- Bitfinex has received a Digital Asset Service Provider licence in El Salvador expanding the company’s regulated footprint in Latin America.
- Bitfinex now joins Bitfinex Securities and Bitfinex Derivatives as licensed entities in El Salvador, offering spot trading, derivatives, and tokenised securities.
- The announcement comes as El Salvador’s digital asset framework continues to develop, with CNAD licensing more than 70 digital asset service providers since Bitfinex Securities became the first platform approved under the country’s Digital Assets Issuance Law in April 2023.
San Salvador, El Salvador – 12 May, 2026 – Bitfinex, one of the longest-running and premier digital asset trading platforms, today announced that it has received a Digital Asset Service Provider (“DASP”) licence to operate in El Salvador. The licence expands Bitfinex’s regulated footprint and adds the core Bitfinex platform to the existing licensed operations in the country. Bitfinex Securities* and Bitfinex Derivatives** have already established licensed entities in El Salvador, giving Bitfinex a regulated presence across spot trading, derivatives, and tokenised securities.
El Salvador has become one of the most innovative and closely watched jurisdictions for Bitcoin adoption and digital asset regulation. The country’s digital asset framework has developed on the back of a growing economy, with Banco Central de Reserva data showing 3.8% year-over-year GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 4.3% annual increase in economic activity in February 2026, and remittances rising 7.3% year-over-year to US$2.44 billion through March 2026.
For Bitfinex, the licence provides a deeper regulatory foundation for serving its customers and strengthens its presence in Latin America. The announcement also comes as Bitcoin has climbed to a three-month high, adding to renewed attention on El Salvador’s role in digital assets and blockchain-based financial services.
“El Salvador has pursued a deliberate policy of becoming a serious home for regulated digital asset infrastructure, and that is paying off,” said Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex. “Holding licences across our spot, derivatives and securities businesses reflects our long-standing commitment to the country and to operating under proper and innovative supervision, as we deepen our role in supporting the development of a more open and accessible digital asset economy.”
Bitfinex has been a strong supporter of El Salvador’s digital asset licensing regime since its earliest stages. Bitfinex Securities received its Digital Asset Service Provider licence in April 2023, becoming the world’s first international digital asset platform approved under El Salvador’s Digital Assets Issuance Law and the first licence granted by the Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales. The fully regulated platform was established to support the issuance and trading of tokenised real-world assets, including equities and bonds.
Bitfinex Derivatives later received its own DASP licence in January 2025, establishing El Salvador as a regional base for the derivatives business. CNAD has now licensed more than 70 digital asset service providers, including exchanges, custodians, and other digital asset businesses.
For Bitfinex, this licence reflects the company’s continued focus on Latin America, where digital asset infrastructure can help broaden access to global markets.
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* References to Bitfinex Securities in this press release are references to Bitfinex Securities El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.
** References to Bitfinex Derivatives in this press release are references to Bitfinex Derivatives El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.
About Bitfinex
Founded in 2012, Bitfinex is a digital token trading platform offering state-of-the-art services for traders and global liquidity providers. In addition to a suite of advanced trading features and charting tools, Bitfinex provides access to peer-to-peer financing, an OTC market and margin trading for a wide selection of digital tokens. Bitfinex’s strategy focuses on providing unparalleled support, tools, and innovation for experienced traders and liquidity providers around the world. Visit www.bitfinex.com to learn more.
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