Austria vs Costa Rica
Crypto regulation comparison
Austria
Costa Rica
Legal
No Regulation
Cryptocurrency is legal in Austria and regulated under the EU's MiCA framework. Since March 2022, crypto assets are taxed at a flat 27.5% rate on capital gains, aligned with other investment income. The FMA supervises crypto service providers.
Costa Rica has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Central Bank has stated crypto is not legal tender and not backed by the government, but has not prohibited its use. Some businesses accept Bitcoin, and there is a growing crypto community, particularly in tech-focused areas.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
27.5%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FMA (Finanzmarktaufsicht)
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Key Points
- Flat 27.5% tax on crypto capital gains since the 2022 eco-social tax reform
- Crypto held before February 28, 2021 is subject to legacy rules (tax-free after 1 year)
- FMA regulates VASPs under Austrian and EU law including MiCA
- Exchanges must register and comply with AML/KYC obligations under FM-GwG
- MiCA framework fully applicable from December 2024
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation exists
- BCCR does not recognize crypto as legal tender but has not banned it
- Crypto businesses operate in a legal gray area without formal licensing
- A Bitcoin and crypto community has emerged, especially around tech hubs
- Tax obligations on crypto gains are unclear due to lack of specific guidance