Located on
nearly 200 islands, the tiny nation of Vanuatu was until recently associated
mainly with being a regulatory and tax haven in the world of finance. Over the
past five years, the current Commissioner of the local Financial Services
Commission (VFSC), Branan Karae, has been working to change this perception.

The trust
he gained during his first term led to re-election, lasting until 2029. This
comes at a time when the country, which has existed for less than 50 years, is
introducing new cryptocurrency regulations and seeking membership in the
International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to enhance its
reputation even further.

Karae Re-elected as VFSC
Commissioner

According
to the VFSC’s decision on August 27, 2024, Branan Karae was appointed
Commissioner of the institution for another term. When he began his journey
with the Commission in 2019, Vanuatu was known in the financial and CFD
industry for its very low set-up costs and lax regulations.

On one
hand, this allowed the country to attract over 130 new brokers in just one
year; on the other, it became a potential haven for unscrupulous activities. At
one point, Australia’s ASIC warned its citizens about financial firms from
Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands, advising not to do business with them.

However, as
the years passed, the situation began to change. Vanuatu lifted its ban on
cryptocurrency trading and began seeking improved regulation , requiring
physical presence of financial dealers in the island nation.

According
to Martin St-Hilaire, one of the VFSC members, this would not have been
possible without the work done by Karae.

“Under
his leadership, the VFSC has garnered praise across the board—from government
and opposition alike, the private sector, international agencies, peers in
similar institutions, and his dedicated colleagues and staff at VFSC,”
St-Hilaire commented.

By making
these moves, Vanuatu was trying to become the new Cyprus, which was initially
also considered an exotic and offshore location but is now one of the world’s
centers for retail and CFD trading.

Plans for the Second Term

The next
five-year term, lasting until 2029, will allow Karae to continue the work begun
in recent months. In the coming weeks, Vanuatu plans to launch cryptocurrency
legislation, which was officially announced during a digital assets symposium
organized by the country’s financial regulator on June 27.

The new
regulations will establish licensing and registration requirements for virtual
asset service providers (VASPs), allowing them to operate legally in the
country. The proposed law includes five classes of licenses, covering service
providers who exchange virtual assets and fiat currencies, as well as those
offering cryptocurrency custody, among other services.

“The
VFSC stands as one of Vanuatu’s exemplary institutions, fostering a
business-friendly environment that prioritizes transparency and security,
crucial for the private sector’s growth,” added St-Hilaire. “As we
look to the future, it’s essential for VFSC to continue leading with innovation
and a commitment to excellence, setting the standard for financial services in
Vanuatu and beyond.”

However,
these are not all the developments that VFSC is working on. The Commission is
currently applying to join IOSCO, which would significantly enhance its
reputation.

Karae and
his team needed five years to transform Vanuatu from a regulatory haven for
brokers into an increasingly respected place on the map of global finance, CFD,
and soon crypto. The question now is, what will the next term bring?