Brazil vs Costa Rica
Crypto regulation comparison
Brazil
Costa Rica
Legal
No Regulation
Brazil passed comprehensive crypto legislation (Law 14,478) in December 2022, which took effect in June 2023. The Banco Central do Brasil was designated as the primary regulator for crypto assets used as payment, while the CVM oversees crypto securities. Capital gains on crypto are taxed at 15-22.5%.
Costa Rica has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Central Bank has stated crypto is not legal tender and not backed by the government, but has not prohibited its use. Some businesses accept Bitcoin, and there is a growing crypto community, particularly in tech-focused areas.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
15-22.5%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Banco Central do Brasil, CVM, Receita Federal
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Stablecoin Rules
Central Bank developing stablecoin-specific rules as part of the crypto regulatory framework
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Key Points
- Law 14,478/2022 (Marco Legal das Criptomoedas) provides a comprehensive legal framework
- Banco Central regulates VASPs; exchanges must obtain authorization to operate
- Capital gains taxed at 15% (up to R$5M), 17.5% (R$5-10M), 20% (R$10-30M), 22.5% (above R$30M)
- Monthly gains under R$35,000 from sales on domestic exchanges are exempt
- Receita Federal requires detailed monthly reporting of crypto transactions via IN1888
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation exists
- BCCR does not recognize crypto as legal tender but has not banned it
- Crypto businesses operate in a legal gray area without formal licensing
- A Bitcoin and crypto community has emerged, especially around tech hubs
- Tax obligations on crypto gains are unclear due to lack of specific guidance