Revolut Wins Gibraltar Crypto License, Reopens Local Sign-Ups

Revolut has secured a crypto license from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, ending a stretch in which the London-headquartered fintech barred locally based residents from signing up for its digital asset services.

The authorization grants Revolut permission to operate under Gibraltar's Distributed Ledger Technology framework — the British Overseas Territory's purpose-built regime for crypto firms, in force since 2018 and tightened through successive rounds of rulemaking. With approval in hand, Revolut will reopen onboarding for customers based in the territory, the company said in its announcement.

What does the GFSC require?

The territory built one of Europe's earliest dedicated licensing frameworks for crypto firms when its parliament passed the DLT Regulations in 2018. Subsequent updates, including a substantive overhaul in 2021, broadened the regulator's remit and tightened expectations on capital, governance, and custody. Firms seeking a GFSC license must satisfy the Commission on anti-money-laundering controls, custody arrangements, technology risk, and the fitness of directors and senior managers.

That rigor comes with a familiar common-law environment, English-language proceedings, and direct access to a supervisor known for detailed but proportionate engagement. For post-Brexit fintechs and exchanges serving both United Kingdom and European clients, Gibraltar has become a routine second license — alongside Financial Conduct Authority registration in the UK and Markets in Crypto-Assets compliance across the European Economic Area — for firms building multi-jurisdictional crypto footprints.

What changes for Gibraltar customers?

Revolut had restricted sign-ups in the territory while its application was pending, leaving locally based residents unable to access the app's crypto features. The GFSC's authorization lifts that block. Eligible Gibraltar residents will be able to use the Revolut app to buy, sell, and hold supported cryptocurrencies once the company activates the market. Revolut has not publicly committed to a specific launch date; operational rollout typically follows standard internal compliance and onboarding checks for new licensed markets.

Where Revolut's crypto business already runs

The Gibraltar license adds to an existing footprint that spans the United Kingdom, where Revolut operates under Financial Conduct Authority oversight, and several European Economic Area markets where it offers crypto services under local regulatory arrangements. Revolut's retail crypto offering centers on custody and execution delivered through its app, features the company has rolled out market by market as licenses and registrations allow.

What to watch

The license takes effect immediately under the GFSC's authorization. Customer onboarding in Gibraltar is expected to begin in the coming weeks, subject to Revolut's internal sign-off.