through Friday, September 25, 2026, with the revised rules set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
- Digital Asset Exchange Application Fee: $7,500.00
- Digital Asset Exchange Registration Fee: $23,500.00
- Digital Asset Exchange Annual Renewal: $23,500.00
- All Other Digital Asset Businesses Application Fee: $5,000.00
- All Other Digital Asset Businesses Registration Fee: $15,625.00
- All Other Digital Asset Businesses Annual Renewal: $15,625.00
- Additional Digital Asset Business Activity Fee: $3,500.00 per activity
The revised fee structure introduces several substantive changes to the 2024 ruleset. A new fee category for digital asset exchanges has been established, representing a separate registration track from general digital asset businesses. The proposed rules also create a new fee structure for entities registered across multiple digital asset business activities, calculated as the highest applicable fee plus $6,250.00 for each additional activity. Additionally, the commission has introduced an administrative extension fee allowing registrants to delay filing audited financial statements for up to two six-month extension periods.
These amendments replace the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (Fees) Rules, 2024, and apply to all persons regulated under the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act, 2024. The commission emphasized that all prescribed fees are non-refundable, with annual fees due on or before January 31 each year. For entities granted registration mid-year, annual fees will be pro-rated from the registration date through December 31 of that year.
Stakeholders wishing to submit comments should contact the commission via email at DAREconsultation@scb.gov.bs or address correspondence to the Executive Director at Poinciana House North Building, 2nd Floor, 31A East Bay Street, Nassau. The Securities Commission of The Bahamas serves as the regulator of digital asset businesses in the jurisdiction under its statutory mandate.
