Retail investor
Withdrawal from an exchange to the bank
“We reconstruct your purchase, custody and sale history so that the deposit from the exchange has a documented source consistent with your profile.”
Bank account blocked because of crypto in Spain
Has your bank blocked your account or a transfer over your crypto transactions? We help you prove the source of your funds, respond to the request for information under Law 10/2010 and regain access to your money with a solid traceability dossier.
Has your account been blocked? Free assessment
Tell us what the bank has asked you for and we will tell you how to get it unblocked.
- 50+ institutions advised
- Reply within 24 h
- No commitment
- Key legislation
- Law 10/2010
- Application of due diligence
- Art. 7
- Crypto held abroad
- Form 721
Services
How we help you unblock your account
Six areas of work to prove the source of your funds, respond to the bank and regain access to your money with evidence.
Source of funds
Proving the source of funds
We document where your money comes from (purchases, trading, staking, salary paid in crypto) with the narrative and supporting documents the bank requires under Law 10/2010.
Learn more →
PurchasesTradingStakingSalary
Bank access
Account unblocking and reopening
A strategy to reverse the block: dealing with the bank, a compliance dossier and, where appropriate, a complaint over a disproportionate or indefinite block.
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UnblockingBank liaisonComplaint
Traceability
Crypto traceability report
On-chain analysis that reconstructs the path of your funds from their source to the exchange and the bank, with verifiable documentation.
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On-chainSource of funds
Travel Rule
Transfer data
We help you provide the originator and beneficiary data required by the Travel Rule, reducing blocks and friction with the bank and the exchange.
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DataCounterparties
MiCA
Using regulated exchanges
Trading through providers authorized under MiCA strengthens your case that the funds have a lawful source and makes it easier for the bank to accept them.
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CASPExchanges
Defense
Responding to the bank’s request
We prepare the response to the request for information: organized, consistent and proportionate documentation to get your account unblocked as soon as possible.
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BankInformation request
Profiles
Who the bank blocks for dealing in crypto
Retail investors, digital nomads, businesses paid in crypto or traders: each profile needs a different source-of-funds justification.
Digital nomad
Crypto income from abroad
“We document your invoicing, tax residence and traceability to justify to the bank recurring income received in crypto-assets.”
Company
Customer payments in crypto
“We design the accounting, contractual and traceability support so that converting to euros does not trigger alerts or blocks at your bank.”
Trader
Volume inconsistent with your profile
“When the bank sees large and frequent movements, we prepare the narrative and evidence that explain and support your trading.”
Consequences
What happens if you don’t act on the block
A bank block over crypto does not resolve itself: the longer you take to prove the source of the funds, the harder it is to regain access and keep your bank accounts.
No access to your funds: although it is not a court-ordered seizure, the effect is the same while the preventive block on your account activity lasts.
Requests with deadlines: if you do not respond to the source-of-funds request on time and with supporting documents, the block drags on.
Report to SEPBLAC: the bank may report the transaction as suspicious if it cannot establish that it is lawful.
Law 10/2010 · Art. 7
Duty to refrain
If the bank cannot apply due diligence, it may not execute the transaction or maintain the business relationship.
De-banking
Account closure
The block can lead to your account being closed and to difficulties opening another one if you do not prove the lawful source of the funds.
Bank of Spain
Proportionality
An indefinite block despite your cooperation may be bad practice and grounds for a complaint if it is well documented.
Has your bank blocked your account because of crypto?
We help you prove the source of your funds, respond to the request for information and regain access to your money with a solid, proportionate traceability dossier.
Frequently asked questions
Account blocked over crypto: common questions
Why has my bank blocked my account because of crypto?
Because the bank is an obliged entity under anti-money laundering rules and must verify the source of funds. A block is usually triggered when deposits do not fit your usual profile, come from an exchange without a clear justification, or you cannot prove where the money comes from.
In general terms, the block is based on Law 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Is it legal for the bank to block my account?
Yes, within limits. The bank may act preventively, but it must respect the principles of proportionality and transparency and give you at least a general reason, citing Law 10/2010.
According to the Bank of Spain, an indefinite block despite your cooperation could be considered bad practice.
What documents do I need to get it unblocked?
It depends on the source, but they usually include: exchange history, proof of purchases/sales, on-chain traceability, contracts or invoices if you are paid in crypto, and the relevant tax return.
- Exchange statements and transaction history
- Traceability report on the funds
- Tax documentation (personal income tax (IRPF) return, Form 721 if applicable)
How long does it take to get the account unblocked?
There is no single legal time limit: it depends on the quality of the documents provided and on the bank. The more organized, consistent and complete your source-of-funds dossier is, the faster the block is resolved.
