Centralized Exchange Development in Colombia Guide 2026

Colombia isn’t cracking down on crypto. It’s wiring crypto into its tax system. Under DIAN Resolution 000240, effective for the 2026 tax year, global and domestic crypto exchanges and intermediaries are required to report user identities, transaction volumes, asset balances, and market values for BTC, ETH, stablecoins, and other relevant assets. First reports are due by May 2027, with penalties of up to 1% of unreported values.

This isn’t Columbia pulling the strings, but the (OECD) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) rolling out in real life. Brazil adopted it in 2024, Argentina in 2025, and 70% of LATAM countries will follow it by 2028.

Colombia ranks 5th in LATAM crypto adoption behind Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, etc., with $44.2B in transactions.

Those planning their (CEX) Centralized Crypto Exchange development can’t ignore this as a niche market. 

Why Does Colombia’s New Taxation Regulation Hit Centralized Exchanges First?

Governments regulate control points. Centralized exchanges sit at the intersection of:

• Custody (they hold user funds)
• KYC (they know who users are)
• Data (they log every transaction)

That trifecta makes reporting feasible and enforcement realistic. Wallets and DEXs, by contrast, don’t reliably identify users or act as intermediaries.

In Colombia, any crypto exchange software crossing retail thresholds (≈$50K) is squarely in scope for this taxation policy. No ambiguity. No loopholes.

Also Read: LATAM’s Crypto Moment: Launch an Exchange for Brazil, Mexico & Argentina in 7 Days

Can CEXs Launch First and Worry About Compliance Later?

One-word answer is NO. This is something where most founders burn money. Retrofitting compliance after launch costs 2-3x more than building it from day one. Compliance costs in crypto surged in 2025 as VASPs absorbed the operational impact of major regulatory regimes such as MiCA in the EU, the Genius Act in the US, and stricter MAS oversight in Singapore. AI-driven surveillance and geofencing mechanisms may even push these costs to $5-10M, or higher.  

Those planning centralized crypto exchange development must therefore build compliance right into the architecture to avoid hefty fines and add-on costs later. The following must be built within as a baseline compliance requirement: 

• User identity layers linked to transaction histories
• Real-time AML and risk monitoring
• Automated CARF-aligned tax aggregation
• Immutable audit logs for enforcement reviews

Missing these modules during the centralized cryptocurrency exchange development causes ugly fallouts resulting in downtimes, forced migrations, frozen banking relationships, and multimillion-dollar penalties. LATAM pilots already reveal 65% of non-compliant exchanges either shut down or exit markets.

CEX vs DEX in Colombia: A Reality Check

“As per a 2025 Chainanalysis report, CEXs remain incumbents, observing 64% of crypto-related activities in Latin America.”

However, this doesn’t mean that DeFi doesn’t exist. LATAM has demonstrated growing interest in DeFi in 2025. So it breathes, but major onboarding and exits are still recorded by CEXs, as that’s where the fiat access lives. 

Also, banks, payment processors, and remittance rails do not interface directly with protocols. They interface with regulated platforms that can perform identity checks, maintain records, and respond to regulatory queries.

“Another Kaiko Research report suggests that 70% of Colombian users still enter crypto through CEXs.”

The reason is practical. For most users, a centralized cryptocurrency exchange software remains the first touchpoint to convert local currency into digital assets and the last stop when moving funds back into fiat.

This is where recent regulatory developments shift the balance. When regulators ask for user identities, transaction volumes, asset balances, and historical activity, centralized exchanges become directly answerable because they already possess these data layers. CEXs act as custodians, run KYC/AML workflows, and maintain comprehensive transaction logs. That makes them the natural accountability layer in the crypto ecosystem.

Regulation, therefore, does not eliminate DeFi in Colombia. Instead, it repositions DeFi within the broader market structure. Decentralized protocols increasingly function as execution and yield layers, while centralized exchanges serve as the regulated gateways that connect crypto to the real economy.

Looking ahead, this is why hybrid exchange development models are likely to be the most viable approach for Colombia in 2026 and beyond. Platforms that combine:

• a centralized, user-friendly interface
• DID-based identity or KYC/AML frameworks
• on-chain settlement and custody options
• compliance-aware fiat and reporting gateways

are better aligned with both regulatory expectations and user behavior.

How Can CEXs Launch in Colombia With CARF-Ready White Label Crypto Exchange?

Starting with CARF-ready white label crypto exchange software saves a lot of time and money for those planning to launch their centralized cryptocurrency exchanges in Colombia. 

Here are a few benefits of launching with CARF-ready crypto exchange development solutions:

Offshore-first strategies are now risky for launching your crypto exchange software in Latin America, as foreign platforms serving Colombians face the same reporting duties and the same fines. LATAM VASPs’ compliance risks include high registration costs, stern AML scrutiny, and Travel Rule gaps. CARF-compliant white label cryptocurrency exchange development can help businesses overcome the regulatory hurdles.

Key Architecture Decisions For Semi-Centralized Exchange Development in Colombia

• Full custody simplifies reporting, but increases security exposure
• Semi-custodial or hybrid models reduce hack risk while preserving auditability

• Reporting-ready databases matter more than ultra-fast matching engines
• Immutable ledgers + structured audit trails are now non-negotiable

• Local data requirements improve regulator comfort
• Cross-border cloud setups reduce latency but raise compliance overhead

Colombian founders who treat reporting as “just exports” will be rebuilding their cryptocurrency exchange software stack within 18 months.

What the Next 24 Months Look Like & What CEX Founders in Colombia Must Do ?

Those planning centralized exchange development in Colombia in 2026 must expect the following:

• Real-time reporting requirements
• Deeper bank–exchange data sharing
• Possible withholding mechanisms for large gains
• Rising dominance of stablecoins as regulated rails

Founders don’t have time to wait for clarity. They just have four paths as of now, which include:

1. Building locally compliant from day one: Either Custom or Leveraging CARF-alligned white label crypto exchange software. 
2. Operate regionally with Colombia-specific compliance modules

Regulation isn’t the enemy, but unprepared builders will face grave issues. Colombia is signaling what global exchange operations will look like by 2028. Entrepreneurs who treat compliance as infrastructure, not friction, won’t just survive. They’ll quietly take market share while others argue on Twitter.

At Antier, we build exchange infrastructure that’s ready for this shift, not just fast to launch, but built to answer regulators, banks, and users from day one. Whether it’s a centralized or hybrid exchange for Colombia, we help founders turn compliance into a competitive edge, not a roadblock.