St Kitts and Nevis now accepts digital assets as wealth source

Details. Applicants for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship can now include cryptocurrency holdings as part of their financial portfolio.

Crypto can only be used as a partial source of wealth. It must be supported by documents proving its origin, value, and ownership.

The adjustment, communicated via email to authorised agents, requires additional Due Diligence fees and separate wealth verification documentation. Further details are to be announced soon.

The move aligns with Hong Kong’s earlier decision to accept cryptocurrency holdings as proof of wealth under its Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, or CIES.

St Kitts and Nevis has also introduced changes to the application process. Applicants may now be financially sponsored by their parents or children, provided the relationship is validated with birth certificates.

Sponsors must submit detailed documentation, including application forms, employment letters, proof of address, recent bank statements, and reference letters. They will undergo Due Diligence checks and be responsible for the associated fees.

Other changes. The CIU has also ceased processing name changes to Certificates of Registration. Such modifications will now occur during passport renewal, with prior names listed on the observation page of the passport.

While these rule changes reflect the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency in the financial sector, they do not currently offer an opportunity to obtain citizenship by direct cryptocurrency investment.

Here’s how to obtain a passport in the Caribbean—invest at least $200,000. In St Kitts and Nevis, this can be done by a fund donation, real estate investment, or a public charity donation. The donations start at $250,000 for a single applicant, while real estate investments require a minimum of $325,000.