Congo (Republic) vs Laos
Crypto regulation comparison
Congo (Republic)
Laos
No Regulation
Legal
The Republic of Congo has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. As a CEMAC member, it falls under BEAC oversight. BEAC has cautioned about crypto risks.
Laos authorized cryptocurrency mining and trading through a 2021 pilot program (PM Notification No. 1158). Six companies were initially licensed, growing to 15+ by 2023. Mining operations must be 100% Lao-owned and use at least 10MW from Électricité du Laos. Two crypto exchanges (LDX, Bitqik) registered with Bank of Lao PDR.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
15% on transaction fees
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
BEAC (Bank of Central African States)
Regulator
Ministry of Technology and Communications, Bank of the Lao PDR
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; pilot covers BTC, ETH, LTC
Key Points
- No specific national cryptocurrency legislation
- BEAC provides regional monetary oversight
- Part of the CEMAC monetary zone with the CFA franc
- Limited crypto adoption and infrastructure
- Neighboring CAR briefly adopted Bitcoin as legal tender
Key Points
- PM Notification No. 1158 (2021) authorized pilot crypto mining and trading
- Two licensed exchanges: LDX and Bitqik, registered with Bank of Lao PDR
- Mining leverages surplus hydroelectric power from Électricité du Laos
- Mining must be 100% Lao-owned; trading platforms require 51% Lao ownership
- 15% tax on transaction fees; M security deposit required for exchanges