COUNTRIES & BUSINESS ROUTES

The right country.
For the business you want to build.

Company formation, crypto, fiat payments or a new operating base. Understand what a jurisdiction could solve, what it requires and how to take the next step through PAYMESE.

COMPANY SETUP

A software or service business abroad.

Compare Estonia, the UK and Cyprus around management, reinvestment and operating costs.

Explore this comparison
CRYPTO & FIAT

A crypto business that also needs payments.

See how a Canadian MSB and EU crypto routes differ, and assess the fiat side separately.

Explore this comparison
PAYMENT SERVICES

A new payment product in the right market.

Compare customer markets, payment permissions and partner dependencies before committing.

Explore this comparison

Explore your options.

Choose a topic, read the country guides and compare up to three jurisdictions.

12 guides

Launch a crypto business

Compare exchange, custody and other crypto-service routes alongside the fiat side of the business.

Browse relevant opportunities Discuss your requirements
3 of 3 countries selected · Remove one to change your selectionView comparison

A country guide explains possible routes. It does not mean a company or provider is currently available in that market.

Compare the operating picture.

These are starting points to assess against your business, not a ranking of the best country.

Comparison of Canada, Lithuania, Cyprus
What mattersCanadaLithuaniaCyprus
Why consider itA defined MSB registration process makes Canada a route to examine when your proposed services fall within the Canadian framework. Registration, compliance support and payment connections are separate parts of the launch budget.The Bank of Lithuania publishes activity-specific authorisation guidance. This makes it possible to assess the payment and crypto permissions separately before designing a combined product.The practical opportunity is an EU operating base that can be assessed for an ordinary service business or a regulated model. Compare local management, staffing and professional support with the markets you intend to serve.
Crypto servicesFINTRAC registration covers specified money services, including applicable virtual-currency activities. It is not a FINTRAC licence or endorsement. Securities or other rules may also apply to the product.A CASP must obtain the applicable MiCA authorisation or complete the relevant notification route for eligible existing financial institutions. An old VASP registration is not an EU licence.Crypto-asset service providers use the MiCA framework. Check the current CySEC and ESMA records and the exact authorised services; an older registration is not a substitute for current permissions.
PSP & fiat servicesA payment business may need Bank of Canada registration under the Retail Payment Activities Act as well as FINTRAC registration. Check the actual payment functions and any provincial requirements.An EMI, PI and CASP do not have identical permissions. Certain services involving e-money tokens also require a payment-services assessment alongside MiCA.Payment and e-money activities need their own regulatory assessment. CySEC crypto oversight and Central Bank of Cyprus payment supervision serve different purposes.
Company & operationsCompare new company formation with acquiring an existing entity. Review its operating history, filings, registration details and proposed ownership changes.For an existing institution, examine the authorised scope, ownership approvals, governance and regulatory correspondence alongside the company purchase price.An ordinary company may suit a consulting, software or trading activity. Providing regulated customer services requires a separate permission review.
Tax & total costRequest a review of company residence, the province of operation, profit flows and the owners’ home-country obligations. An MSB registration itself is not a tax relief.Compare the actual operating profit, group structure, staff costs and cross-border obligations. Regulatory capital and safeguarded customer money are not ordinary free cash for operations.Compare current corporate rules, distributions, owner residence and where management actually takes place. Any claimed exemption or IP-related relief needs a written eligibility assessment using the current rules.
Banking fitAsk about supported currencies and corridors, account purpose, customer sectors and onboarding evidence. MSB registration does not guarantee an account or European market access.Confirm safeguarding and settlement arrangements, currency coverage and scheme participation with the specific institution or partner. These are not automatic features of every licence.Test whether the intended bank or payment provider accepts your ownership, sector, counterparties and expected flows before committing to the structure.
Next stepAssess this route Assess this route Assess this route
Open a link to this comparison

Start with the problem you need to solve.

You do not need to know the country or licence name before you speak to us.

CHOOSING THE COMPANY OR PROVIDER

Compare what makes the offer work.

The country is one decision. The company, permissions, people and commercial terms are the next.

01What you actually receive
Company shares or assets, an application service, a partner contract or software. Ask for inclusions, exclusions and the party responsible for delivery.
02Permissions and operating history
For a regulated company or provider, confirm the current registry entry, exact services, restrictions, liabilities and any change-of-control conditions.
03The full cost to operate
Compare price, capital, local staff, compliance, accounting, software, banking fees and any reserves. Include the conditions and timing of any claimed tax benefit.
04Banking and technology continuity
Confirm account and partner acceptance, settlement terms, code and data ownership, service support and what must be re-approved after a transaction.

Questions that change the decision.

Should I choose a country just for a lower tax rate?

Compare the full outcome: company and owner tax residence, where decisions and work happen, dividends or reinvestment, accounting, staffing and any relief conditions. A company formed abroad may still create tax obligations where it is managed or operated. Ask for a written comparison of your current structure and the proposed one.

Compare tax and operating considerations
Can one company handle crypto, fiat payments and technology?

Sometimes a structure can combine them, but each activity needs to be mapped. Identify who holds assets, moves customer money, issues stored value and supplies software. The answer may involve several permissions or separate licensed partners. A software platform alone does not provide the right to perform regulated services.

Explore payment-service routes
Should I buy an existing company, start a new one or use a partner?

Compare the same target product across all three routes. An acquisition may bring an existing operation but also liabilities and ownership approvals. A new application lets you define the model but needs preparation and resources. A partner route depends on the partner’s actual permissions, commercial terms and acceptance of your business.

Browse businesses for sale
What if banks consider my business higher risk?

Prepare a clear explanation of customers, ownership, source of funds, transaction corridors, asset types, volumes and controls. Compare providers by their stated acceptance criteria and ability to assess that evidence. No jurisdiction or licence guarantees banking; the provider makes its own onboarding decision.

Explore banking and fiat access
What if the marketplace has no matching offer yet?

Submit a buying or service request with the capabilities, market and timing you need. PAYMESE can review the brief and potential matches. Your company and contact details remain private until the agreed introduction process is complete.

Submit a service request