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Bahrain vs South Korea

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Bahrain | South Korea
Bahrain

Bahrain

South Korea

South Korea

Legal
Legal

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.

South Korea is one of the world's largest crypto markets. The Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA), effective July 2024, provides comprehensive investor protection including requirements for exchanges to hold user assets in cold storage and carry insurance. All VASPs must register with FIU and comply with strict AML rules under the Specific Financial Information Act. A 20% crypto gains tax (above KRW 2.5 million exemption, raised from the original 250K KRW threshold) has been deferred multiple times and is now scheduled for January 2027.

Tax Type No tax
Tax Type Varies
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 20%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Regulator FSC (Financial Services Commission), FSS, FIU (Korea Financial Intelligence Unit)
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Stablecoin Rules Under development; stablecoins subject to VASP rules
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
  • Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA) effective July 2024 — major investor protection law
  • VASPs must register with FIU and partner with real-name verified bank accounts
  • 20% national tax (22% effective incl. 2% local income surtax) above KRW 2.5M annual exemption (deferred to January 2027)
  • Exchanges must hold 80%+ of user assets in cold wallets and carry insurance/reserves
  • Only won-denominated trading pairs allowed on major exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit)
Sources
Sources