Costa Rica vs Namibia
Crypto regulation comparison
Costa Rica
Namibia
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.
Namibia enacted the Virtual Assets Act (Act 10 of 2023) establishing a comprehensive licensing framework for VASPs. The Bank of Namibia is designated as regulator. Crypto is legal but not legal tender. No specific crypto tax framework yet.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
No framework
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
Bank of Namibia
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under Virtual Assets Act
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
- Virtual Assets Act (Act 10 of 2023) signed into law July 2023
- VASPs must obtain licenses from Bank of Namibia to operate
- Provisional licenses granted to first two exchanges in 2025
- Non-compliance penalties up to NAD 10 million and 10 years imprisonment
- Crypto is not legal tender but merchants may accept at their discretion