Bulgaria vs Bahrain
Crypto regulation comparison
Bulgaria
Bahrain
Legal
Legal
Cryptocurrency is legal in Bulgaria and subject to a flat 10% tax on capital gains, one of the lowest in the EU. Bulgaria adopted the EU's MiCA framework and requires crypto service providers to register. The country has a notable history with crypto due to a large government Bitcoin seizure in 2017.
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
10%
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
NRA (National Revenue Agency), FSC (Financial Supervision Commission)
Regulator
CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Key Points
- Flat 10% personal income tax rate applies to crypto capital gains
- VASPs must register with the NRA for AML compliance
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
- Bulgaria reportedly seized approximately 200,000 BTC in a 2017 crime bust (status debated)
- No specific crypto legislation beyond EU directives and general tax law
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