United Arab Emirates vs Argentina
Crypto regulation comparison
United Arab Emirates
Argentina
The UAE has become a global crypto hub with multiple regulatory frameworks. Dubai's VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority), established in 2022, is the world's first dedicated crypto regulator and licenses exchanges, brokers, and other VASPs. Abu Dhabi's ADGM regulates crypto through the FSRA. The federal SCA also oversees crypto at the national level. The UAE has no personal income or capital gains tax. Major global exchanges (Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com) have obtained UAE licenses.
Cryptocurrency is legal in Argentina and widely adopted due to persistent inflation and currency controls. The CNV regulates crypto service providers under a 2024 registration framework. Argentina has one of the highest crypto adoption rates globally, with stablecoins used as a hedge against peso devaluation.
Key Points
- VARA (Dubai) — world's first standalone virtual asset regulator; comprehensive licensing framework
- ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi) — separate regulatory framework for digital assets in the financial free zone
- No personal income tax or capital gains tax in the UAE
- 9% corporate tax (from 2023) may apply to crypto businesses but not individual investors
- Major exchanges licensed: Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com, BitOasis
Key Points
- CNV registered as the regulatory authority for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under FATF guidelines
- Crypto gains taxed as income under the income tax law at progressive rates
- High adoption driven by inflation and capital controls on the Argentine peso
- Exchanges must register with the CNV and comply with AML/KYC requirements
- No legal tender status for crypto; the peso remains the only legal tender