Cayman Islands
Absolute zero-tax jurisdiction. No income tax, no capital gains tax, no corporate tax, no inheritance tax. CARF reporting being implemented for transparency.
FATCA Partner
Yes
FATF Status
Clear
EU Blacklist
No
Dual Nationality
Allowed
CARF Status
First Wave (2026-27)
Bitizenship
Not yet
CARF Reporting
First Wave (2026-27)
Cayman Islands is among the first wave of CARF adopters, implementing the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework by 2026-2027. Crypto service providers will be required to automatically report user transactions to tax authorities.
Tax Rates
Activity Taxes
Staking
0%
Mining
0%
DeFi
0%
NFTs
0%
Taxable Events
Crypto → Fiat
Not taxable
Crypto → Crypto
Not taxable
Holding Period
No holding period benefit
All gains tax-free regardless of holding period
Regulation & Residency
Regulatory Body
CIMA (Cayman Islands Monetary Authority)
Residency Requirement
Residency available via investment (~$1.2M+ in real estate or business)
Reporting Requirements
CARF implementation announced Nov 2025; first-wave OECD reporting jurisdiction
Citizenship & Residency Path
Residency via $1.2M+ investment; no direct path to citizenship (British Overseas Territory)
Resilience & Plan B
Jurisdictional Resilience
How well-equipped this jurisdiction is for a crypto holder who wants stability, access, and protection.
JRS
Institutions (25%), banking (20%), tax clarity (20%), business (15%), privacy (10%), geopolitical (10%). Full methodology →
Plan B Readiness
How fast you can go from “I want to move” to “I’m a tax resident with banking and optionality.”
PBR
Business ease (25%), citizenship path (20%), dual nationality, quality of life & safety (15% each), Bitizenship (10%). Full methodology →
Notable Conditions
- →VASP Act provides full licensing regime from April 2025
- →Tax exemption certificates available for up to 50 years
- →CARF reporting exchanges beginning (first-wave jurisdiction)
- →No reporting requirements specifically for crypto holdings/gains
- →Privacy diminishing as international data-sharing increases
Living & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Very High
Banking Access
Good but limited compared to larger jurisdictions
Quality of Life
High
Lifestyle Scores