Bahrain vs Tonga
Crypto regulation comparison
Bahrain
Tonga
Legal
No Regulation
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.
Tonga has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. There has been legislative interest in adopting Bitcoin as legal tender but no legislation has been enacted.
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Regulator
National Reserve Bank of Tonga
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
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
- Legislative interest in Bitcoin legal tender discussed
- National Reserve Bank provides monetary oversight
- Limited crypto infrastructure
- No licensing framework for crypto services