Who would've guessed that by 2025, humanity would end up in its pinnacle moments of tech excellence?
In late 2022, GPT was introduced to the masses. And this shifted something. Slowly, software prices dropped, variants started appearing, and we saw batches of founders from both first and even third-world countries ship their versions of AI/AI-wrapped solutions.
Parallely, the global crypto market moved into a maturity phase with lower Layer 2 fees, stablecoin rails for everyday payment infrastructures, and improved custody for teams.
All of these developments funnelled millions of global talent, investors, and innovators to Google's words, like AI relocation solutions or crypto-friendly countries for digital nomads.
Not only humans, but nations are also in a battle for digital talent with easier visa processing, lower taxes, and either a low tax base or 0% zones to attract new populations in search of remote work.
In this relocation guide, we'll go through all the ins and outs of relocating to a place with more opportunities, crypto and AI specific, whilst following all the guardrails.
What are the key relocation factors for crypto and AI nomads?
Key relocation factors for crypto nomads
Relocation doesn't just mean a visa. You're considering the ecosystem of lifestyle: work, tax, banking, healthcare, and everyday life. Verify all these aspects before you select your country:
Keep a tab of the type of visa and its processing timelines. Be attentive to the required documents, processing, and the pathways to upgrade (think Portugal D8, UAE Golden Visa, El Salvador Bitcoin Passport). Some of them also facilitate working and living at the same time and can be availed within 30-60 days.
Differentiate between tax on crypto income, earned, ousting, and lending income. Learn the rules at home, and in your host country for taxes on salary, crypto gains, staking and vesting, and tax years and treaties.
Learn all the available banking options for crypto profits. Use crypto-friendly banks or fintechs (test the on/off-ramps). Maintain separate spending and savings accounts, and rest assured - your funds are separate and identifiable.
Considers the cost of living and health insurance. Estimate monthly costs, purchase private telehealth and medical evacuation cover prior to arrival.
Check internet speed, community, and safety. This is a must if you spin up colleague meetups on the fly. Also, consider co-working with a 15-20 minute commutable distance.
Research long-term residency/citizenship options and extensions. Also, keep a tab of permanent residency options or citizenship pathways, rules for staying and children and days travelled, and to track days travelled.
Your quick factor checklist table for relocators
Quick factor checklist table for relocators
Top continents & countries for digital nomads in 2025: Crypto & AI-specific
1. Europe
Europe has structure, social healthcare, and rules. Taxation can be heavier than the Gulf. Though banking is easy, and communities are strong. Here's our compact view of the main hubs.
1/ Portugal, D8, and the post-NHR reality.
D8 is for remote earners and founders with proof of housing and stable income. D8 application is processed through AIMA. It takes a while to get a guaranteed outcome of a residence card and renewals on it. The classic NHR pathway has been shut down for the bulk of newly arriving people, and the new pathways for incentives have been limited to transaction types.
Since 2023, new crypto gains have not been considered tax-free for everyone. Short-term gains, unless declared by default, are also taxable.
Banking and costs: Fintech works fine. Traditional-based banks want to see a strong source of funds. Lisbon and Porto are mid-priced by EU standards.
Best for: founders seeking EU access. families searching for public healthcare.
2/ Spain, digital nomad visa and Beckham regime.
The Startup Act created a Digital Nomad Visa for remote employees and freelancers with clients based outside Spain. The visa offers residence and a pathway to longer-term residence.
The Beckham regime allows employment income to be fixed at a 24% flat tax. It is important to note that this flat tax does not blanket cover crypto gains and business income, but is fixed between limits.
Banking and costs: Smooth once you have an NIE and an address. Big city fibre, co-working, and schools.
Best for: employees on foreign payrolls, AI researchers.
3/ Malta’s crypto regulation and residency norms
Malta's virtual asset regulations are meant for teams needing regulated clarity for tokens, custody, or services. Routes to permanent residency are in place for anyone who is investing and an active resident.
Taxes/banking: You will find that your banking options should be crypto-aware, but banks are still very conservative when it comes to flows that are linked to an exchange. Excellent private healthcare system, depending on the way you employ private services.
Best for: Blockchain Founders wanting an English-speaking EU location.
4/ Germany - Chancenkarte and deep talent
The Chancenkarte points route is a good option for skilled workers to come to Germany, but it allows very limited work while searching for opportunities. Skilled workers with AI and data in their title passion additional points.
Taxes and costs: Germany has higher taxes, but also has excellent public services for healthcare, education, and transportation, along with many dense tech communities.
Best for: Developers with experience and research experience.
5/ Estonia - e-Residency and Startup Visa
The e-Residency program allows anyone to run a EU company virtually, while Startup Visa handles relocation of the team. When it comes to profits of the business, if retained/reinvested for growth in Estonia, these profits are not taxable until distribution.
Taxes/banking: Corporate setup is very efficient for a startup, but when it comes to your banking options, you will only find selective banks that will allow you banking options for crypto flows.
Best for: Lean AI or SaaS teams/startups and remote companies.
2. Asia
Asia offers mixed low/nil capital gains, where talent grows quickly and communities are dense. The visa routes vary from light nomads to longer investor or employment visas.
1/ Singapore, 0% capital gains, but strict licensing
Singapore has no tax on capital gains, individuals see the benefits of long-term crypto holding, and equity-accumulating founders favor the no tax on capital gains rule. Keep in mind that trading profits and business income are still taxable, so the structure becomes important. While crypto firms handle the Payment Services Act and the DTSP framework under the Financial Services and Markets Act, they tend to provide stability, albeit at a more measured pace.
