Bangladesh vs Laos
Crypto regulation comparison
Bangladesh
Laos
Banned
Legal
Bangladesh effectively bans cryptocurrency. Bangladesh Bank issued warnings in 2017 citing anti-money laundering laws, and the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 prohibits unapproved digital currency transactions. Violations can result in imprisonment up to 12 years.
Laos authorized cryptocurrency mining and trading through a 2021 pilot program (PM Notification No. 1158). Six companies were initially licensed, growing to 15+ by 2023. Mining operations must be 100% Lao-owned and use at least 10MW from Électricité du Laos. Two crypto exchanges (LDX, Bitqik) registered with Bank of Lao PDR.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
15% on transaction fees
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Bangladesh Bank
Regulator
Ministry of Technology and Communications, Bank of the Lao PDR
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable; all crypto transactions are prohibited
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; pilot covers BTC, ETH, LTC
Key Points
- Bangladesh Bank issued a 2017 notice warning against crypto transactions
- Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 used to prohibit crypto dealings
- Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012 applies to crypto-related activities
- Penalties can include up to 10 years imprisonment and fines up to 3 million BDT
- Despite the ban, some peer-to-peer trading occurs underground
Key Points
- PM Notification No. 1158 (2021) authorized pilot crypto mining and trading
- Two licensed exchanges: LDX and Bitqik, registered with Bank of Lao PDR
- Mining leverages surplus hydroelectric power from Électricité du Laos
- Mining must be 100% Lao-owned; trading platforms require 51% Lao ownership
- 15% tax on transaction fees; M security deposit required for exchanges