Colombia vs Estonia
Crypto regulation comparison
Colombia
Estonia
Legal
Legal
Cryptocurrency is legal in Colombia but not recognized as legal tender or currency. The SFC has run regulatory sandbox programs for crypto-financial services, and exchanges operate under general business registration. Colombia has high crypto adoption, particularly for remittances and as an inflation hedge.
Estonia was an early mover in crypto regulation, offering licenses since 2017. However, a 2022 overhaul significantly tightened requirements, revoking hundreds of licenses and imposing stricter capital and compliance standards. Crypto gains are taxed at 20% (rising to 22% from 2025).
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
0-39%
Tax Rate
20-22%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
SFC (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia), DIAN
Regulator
Finantsinspektsioon (EFSA), Rahapesu Andmebüroo (FIU)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulations yet
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Key Points
- Crypto is legal but not recognized as currency or legal tender
- SFC operates regulatory sandboxes allowing banks to partner with crypto exchanges
- DIAN (tax authority) requires reporting and taxation of crypto gains as part of general income
- Colombia ranks among the top 20 countries globally in crypto adoption
- No comprehensive crypto-specific legislation yet; regulation evolving
Key Points
- Estonia issued crypto licenses since 2017 but drastically tightened rules in 2022
- Hundreds of crypto licenses were revoked in 2020-2022 due to AML concerns
- New requirements include higher share capital (€100,000-€250,000) and local management
- Crypto gains taxed at 20% personal income tax (22% from 2025)
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024