Bitfinex Secures Licence and Completes Its Regulated Footprint in El Salvador
Bitfinex has received a Digital Asset Service Provider license in El Salvador, completing its regulated footprint in the country alongside its securities and derivatives arms.
Bitfinex announced on May 12, 2026, that it has been granted a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) license by El Salvador's Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales (CNAD). The license allows the core Bitfinex platform to operate legally in the country, joining its already-licensed subsidiaries Bitfinex Securities and Bitfinex Derivatives, which had previously obtained DASP licenses in April 2023 and January 2025 respectively.
The move gives Bitfinex a fully regulated presence across spot trading, derivatives, and tokenised securities under El Salvador's digital asset framework. The country has become a notable hub for Bitcoin adoption, with Banco Central de Reserva data showing 3.8% year-over-year GDP growth in Q4 2025, a 4.3% increase in economic activity in February 2026, and remittances rising 7.3% to US$2.44 billion through March 2026.
Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex, commented: "El Salvador has pursued a deliberate policy of becoming a serious home for regulated digital asset infrastructure, and that is paying off. 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."
The CNAD has now licensed over 70 digital asset service providers, including exchanges, custodians, and other firms, since Bitfinex Securities became the first platform approved under El Salvador’s Digital Assets Issuance Law in April 2023. Bitfinex’s latest license reinforces its focus on Latin America, where it aims to leverage digital asset infrastructure to broaden access to global markets.
Source: Bitfinex