VASP Argentina: What You Need to Know About Crypto Regulations and Licensed Exchanges

When you hear VASP, a Value-Added Service Provider for digital assets, required by law to comply with anti-money laundering rules. Also known as Virtual Asset Service Provider, it’s the legal gateway for any crypto exchange or wallet service operating in Argentina. Since 2023, Argentina has enforced strict rules: only VASPs registered with the Financial Information Unit (UIF) can legally handle crypto transactions. That means if you’re buying, selling, or trading crypto there, your platform must be on the official list — or you’re at risk.

This isn’t just about paperwork. KYC, the process of verifying your identity before you can trade crypto is now mandatory across all licensed platforms. You’ll need your ID, proof of address, and sometimes even a selfie holding your document. Why? Because unregulated platforms — the ones promising no KYC or instant withdrawals — are often fronts for fraud. Argentina has seen cases where fake exchanges vanished with users’ funds, leaving them with no legal recourse. That’s why the government only allows VASPs that meet capital, audit, and reporting standards.

AML, anti-money laundering controls that track suspicious crypto flows is the backbone of this system. Every transaction above a certain threshold gets flagged and reported. Even if you’re just swapping stablecoins, your activity is logged. This doesn’t mean you can’t trade — it just means you have to use the right tools. The few approved exchanges in Argentina, like Binance Argentina and Ripio, follow these rules. But hundreds of others pretending to be local services? They’re not. And if you use them, you’re on your own.

What does this mean for you? If you’re in Argentina and want to trade crypto safely, you need to know which platforms are licensed. You need to understand why KYC isn’t a hassle — it’s your protection. And you need to avoid anything that says "no verification needed" — that’s not freedom, it’s a trap. Below, you’ll find real reviews of platforms that have been flagged, exposed, or confirmed as compliant. No fluff. No hype. Just what’s working, what’s dangerous, and what’s completely dead.