Direct answer
In Peru the most common route is to buy USDT via P2P, paying in soles by transfer or digital wallet, and then exchange it for bitcoin on the exchange. The Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS) does not license exchanges: its Resolución 02648-2024 requires virtual asset service providers domiciled in the country to register with UIF-Perú and comply with anti-money-laundering rules. Before you buy, check which entity serves you and what the SBS says.
What the regulator publishes
The Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), through the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF-Perú), approved Resolución SBS N° 02648-2024 (30 July 2024), the anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing rule for virtual asset service providers (PSAV). The rule defines a PSAV as an individual with a business or a legal entity domiciled in Peru that, on behalf of third parties, exchanges virtual assets for fiat currency or for other virtual assets, transfers them, holds or manages them in custody, or provides financial services linked to their offering.
PSAVs are obliged entities: they must register with UIF-Perú, appoint a compliance officer, keep a transaction register, report suspicious transactions and apply customer due diligence. The chapter on the "travel rule" takes effect two years after publication, on 1 August 2026. The rule clarifies that UIF-Perú acts as the supervisory body for money-laundering matters and does not regulate the underlying technology.
This is not the same as a licence or prudential supervision: the SBS does not guarantee the funds you leave on an exchange, and the rule applies to providers domiciled in Peru, not to platforms that operate only from abroad. The SBS publishes the list of obliged entities on its website; if a provider claims to be "regulated by the SBS", check there what that actually means.
Tax authority
The tax authority is the Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria (SUNAT). We did not find a specific guide on cryptocurrencies on its portal; the general income tax rules for individuals apply according to the type of income you generate, and the classification of gains from selling crypto-assets is not set out in a dedicated rule.
Given that lack of express guidance, keep the detail of each purchase and sale in soles and confirm with an accountant how to declare your case before the annual return.
How people usually fund an account
The most common route is P2P: you pay another user in soles by bank transfer or digital wallet and receive USDT, which you then exchange for BTC. Which banks and wallets appear as payment methods is shown inside each listing in the app and changes over time. Some exchanges offer direct PEN deposits; confirm under "Add funds".
Visa and Mastercard cards are usually available with higher fees, and some banks decline the transaction. To withdraw soles you need an account or wallet in your own name.
Rules that do not change with the country: always pay and receive from accounts in your own name (platforms reject third-party payments, and a request for one is the first sign of fraud); in a P2P purchase the seller must not release the crypto until the money shows as credited in their bank, and you must not mark the order as paid without having paid; and when you deposit or withdraw crypto, the network you choose must be the same at origin and destination, because a transfer over the wrong network is normally lost for good. Make a small test transaction before moving larger amounts.
Check before you start
- Read Resolución SBS 02648-2024 and check whether the provider appears among the obliged entities registered with UIF-Perú.
- Identify in the terms of use which entity of the exchange provides the service to you and from which country.
- Have a valid DNI or passport ready for identity verification (KYC).
- Confirm whether your account supports direct PEN deposits or only P2P, and with which banks or wallets.
- Check withdrawal limits and the network fee before your first deposit.
- Keep your transaction history in soles to support your return to SUNAT.
- Avoid "investments" offered over WhatsApp or Telegram, screenshots as proof of payment, and payments from third-party accounts.
Related guides and tools
- Binance Signup Guide 2026: Web, App, KYC and Referral Code
- P2P Crypto Buying Safety for Beginners
- How to Make a Small First Bitcoin Purchase
- Crypto Exchange KYC Verification Guide
- Crypto Tax Recordkeeping Basics for Beginners
- Crypto Exchange Comparison 2026: Fees, Liquidity, Products & Regional Fit
- All countries
Official sources
This page summarizes what official bodies publish as of the date shown. It is not legal or tax advice and does not say that any exchange is licensed in this country.
