Learn / Experienced · Rules and the Caribbean

Reading the rules (being checked)

Rules decide what you can do, what a business may offer you and what you may owe. They also change. This module teaches you how to read and track the rules for crypto in Trinidad and Tobago, and points you to official sources rather than trying to be one.

Being checked: this lesson summarises laws and has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer. Treat it as a map, not as legal or tax advice, and confirm every point with the official sources listed at the end.

Education only, not financial advice. Examples use made-up numbers, not live prices.

A new Act, and what it appears to cover

Trinidad and Tobago passed the Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025, listed as Act No. 12 of 2025, which was assented to on 23 December 2025. As we read it, the Act sets up a licensing approach for businesses that provide virtual asset services, such as running an exchange or custody, and places the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) at the centre of supervision.

As we read it, the Act temporarily prohibits carrying on virtual asset business until 31 December 2026 unless authorised through the TTSEC’s Regulatory Sandbox. Reports on how that date works with the commission’s powers to grant authorisations need careful checking, and earlier drafts of the Bill had different dates and wording. That is exactly why you should read the current text and the TTSEC’s notices rather than rely on a summary, including this one.

Businesses and individuals are different

The Act is aimed at businesses that provide services, and as we read it, an individual’s personal use of crypto is not itself the target. That is not a licence to ignore other laws. Fraud, money laundering and tax rules still apply to individuals. If you are thinking of starting a service, even a small one such as trading for others, taking deposits or running a group “investment”, speak to a lawyer first.

Why it matters when you use a platform

If an overseas platform offers services to people in T&T, it is worth asking whether it is allowed to do so and what protections you would have if it fails. Platforms can pause services for certain countries, and banks can decline transfers they associate with crypto. Plan for that possibility by never relying on a single route to move your money.

Tax: what we can and cannot say

We looked for crypto-specific guidance from the Inland Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance and did not find any that we could verify. Third-party websites claim various things, and some contradict each other, so we do not rely on them. In practice, tax authorities usually apply existing rules to new kinds of activity, and the treatment can depend on whether you are trading regularly, earning crypto as income, or receiving it as payment for goods and services. Whether you owe anything is a question for the Inland Revenue Division or a qualified accountant, not for this page.

Records are always useful

Whatever the rules turn out to say for your situation, good records help you, your accountant and any authority that asks. Keep a simple log for every transaction:

• Date and time and the platform or wallet used.
• What and how much you received, sent, bought or sold.
• The value in TT dollars at the time, and how you worked it out.
• Fees paid and the transaction link or reference.
• The reason for example “paid a supplier” or “moved to my own wallet”.

Where to look for official answers

Go to the primary source. For the Act itself, use the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago site and the official gazette. For supervision and sandbox notices, use the TTSEC. For tax questions, use the Inland Revenue Division. For warnings about fraud and money laundering, check the Central Bank and the Financial Intelligence Unit. Look at the date on anything you read, and when in doubt, ask a lawyer or accountant in writing so you have a record of the answer.

Questions to bring to a lawyer or accountant

A short, specific list gets better answers and saves money. Before an appointment, write down what you actually do with crypto: for example, buying and holding, receiving payment for work, sending money to family, or trading often. The right answer can differ for each.

Then bring questions such as: Does the Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 affect what I do as an individual? Does it change anything about the platform I use? How should the Inland Revenue Division treat my gains, losses or payments received in crypto? What records and valuations in TT dollars should I keep? Are there reporting duties if I send or receive larger amounts? What should I do if a platform stops serving customers in T&T?

Ask for the answers in writing and note the date, because the rules can change. Keep the answer with your transaction records. Remember this lesson is a map, not advice, and the sandbox and authorisation dates need checking against the current official text.

Common mistakes

Relying on a summary. Summaries, including ours, can be out of date.

Assuming “no guidance” means “no rules”. Existing laws may apply.

Confusing personal use with running a business. The rules differ.

Keeping no records. Rebuilding a history later is hard and sometimes impossible.

Try it yourself

Make a one-page record sheet with the columns listed above. Fill in three real or invented transactions. Then write down the three official websites you would check first for a rules question, and the date you last checked each one.

Keep in mind

• This module is being checked and is not legal or tax advice.
• Rules change; always read the current official text.
• Personal use and running a business are treated differently.
• Keep good records from day one.

Key terms from this lesson

• TTSEC — the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission.
• VASP — a virtual asset service provider, a business offering crypto services.
• Regulatory sandbox — a supervised space where a business may test services under conditions.
• Authorisation — official permission to carry on an activity.
• AML — anti-money laundering rules.
• Records — your own log of dates, amounts, values and fees.

Sources and credits

• Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission — supervisor and sandbox notices
• Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago — text of Acts
• Ministry of Finance: Inland Revenue Division — tax authority information
• Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago — money-laundering guidance
• Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago — public statements and cautions

Explained in our own words from these sources. Figures are approximate and reported by the sources named; check them yourself. Education only, not financial advice. Being checked until a lawyer has reviewed it.

Module quiz

3 questions. Tap an answer to see if you are right and why. Get 2 right to complete the module.

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