Benin vs Switzerland
Crypto regulation comparison
Benin
Switzerland
No Regulation
Legal
Benin has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. As a WAEMU member, it falls under BCEAO oversight. The BCEAO has warned against crypto but there is no formal ban.
Switzerland is one of the world's most crypto-friendly jurisdictions. The Canton of Zug is known as 'Crypto Valley' and hosts the Ethereum Foundation and hundreds of blockchain companies. FINMA provides clear regulatory guidance, and the DLT Act (2021) created a legal framework for tokenized securities and crypto exchanges. Individual investors pay no capital gains tax on crypto, though it is included in the cantonal wealth tax base. Professional traders may be subject to income tax.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Wealth
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0% capital gains (individuals); wealth tax varies by canton
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States)
Regulator
FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under FINMA framework; fiat-pegged stablecoin issuers must hold a banking or fintech licence (reserves treated as public deposits), or a payment system licence under FMIA if structured as financial market infrastructure
Key Points
- No specific national cryptocurrency legislation
- BCEAO provides regional monetary and regulatory oversight
- Part of the WAEMU monetary zone using the CFA franc
- Limited crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto businesses
Key Points
- No capital gains tax on crypto for individual investors (private wealth management)
- Crypto included in cantonal wealth tax base (rates vary by canton, typically 0.1-1%)
- Professional/frequent traders may be classified as self-employed and taxed on income
- FINMA regulates crypto under existing financial market laws and the 2021 DLT Act
- DLT Act (2021) introduced DLT trading facility license and legal framework for tokenized assets