Austria vs Ethiopia
Crypto regulation comparison
Austria
Ethiopia
Legal
Restricted
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.
Ethiopia's Proclamation No. 1359/2024 explicitly prohibits cryptocurrency for payment transactions but allows the NBE to issue future guidelines on digital assets. Crypto mining is legal and actively growing, with Ethiopia emerging as a major Bitcoin mining destination leveraging hydroelectric power. A comprehensive regulatory framework is under development.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
27.5%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FMA (Finanzmarktaufsicht)
Regulator
National Bank of Ethiopia
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin 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
- Proclamation No. 1359/2024 prohibits cryptocurrency for payment transactions
- NBE authorized to issue future directives on crypto assets and CBDCs
- Crypto mining is legal and rapidly expanding, leveraging hydroelectric power
- Ethiopia has become one of the fastest-growing Bitcoin mining destinations globally
- Comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework under development