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Costa Rica vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Costa Rica | United States
Costa Rica

Costa Rica

United States

United States

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.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type Unclear
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate N/A
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
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
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources