Bangladesh vs Saudi Arabia
Crypto regulation comparison
Bangladesh
Saudi Arabia
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.
Saudi Arabia has an ambiguous but generally restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. SAMA has not licensed any crypto exchanges, and financial institutions are warned against dealing in crypto. However, crypto is not explicitly banned by law, and Saudi Arabia has participated in blockchain initiatives (Project Aber with the UAE central bank). No personal income or capital gains tax exists in Saudi Arabia.
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
- SAMA has not authorized or licensed any cryptocurrency exchanges
- Financial institutions warned against crypto transactions
- Crypto not explicitly banned but not regulated; exists in a legal gray area
- No personal income or capital gains tax in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia participated in CBDC experiments (Project Aber with UAE)