Australia vs Marshall Islands
Crypto regulation comparison
Australia
Marshall Islands
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.
The Marshall Islands passed the Sovereign Currency Act in 2018 to create the SOV, a blockchain-based national digital currency. No income or capital gains tax.
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
Banking Commission of the Marshall Islands
Stablecoin Rules
Stablecoins to be regulated under proposed payments framework legislation
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
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
- Sovereign Currency Act (2018) created SOV digital currency
- No income or capital gains tax
- Has been a popular jurisdiction for DAO registration
- Banking Commission provides oversight
- Limited domestic crypto adoption