Australia vs São Tomé and Príncipe
Crypto regulation comparison
Australia
São Tomé and Príncipe
Legal
No Regulation
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.
São Tomé and Príncipe has no specific cryptocurrency regulation.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
0-45%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
ASIC, AUSTRAC, ATO
Regulator
Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe
Stablecoin Rules
Stablecoins to be regulated under proposed payments framework legislation
Stablecoin Rules
No 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
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Central bank has not addressed crypto
- Very limited financial infrastructure
- Minimal crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto services
