4 Countries Offering Citizenship or Golden Visa for Crypto
Several countries are now allowing investors to secure citizenship or residency by using digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.Fast-track programs in Portugal, El Salvador, Vanuatu, Dominica and Saint Lucia are attracting wealthy digital asset holders. Recent estimates indicate that over $2 billion in crypto investments were invested into citizenship and golden visa programs globally in the last 12 months.
According to officials, these programs modernize traditional migration paths and increase foreign investment while providing applicants with fewer bureaucratic obstacles and faster processing times.
Vanuatu - Fast-Track Citizenship Via Crypto
One of the fastest ways to get a second passport is through Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program which takes 30 to 60 days to process. Although the government does not directly accept crypto, licensed agents convert payments made in stablecoins or Bitcoin for local currency.
The passport provides visa-free entry to 93 countries including Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom and the minimum investment is approximately $130,000. According to officials, the program is becoming increasingly prevalent among cryptocurrency investors seeking fast & flexible global mobility.
Dominica and Saint Lucia– Caribbean Citizenship Programs
Through their Citizenship by Investment programs, Dominica and Saint Lucia allow crypto payments through licensed agents. Investors have two options: they either buy approved real estate or donate to government funds. Processing durations are 4 to 9 months and minimum investments range from $200,000 to $300,000. It is necessary to live there.
Accepting cryptocurrency, according to government officials has increased the programs worldwide reach and attracted younger investors.
Portugal– Golden Visa via Investment Funds
Portugal's Golden Visa program allows for residency via capital investments including those made in regulated investment funds that may indirectly hold cryptocurrencies. After 5 years, applicants can apply for citizenship and the minimum investment is €500,000. Investors can meet requirements by converting digital assets into fiat currency even though direct cryptocurrency payments are not accepted.
El Salvador—Direct Citizenship Through Bitcoin
EI Salvador’s ‘Freedom Passport’ program provides a direct path to citizenship. Applicants who deposit a $1 million investment in USDT or Bitcoin are granted citizenship. With processing durations as low as 4 to 6 weeks, the program is only open to 1,000 applicants annually. According to officials, the country’s decision to make Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 strengthens EI Salvador’s standing as a major global hub for migration and investment, crypto-friendly.
The rise of crypto-backed citizenship and residency programs shows how governments are adapting to the digital economy. By accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum & Stablecoins, countries like Vanuatu, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Portugal and EI Salvador are opening up opportunities for investors who want to traverse the world without fully relying on traditional banking systems.
Given that over $2 billion has been invested via these programs in the past year, experts predict that more countries may follow suit in the years to come combining financial innovation with immigration policy.
