Australia vs Bahrain
Crypto regulation comparison
Australia
Bahrain
Legal
Legal
Cryptocurrency is legal and well-regulated in Australia. AUSTRAC oversees AML/CTF compliance for exchanges, ASIC handles consumer protection, and the ATO treats crypto as property for tax purposes. Australia has been developing a comprehensive licensing framework for digital asset platforms.
Bahrain is one of the most crypto-friendly jurisdictions in the Middle East. The Central Bank of Bahrain introduced a comprehensive crypto-asset regulatory framework in 2019, and there is no personal income or capital gains tax. Several major exchanges including Binance have obtained licenses.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Rate
0-45%
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
ASIC, AUSTRAC, ATO
Regulator
CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Stablecoin Rules
Stablecoins to be regulated under proposed payments framework legislation
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Key Points
- Digital currency exchanges must register with AUSTRAC and comply with AML/CTF Act
- ATO treats cryptocurrency as a CGT asset; holding for 12+ months qualifies for 50% discount
- ASIC regulates crypto products that qualify as financial products under the Corporations Act
- Treasury released a token mapping consultation in 2023 to classify digital assets
- Proposed licensing regime for digital asset platforms under development
Key Points
- CBB Crypto-Asset Module provides a full regulatory framework for exchanges, custodians, and brokers
- No personal income tax or capital gains tax in Bahrain
- Licensed exchanges include Binance (CoinMENA), Rain, and others
- VASPs must meet AML/CFT requirements and obtain CBB licensing
- Bahrain positions itself as a regional fintech and crypto hub