Brunei vs Panama
Crypto regulation comparison
Brunei
Panama
Restricted
Legal
Brunei has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The BDCB (formerly AMBD) stated in 2017 that crypto is not legal tender and not regulated, warning the public about risks. Crypto is not banned but has no legal protection. No tax guidelines address crypto specifically.
Panama passed Law 129 in 2024 regulating crypto assets, virtual asset service providers, and tokenized securities. Panama has no capital gains tax on foreign-sourced or investment income, making it attractive for crypto investors. The law provides a regulatory framework for exchanges and establishes AML/KYC obligations for VASPs.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB, formerly AMBD)
Regulator
SBP (Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá), SMV
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- BDCB stated in 2017 that crypto is not legal tender and not regulated
- Crypto not recognized as legal tender
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Financial institutions discouraged from dealing in crypto
- No tax guidelines specifically address cryptocurrency
Key Points
- Law 129 (2024) regulates crypto assets and VASPs in Panama
- No capital gains tax on investment or foreign-sourced income (territorial tax system)
- VASPs must comply with AML/KYC requirements under the new framework
- Crypto payments for commercial transactions are permitted
- Panama's territorial tax system means crypto gains from international trading are untaxed