In 2020, the chief local financial regulator, the Financial and Capital Market Commission, urged investors to βbe particularly vigilant, as cryptocurrencies operate in an infrastructure that is currently characterized by lower regulation than in the financial and capital markets.β
Notable initiatives: In 2019, the Economic Ministry of Latvia introduced two blockchain-based pilot projects. The first one should strengthen the supervisory capacity of the State Revenue Service and reduce the shadow economy through the implementation of a blockchain-based cash register. The second would ease the process of acquiring limited liability company status by using blockchain systems in the Enterprise Registry.
Latest crypto regulations in Latvia as a part of MiCA implementation were adopted by Local Tax Authority (VID) in January 2024. Although we still have no information about licenses for VASPs in Latvia, according to the aforementioned tax service guide, local businesses can perform operations with cryptocurrencies. In addition, Lithuanian and Estonian crypto exchanges operate in Riga. Finally, Latvian residents can sell cryptocurrency and declare income from its sale.