Costa Rica vs Lebanon
Crypto regulation comparison
Costa Rica
Lebanon
No Regulation
No Regulation
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.
Lebanon has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Banque du Liban issued a 2014 circular warning financial institutions against dealing with digital currencies, but crypto itself is not banned. Amid the severe economic crisis and banking collapse since 2019, crypto adoption has surged as citizens seek alternatives to the devalued Lebanese pound.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Regulator
BDL (Banque du Liban)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No regulation
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
Key Points
- BDL Circular 318 (2014) warned banks against dealing in crypto but did not ban it outright
- No dedicated crypto regulatory framework or licensing regime
- Severe banking crisis and capital controls have driven crypto adoption
- Crypto used as a store of value and remittance channel during economic collapse
- No specific crypto taxation rules in place