Cayman Islands vs Bahamas: which jurisdiction wins?

Cayman Islands vs Bahamas — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Cayman Islands	Bahamas
Tax headline	0% corporate, capital gains, and income tax	0% income/corporate tax
Formation days	5	5
First-year cost	$4,200	$3,500
Treaties	Limited	Limited
Substance	Economic Substance Law applies to relevant activities	ESA requirements
Banking	Top-tier prime brokerage and crypto-friendly banking via Cayman National & private banks	Bahamian banks plus EMIs

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