USA Montana MSB Licence: Go Live in 2 Weeks

Yes. A Montana MSB may serve clients globally, provided it complies with US BSA/AML obligations and any applicable foreign regulations in the client’s jurisdiction. There is no restriction on serving non-US clients, subject to OFAC sanctions screening.

Under our Platinum package, the ready-made Montana MSB can be transferred in 2 weeks. For new applications end to end: LLC formation takes 1 to 5 business days, the EIN 1 to 7 days, the Form 107 FinCEN filing 1 to 2 days, and FinCEN acknowledgement 2 to 4 weeks. The typical new-application timeline is 4 to 8 weeks, excluding banking; bank onboarding usually takes a further 3 to 6 weeks. Timeframes are indicative and depend on the government authorities’ workload.

Possibly, yes. Montana itself does not regulate money transmitters, but 49 other US states require their own Money Transmitter License to serve their residents. If your business plan involves serving customers across multiple US states, we scope phased NMLS filings individually under a Custom engagement. Purely cross-border and non-US activity is fully covered by the federal FinCEN MSB registration alone.

Both are federal registrations with no minimum capital and no resident director (a Canadian MSB serving Quebec also needs a provincial licence), and both cover fiat and crypto services under a single filing. A Montana MSB offers the shorter typical timeline (4 to 8 weeks vs 4 to 8 months for a new application) and US counterparty status with banking partners. A Canada MSB offers a longer operational track record and broader recognition across FATF countries. Contact us for a tailored comparison based on your target markets.

A Montana MSB requires no minimum capital, no resident director and no government application fee, covering fiat and crypto services under a single federal registration. EU MiCA CASP requires €50,000 to €150,000 in authorised capital, at least one EU-resident director, and separate EMI and CASP licences for combined fiat and crypto operations. A Montana MSB takes 4 to 8 weeks (2 weeks via a ready-made entity); an EU CASP typically takes 6 to 10 months. EU CASP offers passporting rights across all 30 EU/EEA countries, which a US MSB does not. Contact us for a tailored comparison.

Yes. A Montana MSB may provide convertible virtual currency (CVC) services, including exchange, custody and OTC trading of established assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Custodial wallet services and stored-value programmes are generally covered. Security tokens, derivatives and regulated investment products fall outside the MSB perimeter and may require separate SEC or CFTC registration.

No. Montana LLC law allows 100% foreign ownership with no residency requirement for the managers, members or compliance officer. To strengthen banking outcomes and meet institutional counterparty expectations, we can provide outsourced fractional positions, including a US‑resident Compliance Officer.

No. A physical office is not mandatory, but a Montana business address must be maintained for Secretary of State filings, and a registered agent address is required by state law. We provide a registered agent and business address solution in Helena as part of all packages.

Yes. A Montana MSB can hold and transmit client funds under its FinCEN registration, and can provide hosted wallet or custody services for convertible virtual currencies. Funds must be properly segregated and safeguarded, in full compliance with BSA/AML and OFAC sanctions controls. Large-scale fiat custody operations may also trigger state-level MTL requirements when serving residents in those states.

A Montana MSB must submit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs, for cash above USD 10,000 per day) and maintain KYC records under the BSA. Filings go through the FinCEN BSA E-Filing System, and records must be retained for a minimum of five years. Biennial renewal of the Form 107 registration is also required.

Federal corporate tax is 21% on worldwide taxable income. Montana state corporate tax is 6.75% and applies only to income sourced to Montana, so purely cross-border revenue typically falls outside the state tax base. Montana has no state sales tax. Dividends paid to non-US shareholders are subject to federal withholding of up to 30%, reducible under applicable tax treaties.

The KYC and documentation requirements depend on the shareholding and management structure. Key documents typically include certified passport copies for all UBOs and directors, a Power of Attorney, a business plan overview and CVs for main participants. Source of funds declarations and draft AML policies are required for the FinCEN Form 107 filing. All documents must be notarised and apostilled, in English.