Bhutan vs New Zealand
Crypto regulation comparison
Bhutan
New Zealand
Legal
Legal
Bhutan has quietly become a significant Bitcoin miner through its government investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments, leveraging hydroelectric power. No tax on crypto.
Cryptocurrency is legal in New Zealand and treated as a form of property for tax purposes. The IRD taxes crypto depending on the purpose of acquisition — if bought with the intention to sell, gains are taxable income. New Zealand does not have a formal capital gains tax, but crypto profits are often taxable under income tax rules. Exchanges are not specifically licensed but must comply with AML/CFT requirements.
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
10.5-39%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
Regulator
FMA (Financial Markets Authority), IRD (Inland Revenue)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- Government entity Druk Holding & Investments mines Bitcoin
- Hydroelectric power used for mining operations
- No income or capital gains tax in Bhutan
- Royal Monetary Authority provides oversight
- One of the few countries with state-level crypto mining operations
Key Points
- Crypto treated as property; gains taxable if acquired with intent to dispose
- No formal capital gains tax, but income tax applies to crypto trading profits
- Tax rates from 10.5% to 39% depending on income bracket
- Crypto salary payments are treated as taxable income
- Exchanges must comply with AML/CFT Act and register as reporting entities with DIA