Why the BVI Remains a Global Product for Cross-Border Capital

Appleby BVI is celebrating 20 years in the British Virgin Islands, having opened its office in 2005. With global capital moving across jurisdictions under tighter compliance expectations, Appleby BVI continues to be recognised for excellence. How do you define your positioning today, and what keeps the BVI attractive to international investors?

In financial services, the real differentiator is always people: technical quality, judgement, and professionalism. Appleby’s culture is collegiate and dynamic , which clients value when transactions get complex or time-sensitive.

On the jurisdiction, I’ve long viewed the BVI as one of the most global products in the offshore world. It has deep historical links to Asia, but today the client base is genuinely international, spanning Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America. Appleby’s broader footprint supports that: we have a long-standing presence in Hong Kong and offices in mainland China, which helps with China-related offshore work. And for certain Africa-linked investments, Mauritius can also play a structuring role, often alongside BVI entities, depending on objectives.

What deal and capital markets trends are most pronounced right now?

The standout growth area is fintech, covering crypto, tokenisation, blockchain and related platforms. That sits alongside continued strength in capital markets, including BVI companies listing on major exchanges. On the M&A side, we’re seeing sustained momentum, with activity in sectors such as oil & gas and consolidation among corporate and fiduciary services providers.

Another significant shift is that the work is increasingly sophisticated. Historically, many BVI entities held a single asset. Today, compliance and reporting expectations are higher, and we’re seeing more multinational, transaction-led structures. We also see more restructuring: simplifying group charts, collapsing redundant entities, and reducing administrative burden. Multi-jurisdictional transactions remain common, with BVI elements appearing alongside those of Cayman, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey, and others, depending on the asset and investor profile.

Which fund structures and strategies are gaining traction?

ESG remains part of the global conversation, particularly on governance. Structurally, the BVI has developed several practical options: approved managers (a genuine BVI success story), incubator and approved funds for emerging managers, modernised limited partnerships for private equity-style strategies, and segregated portfolio companies (SPCs) for umbrella funds, cell captives and risk ring-fencing. We’ve also seen innovative SPC use for family office planning, with portfolios aligned to different branches or beneficiaries. In specific fintech contexts, particularly on DeFi platforms, companies limited by guarantee (not authorised to issue shares) may also be relevant, depending on the model.

Strategy-wise, we see continued venture capital activity, including fintech-focused VC, as well as interest in tokenised products and private credit / lending-style funds.

How is compliance shaping investor confidence, and what should investors understand about the BVI’s direction of travel?

There is no going back on compliance expectations. AML, proceeds of crime, and sanctions checks are taken extremely seriously. Specific sectors, including fintech, are treated as higher risk and require enhanced due diligence, deeper source-of-funds work, closer scrutiny of beneficial ownership, compliance and sanctions checks, governance, and more frequent refreshes.

A common misconception is that offshore equals “light-touch.” In practice, onboarding can be demanding, and banks and service providers are cautious. The message for investors is straightforward: credible structuring now depends on transparency, substance and robust governance.

Looking ahead, what will define the BVI’s competitiveness over the next phase?

The jurisdictions that will succeed are those that combine commercial practicality with credibility. That means modern legislation, strong professional services, and a compliance framework that supports genuine cross-border activity. The BVI has built that over time, and the opportunity now is to keep serving global capital as transactions evolve.

This interview will be published in the upcoming Global Investor 2026