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United Arab Emirates vs China

Crypto regulation comparison

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

United Arab Emirates

China

China

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.

China has imposed a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency activities. In September 2021, the PBOC and ten other agencies jointly declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal, and the State Council banned crypto mining. China is instead promoting the digital yuan (e-CNY) CBDC.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Unclear
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate N/A
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges No No
Mining Yes Yes
Mining No No
Regulator VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator PBOC (People's Bank of China), CBIRC, CSRC
Stablecoin Rules VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules Not applicable; all crypto activities are banned
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
  • All crypto transactions declared illegal by PBOC and 10 agencies in September 2021
  • Crypto mining banned by the State Council in 2021 after a series of provincial crackdowns
  • Financial institutions and payment companies prohibited from facilitating crypto services
  • China actively developing and piloting the digital yuan (e-CNY) CBDC
  • Despite the ban, some Chinese citizens reportedly access crypto via VPNs and OTC desks
Sources
Sources