Bahrain vs Dominican Republic
Crypto regulation comparison
Bahrain
Dominican Republic
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.
The Dominican Republic has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The central bank (BCRD) issued statements in 2017 and 2021 warning that crypto is not legal tender and prohibiting regulated financial institutions from dealing in digital assets under Monetary Law No. 183-02. Individual use is not criminalized but operates in a restricted gray area.
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
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation exists
- BCRD prohibits regulated financial institutions from dealing in crypto
- Crypto is not recognized as legal tender
- No licensing framework for crypto exchanges
- Crypto gains treated as taxable income when converted to Dominican pesos