United Arab Emirates vs Croatia
Crypto regulation comparison
United Arab Emirates
Croatia
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 Croatia and regulated under the EU's MiCA framework since Croatia joined the eurozone in January 2023. Crypto capital gains are taxed at 10-12% depending on the holding period. HANFA oversees crypto service providers.
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
- Capital gains on crypto taxed at 12% flat rate
- Gains on crypto held over 2 years are tax-exempt
- HANFA regulates VASPs under Croatian and EU law
- MiCA framework fully applicable from 30 December 2024
- Croatia joined the eurozone in January 2023, aligning financial regulation with EU standards