Costa Rica vs Mexico
Crypto regulation comparison
Costa Rica
Mexico
No Regulation
Legal
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.
Mexico regulates cryptocurrency under the 2018 Fintech Law (Ley Fintech), one of Latin America's first comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks. The CNBV licenses fintech institutions including crypto exchanges. However, Banxico has restricted financial institutions from offering crypto services directly to customers. Crypto gains are taxed as income at progressive rates.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
1.92-35%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Regulator
CNBV, Banxico (Bank of Mexico), SHCP
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Virtual assets regulated under Fintech Law; Banxico restricts banks from offering crypto to clients
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
- Fintech Law (2018) regulates virtual asset operations through licensed ITFs (Fintech Institutions)
- CNBV (National Banking and Securities Commission) oversees licensing and compliance
- Banxico issued rules restricting banks from offering crypto to clients directly
- Crypto gains taxed as 'other income' (otros ingresos) at progressive rates up to 35%
- Mexico has high crypto adoption driven by remittances and unbanked population