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Bahrain vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Bahrain | United States
Bahrain

Bahrain

United States

United States

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.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type No tax
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
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
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources