Afghanistan vs Bhutan
Crypto regulation comparison
Afghanistan
Bhutan
Banned
Legal
Afghanistan effectively banned cryptocurrency in August 2022 under Taliban rule, declaring crypto 'haram' (forbidden). Authorities shut down 16 crypto exchanges in Herat and arrested traders. In 2024, enforcement intensified with provincial bans and public denouncements. Underground P2P trading persists despite the crackdown.
Bhutan has quietly become a significant Bitcoin miner through its government investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments, leveraging hydroelectric power. No tax on crypto.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Da Afghanistan Bank (Taliban administration)
Regulator
Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- Taliban banned crypto in August 2022, declaring it haram (forbidden)
- 16 crypto exchanges shut down in Herat; traders arrested
- 2024 provincial bans with public loudspeaker campaigns against crypto
- Crypto was used during the 2021 transition period for fund transfers
- Underground P2P trading persists for remittances despite ban
Key Points
- Government entity Druk Holding & Investments mines Bitcoin
- Hydroelectric power used for mining operations
- No income or capital gains tax in Bhutan
- Royal Monetary Authority provides oversight
- One of the few countries with state-level crypto mining operations