Banking and expenses: First-world banks offering banking with heavy KYC, high costs of living, great internet, and English is acceptable for businesses.
Visa and fit: Access is through a startup employment or investor visa. It is best suited for compliant funds, fintech, and AI teams.
2/ Thailand, DTV and LTR choices
The Destination Thailand Visa is designed for nomads, freelancers, and creators. It is a five-year multi-entry visa for up to 180 days in each entry, with one extension (also 180 days) allowed in each entry. The Long Term Resident visa is for high-earning remote employee types and professionals.
Banking and costs. The cost of living is quite reasonable, except in prime beach areas. Great internet access is available in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Banking can be cumbersome and will require extra documents if earning foreign exchange income.
Visas and fit: While the DTV is flexible and does not provide full residency status, the LTR is for longer stays and is more rigid. This fits nicely for remote workers looking for an easy lifestyle and team retreats.
3/ Malaysia, DE Rantau Nomad Pass
The DE Rantau allows foreign tech talent (including AI and blockchain) to stay between 3 to 12 months (optionally extended to be up to 24 months), subject to specific income thresholds and insurance.
Banking and costs: Kuala Lumpur and Penang are quite easy on the pockets, internet access is solid, English is widely spoken, and banking can work with documents
Fit: DE Rantau is better for a developer and designer type who wants low-cost living and easy ASEAN travel options.
4/ Indonesia, Bali options, Second Home, and Golden Visa
Nomads use B211A for a 180-day stay even though it is only for a single entry. Second Home visa requires more of either a local deposit or a qualifying property. Gold Visa gets 5-10 years for investors. Rules keep changing, so be sure to verify.
Banking and costs: Bali is cheap, but it is also a very deep community. Opening accounts may take time without a good local sponsor.
Fit: Great for creatives, small teams that are scattered, and long-stay investors who meet the stay thresholds.
3. Middle East
Most countries in the Middle East region are quick and low on personal taxes.
1/ United Arab Emirates, Golden Visa and crypto-ready free zones
The UAE has ten-year Golden Visas for investors and qualified professionals. You will pay no personal income tax. Sponsorship for families, known paths to renewal. Crypto companies can be based in either Dubai DMCC or Abu Dhabi ADGM, and there are already established regimes. Strong banking structure, but the bank needs clean compliance. Dubai AI Campus at DIFC adds incentive for AI and Web3.
Best for: founders and entrepreneurs seeking speed, and investors seeking no tax.
Best for: senior-level people or companies working on a large public project.
3/ Oman and Qatar, stable base with selective channels
Both have a safe and solid infrastructure. Visas are based on employment or investment. Relatively small communities with good internet and power.
Best for: teams with an energy, fintech, or AI piloting project, and families.
4. Latin America
Latin hubs combine territorial tax models, warm weather, and active crypto communities. Banking is sometimes manual, but the communities are warm and growing!
1/ El Salvador, Bitcoin policies and Freedom Visa
Bitcoin is considered legal tender. A Freedom Visa is for people who contribute in crypto or US dollars towards a seven-figure contribution (though operational elements can always change, so check before losing funds). A dollarised economy and low everyday costs.
Ideal for: early crypto adopters and high-net-worth individuals who want to explore citizenship.
The Friendly Nations offer a two-step approach to permanent residency for people from specific countries who have established economic ties. Panama strictly taxes on territorial income (ie, income earned outside of Panama is not taxed), and banking remains professional, albeit with lots of paperwork.
Ideal for: remote earners who want access to South America with straightforward taxation.
3/ Costa Rica, digital nomad residence
The digital nomad residence program gives you banks and exemptions on foreign income earned while you are there. The cost of living is reasonable away from tourist regions, and there is a relaxed lifestyle.
Ideal for: single operators with a small team who want nature and safety without a lot of hassle.
4/ Mexico and Argentina, flexible moves and large communities
Mexico's Temporary Resident route is the intelligible default for many nomads. Argentina continues to have traction among the remote earning community, mostly for the culture, and you can find everything that you need.
Ideal for: nomads who are budget-conscious and want to leverage larger communities.
Critical digital nomads' lifehacks and relocation checklist
Digital nomad preparation
Before hopping on a plane, prep out a simple and nimble stack:
Money: Set up multi-currency accounts with either Wise or Revolut to get local IBANs and inexpensive FX. Add a crypto exchange card, but only where supported, like the Binance Card in Brazil.
Privacy and access: Use a reputable VPN that has an independent no-logs audit, like Proton VPN.
Insurance: Go with a nomad policy that has medical care, evacuation, and your work gear. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is clear about what’s included in your policy.
Community and housing: Use Nomad List and Outsite to narrow down co-living and coworking locations that include comparing Internet speeds and prices, and comparing districts.
Tax and Visas: Get automated crypto tax records with Koinly or CoinTracker. If you want employer-sponsored routes, check out Deel Immigration.
Quick run-through of the most needfuls:
The passport must be valid for 6 months.
Receipt that shows proof of remote income or statements from crypto wallets.
Health insurance and the vaccination record.
SIM or eSIM and a coworking pass.
Two bank accounts, 2FA on any exchange accounts, and encrypted backups of any keys or identification.
Calendar reminders for 90, 120, and 183 days in the country, maximum.
The Bottomline
Pick your base on multiple axes, not one or two, as visa paths and renewals, your tax position across home and host countries, and your ability to bank and get paid are always subject to regulatory change. With the guardrails all set in place, only a lack of sleep will prevent you from boarding the flight to your dream destination.
