Bulgaria vs Costa Rica
Crypto regulation comparison
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Legal
No Regulation
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.
Costa Rica has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Central Bank has stated crypto is not legal tender and not backed by the government, but has not prohibited its use. Some businesses accept Bitcoin, and there is a growing crypto community, particularly in tech-focused areas.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
10%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
NRA (National Revenue Agency), FSC (Financial Supervision Commission)
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
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
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation exists
- BCCR does not recognize crypto as legal tender but has not banned it
- Crypto businesses operate in a legal gray area without formal licensing
- A Bitcoin and crypto community has emerged, especially around tech hubs
- Tax obligations on crypto gains are unclear due to lack of specific guidance