Citizenship by Investment: How Crypto and Global Residency Programs Connect

When people talk about citizenship by investment, a legal process where you gain a second passport by making a financial contribution to a country. Also known as golden visa programs, it’s no longer just about buying real estate in Spain or investing in Portuguese bonds. Today, it’s also about how crypto holdings, blockchain activity, and digital asset regulations influence who qualifies—and who gets left out. Countries like Malta, Cyprus, and Antigua used to be the go-to spots for wealthy investors. Now, places like Georgia, Portugal (before its 2023 crackdown), and even Dubai are updating their rules to attract crypto entrepreneurs, not just traditional investors.

But here’s the catch: if you’re holding Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even a privacy coin like Aleo, most governments still don’t recognize it as valid investment capital for citizenship. The EU’s MiCA regulation, a sweeping set of rules for crypto asset service providers across Europe. Also known as Crypto Asset Service Provider licensing, it’s forcing banks and governments to finally define what counts as a legitimate asset. That means if you want to apply for citizenship in an EU country using crypto, you’ll need to prove you’ve paid taxes, complied with the Travel Rule, and maybe even converted your tokens into fiat through a licensed exchange. Countries like Iraq and China outright ban crypto, so holding it won’t help your application—it could hurt it.

Meanwhile, non-EU nations are moving faster. Some Caribbean islands now accept crypto donations to national development funds as part of their citizenship programs. Others, like Montenegro and Georgia, offer digital nomad visas that let you live legally while running a crypto business. But don’t assume all programs are equal. Many still require proof of liquid assets in traditional bank accounts. And if you’re relying on airdrops or meme coins like Kabosu Inu or NEVER to prove your wealth? You’re out of luck. No government accepts unverified tokens as proof of net worth.

What you’ll find below isn’t a list of where to buy a passport. It’s a real-world look at the messy intersection of crypto and national identity. From how the IRS tracks your crypto sales for tax compliance to why a zero-fee exchange like FreiExchange won’t help you meet residency requirements, these posts cut through the noise. You’ll learn which countries are crypto-friendly, which ones are shutting the door, and what paperwork actually matters when you’re trying to build a second life outside your home country.