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United Arab Emirates vs Switzerland

Crypto regulation comparison

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

United Arab Emirates

Switzerland

Switzerland

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.

Switzerland is one of the world's most crypto-friendly jurisdictions. The Canton of Zug is known as 'Crypto Valley' and hosts the Ethereum Foundation and hundreds of blockchain companies. FINMA provides clear regulatory guidance, and the DLT Act (2021) created a legal framework for tokenized securities and crypto exchanges. Individual investors pay no capital gains tax on crypto, though it is included in the cantonal wealth tax base. Professional traders may be subject to income tax.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Wealth
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0% capital gains (individuals); wealth tax varies by canton
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)
Stablecoin Rules VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under FINMA framework; fiat-pegged stablecoin issuers must hold a banking or fintech licence (reserves treated as public deposits), or a payment system licence under FMIA if structured as financial market infrastructure
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
  • No capital gains tax on crypto for individual investors (private wealth management)
  • Crypto included in cantonal wealth tax base (rates vary by canton, typically 0.1-1%)
  • Professional/frequent traders may be classified as self-employed and taxed on income
  • FINMA regulates crypto under existing financial market laws and the 2021 DLT Act
  • DLT Act (2021) introduced DLT trading facility license and legal framework for tokenized assets
Sources
Sources