Andorra vs Qatar
Crypto regulation comparison
Andorra
Qatar
Legal
Restricted
Andorra enacted the Digital Assets Act (Law 24/2022) providing a comprehensive framework for crypto. The AFA licenses exchanges, custodians, and stablecoin issuers. Aligning with EU MiCA.
Qatar has a restrictive stance on cryptocurrency. The Qatar Central Bank banned crypto trading and services in 2018, and the QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre. However, Qatar has shown interest in blockchain technology for non-crypto applications and is exploring a potential CBDC. The Qatar Financial Centre issued a Digital Assets Framework in 2024 focused on tokenized real-world assets, not cryptocurrencies.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
Andorran Financial Authority (AFA)
Regulator
QCB (Qatar Central Bank), QFCRA
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under Digital Assets Act with specific stablecoin licenses
Stablecoin Rules
Not permitted under current QCB regulations
Key Points
- Digital Assets Act (Law 24/2022) effective Oct 2022
- AFA licenses and regulates all digital asset service providers
- Three categories of stablecoins with specific licensing requirements
- Low electricity costs make mining attractive
- Aligning regulations with EU MiCA framework
Key Points
- QFCRA prohibited authorized firms from providing virtual asset services (2019 alert, reaffirmed 2024)
- QFCRA prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre
- QFC introduced a 2024 Digital Assets Framework for tokenized securities (not crypto)
- No personal income or capital gains tax in Qatar (but crypto trading is banned)
- Qatar exploring blockchain and CBDC applications separate from crypto