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United Arab Emirates vs Bulgaria

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | United Arab Emirates | Bulgaria
United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Legal
Legal

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 Bulgaria and subject to a flat 10% tax on capital gains, one of the lowest in the EU. Bulgaria adopted the EU's MiCA framework and requires crypto service providers to register. The country has a notable history with crypto due to a large government Bitcoin seizure in 2017.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 10%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator NRA (National Revenue Agency), FSC (Financial Supervision Commission)
Stablecoin Rules VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under EU MiCA framework
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
  • Flat 10% personal income tax rate applies to crypto capital gains
  • VASPs must register with the NRA for AML compliance
  • MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
  • Bulgaria reportedly seized approximately 200,000 BTC in a 2017 crime bust (status debated)
  • No specific crypto legislation beyond EU directives and general tax law
Sources
Sources