United Arab Emirates vs Congo (Democratic Republic)
Crypto regulation comparison
United Arab Emirates
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Legal
Banned
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.
The BCC has explicitly banned cryptocurrencies in the DRC. Bitcoin and all virtual currencies are neither regulated nor authorized. The BCC has warned against pyramid schemes using crypto.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator
Banque Centrale du Congo
Stablecoin Rules
VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
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
- BCC explicitly prohibits all cryptocurrency activity
- Virtual currencies are neither regulated nor authorized to operate
- BCC warns of high risks of cybercrime and money laundering
- Unauthorized crypto investment schemes have been shut down
- No licensing framework exists for crypto service providers