Trinidad and Tobago Passes Virtual Asset Regulation Bill

According to ChainCatcher, the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago has approved the Virtual Asset and Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill with a vote of 25 to 11, establishing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency activities in the Caribbean nation. The legislation aims to align with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards, in preparation for the FATF's on-site evaluation scheduled for March 2026. The bill's passage was marked by controversy, as the opposition accused the government of procedural violations by submitting a 48-page document with over 200 amendments just minutes before the debate commenced. Critics have expressed concerns that the stringent nature of the bill could stifle innovation. However, the government maintains that the amendments were developed following extensive consultations with the central bank, securities regulators, and industry stakeholders.