Blockchain.com Secures Full Cayman VASP Custody Licence, Expands Institutional and Retail Services

Blockchain.com has moved from conditional permission to full regulated status in the Cayman Islands after receiving a definitive Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) custody licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) on July 22, 2026. The licence, granted to Blockchain.com’s Cayman subsidiary, replaces the conditional approval CIMA issued in December 2025. Blockchain.com said it satisfied all of the regulator’s conditions prior to the definitive sign-off. The authorisation covers regulated custody services as well as crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto exchange services — expanding the company’s ability to provide both institutional and retail products from the jurisdiction. The firm had been operating in the Caymans under a VASP registration since May 2022. Institutional custody is highlighted as a core offering under the new licence: secure digital-asset storage for organizations managing crypto holdings. The licence also supports institutional staking infrastructure (enabling organisations to participate in network validation and earn staking rewards) and brings retail staking into a regulated framework for eligible users. Co-CEO Lane Kasselman framed the approval as part of a broader regulatory push: “Our VASP custody services licence builds on the regulatory momentum we’ve established with our recent MiCA and FCA approvals. We believe strong regulation is essential to the long-term development of digital assets, and these approvals further strengthen our ability to serve customers across the region.” The Cayman licence complements other recent milestones for the company — including a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) licence in Europe and registration with the UK Financial Conduct Authority — and the company says it marks the final stage of its Cayman licensing process, moving local operations from conditional authorisation to full regulatory status. Beyond licensing, Blockchain.com is deepening its physical presence in the Caymans. In June the company announced a partnership with TechCayman to support its first local hire and provide sponsorship, operational support and access to the territory’s business network. Blockchain.com said the hire and partnership are intended to transition the firm from mere regulatory registration to a permanent operating footprint in the jurisdiction. These regulatory and operational moves arrive amid a busy 2026 for Blockchain.com. In May the company confidentially submitted a draft registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a potential initial public offering; the SEC has begun review, though no offering size or valuation was disclosed and any IPO would depend on regulatory review and market conditions. In April, the company added perpetual futures trading to its non-custodial DeFi wallet via Hyperliquid, enabling users to trade over 190 crypto markets with up to 40x leverage while retaining control of private keys. Blockchain.com has indicated plans to add forex, stock and commodity markets to that platform over time. Blockchain.com also continues geographic expansion: retail operations launched in Ghana in March after notable local user growth, and the firm describes Nigeria — where it has operations in Lagos — as one of its fastest-growing markets. Founded in 2011, Blockchain.com reports processing more than $1.1 trillion in transactions and serving over 43 million verified users worldwide. The new Cayman VASP custody licence adds another regulated hub to the company’s global footprint as it pursues both institutional and retail growth.