Responding to the request on time is key to keeping the block from dragging on.
What happens if I don’t respond to the request?
The block may stay in place or get worse. If the bank cannot apply due diligence, under Law 10/2010 it may refrain from executing the transaction and even terminate the business relationship.
In some cases, it will report the transaction to SEPBLAC as suspicious.
Can I file a complaint if the block is indefinite?
Yes. If you have cooperated and provided all the documents and the block continues without a proportionate reason, you can file a complaint with the bank and, where applicable, with the Bank of Spain Complaints Service.
Documenting your cooperation and the timeline is essential to support the complaint.
What is a traceability report and why does it help?
It is an analysis that reconstructs the path of your crypto-assets (on-chain and off-chain) from their source to the deposit in the bank, with verifiable documentation.
It is the strongest evidence to prove that the funds have a lawful source and to get the account unblocked.
Can the bank simply close my account?
Yes, it may end up terminating the relationship if it cannot establish the source of the funds or apply due diligence. That is why it pays to act early, with advice and evidence, before the case escalates to a closure or a report to SEPBLAC.
Practical guide
How to unblock your account step by step
Unblocking an account blocked over crypto is not about arguing with the bank: it is about proving the lawful source of the funds in an orderly way. The key is a traceability dossier that is consistent with your profile and proportionate to the transaction.
Why they ask you for it
The bank is an obliged entity and must verify the source of the funds and the purpose of the transaction. It is not distrust: it is a legal due diligence obligation that the bank must meet and document.
What you need to provide
Exchange history, proof of purchases and sales, on-chain traceability, contracts or invoices if you are paid in crypto, and the relevant tax documentation. All of it consistent.
What makes the difference
The narrative: a clear, chronological and verifiable explanation of how the money was generated, backed by evidence. That is what turns a block into a quick unblock.
Checklist: unblock your account in 10 steps
- Read the bank’s request carefully: exactly what it asks for, the deadline and how to respond.
- Don’t pressure the bank or argue: respond with supporting documents and within the deadline.
- Identify the real source of the funds (purchases, trading, staking, lending, salary paid in crypto).
- Gather your exchange history: deposits, trades, withdrawals and fees.
- Prepare an on-chain traceability report that links source, custody and withdrawal.
- Gather your tax documentation: personal income tax (IRPF) return, capital gains/losses and Form 721 if applicable.
- Build a chronological narrative consistent with your customer profile.
- Provide the documentation in an organized, proportionate way, with no gaps.
- Keep proof of your cooperation and of the timeline (in case you need to file a complaint).
- If the block continues without reason, file a complaint with the bank and the Bank of Spain.
Need help proving the source of your funds? See our page on crypto banking or request a traceability report.
Source of funds in practice
From block to unblock: how to prove the source with evidence
Unblocking an account is a process, not a conversation. It means reconstructing the source of the funds, documenting on-chain traceability and presenting the bank with a consistent, proportionate dossier. This panel shows how it works in practice.
1) RequestUnderstand what the bank is asking for
We analyze the request, the deadline and the scope: which transaction is being questioned and which documents would resolve the block.
- Flagged transaction
- Response deadline
- Key documents
2) SourceReconstruct the source of the funds
Exchange history, purchases and sales, staking or salary paid in crypto: the real source of the money, documented and consistent with your profile.
- Exchange history
- Source of the investment
- Consistency with your profile
3) TraceabilityOn-chain traceability report
We link source, custody and withdrawal through blockchain analysis to show that the funds have followed a lawful, verifiable path.
- On-chain analysis
- Off-chain documentation
- Verifiable narrative
4) ResponseResponse to the bank and, if needed, a complaint
We present the dossier in an organized, proportionate way. If the block continues despite your cooperation, we prepare the complaint to the bank and the Bank of Spain.
Tip: keeping proof of your cooperation and of the timeline is what supports a complaint over a disproportionate block.
Quick decisionWhat should you do, depending on the reason for the block?
One-off deposit
Exchange purchase/sale receipt + basic traceability of the withdrawal.
Recurring income
Contracts/invoices + full history + tax documentation + chronological narrative.
High volume
Detailed on-chain traceability report + enhanced dossier + liaison with the bank.
Unblocking playbook
What the bank asks for and what evidence resolves it
Source of the money
Where the money arriving from the exchange comes from and why it is lawful.
Purchase/sale receipts, exchange history and a traceability report.
Consistency with your profile
That the amount and frequency fit your activity and your declared income.
Pay stubs, invoices, contracts and tax returns consistent with the transaction.
Path of the funds
The route from the source to the deposit, with no jumps or gaps.
On-chain report linking wallets, exchange and bank account.
Tax position
That gains have been declared and, where applicable, any assets held abroad.
Personal income tax (IRPF) return with capital gains/losses and Form 721 if applicable.
Your cooperation
That you have responded on time and provided what was requested in an organized way.
Record of communications, dates and documents delivered to the bank.
What triggers a bank block
Knowing the triggers helps you prepare documents in advance and avoid future blocks.
- Deposits from exchanges that do not fit your profile or your usual income.
- Large or very frequent amounts without documented justification.
- Being unable to prove the source of the money when the bank asks for it.
- Not responding to requests for information on time.
- Dealing with unregulated platforms or platforms in high-risk jurisdictions.
Working glossary
Key terms when your bank blocks your account over crypto
If your bank has blocked your account because of crypto, these terms will appear in the request and in your response. Understanding them helps you provide exactly what is needed.
BlockPreventive
Preventive block on account activity
A measure that restricts access to funds or transactions while the bank verifies the source of the money. It is not a court-ordered seizure, but its practical effect is similar.
Basis: Law 10/2010 (AML/CFT).
Source of fundsProof
Justifying the money
The body of evidence showing where the money comes from and that its source is lawful. It is the core of any unblocking.
Evidence: history + traceability + tax.
Due diligenceLaw 10/2010
The bank’s obligation
The duty to identify the customer, understand the purpose of the transaction and verify the source of the funds before executing it.
If it cannot apply it, it must refrain.
Duty to refrainArts. 7 / 19
Duty not to execute
The bank must refrain from executing transactions when it cannot apply due diligence or considers them suspicious, and inform SEPBLAC.
Consequence: block and possible report.
TraceabilityOn-chain
Path of the funds
Analysis of the path of crypto-assets from their source to the bank. It reconstructs and documents where the money comes from.
Evidence: on-chain report + supporting documents.
SEPBLACSupervisor
Financial intelligence unit
The Spanish authority that receives suspicious transaction reports. A badly handled block can end in a report to SEPBLAC.
Better to resolve it early, with evidence.
Customer profileKYC
Know your customer
The information the bank holds about your activity and income. When a transaction does not fit the profile, an alert is triggered.
Key: amount ↔ profile consistency.
De-bankingClosure
Loss of bank access
Account closure or refusal to deal with you because of crypto risk. It is prevented with verifiable traceability and source of funds.
Outcome: dossier + solid narrative.
Form 721Tax
Return for crypto held abroad
Information return on cryptocurrencies held in custody outside Spain. Filing it correctly strengthens the case that your funds are lawful.
Tax support for the source of funds.
Free resource · PDF
Download the Checklist: unblock your account in 10 steps
The 10 steps to prove the source of your crypto funds to the bank and regain access to your money, with the documents expected in each case.
- The 10 steps to respond to the bank’s request
- What documents to provide depending on the source (purchases, trading, salary)
- References to Law 10/2010 and Bank of Spain criteria
- Professional PDF · 7 pages
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Bank account blocked because of crypto in Spain: legal framework and how to act
When a bank blocks an account or a transfer because of crypto, it does so as an obliged entity under anti-money laundering rules. The law behind these measures is Law 10/2010 of April 28 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, which requires institutions to apply due diligence measures to the source of funds and the purpose of transactions.
Why the bank blocks accounts
A block is usually triggered when deposits do not match the customer’s usual profile, when transfers arrive from an exchange without a clear justification, when the source of the money cannot be proved or when requests for information are not answered on time. The Bank of Spain confirms that institutions may block crypto purchases or transfers preventively, expressly citing Law 10/2010 in their communication to the customer.
Limits: proportionality and transparency
The block is legal, but it has limits. Restrictive measures must be applied with proportionality and transparency, and the bank must give at least a general reason. Under the Bank of Spain’s good practice criteria, an indefinite block despite the customer’s cooperation could be considered bad practice, which opens the door to a complaint.
How to unblock: the source of funds
The key to unblocking the account is proving the lawful source of the funds with an organized dossier: exchange history, proof of purchases and sales, an on-chain traceability report, contractual support if you are paid in crypto, and the relevant tax documentation. A chronological narrative consistent with the customer’s profile is what turns a block into an unblock.
Tax and supervision
Tax consistency strengthens the justification: capital gains and losses in your personal income tax (IRPF) return and, where applicable, Form 721 for crypto held abroad. On the supervisory side, SEPBLAC is the unit that receives suspicious transaction reports, while the Bank of Spain and the CNMV (under MiCA) supervise institutions and crypto-asset service providers.
Source of funds and crypto banking
Related areas
Official sources
Key legislation, linked to the official text:
- Law 10/2010 of April 28 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financingBOE · consolidated text
Legislation and links reviewed in .