Costa Rica vs South Africa
Crypto regulation comparison
Costa Rica
South Africa
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.
South Africa has embraced crypto regulation. In 2022, the FSCA declared crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act, requiring crypto service providers to obtain FSCA licenses. SARS taxes crypto gains under capital gains tax (up to 18% effective rate for individuals) or income tax depending on trading frequency. South Africa is the largest crypto market in Africa.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
18% (effective max ~18%)
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
BCCR (Banco Central de Costa Rica), SUGEF
Regulator
FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
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
- Crypto declared a financial product under FAIS Act (2022); service providers must be FSCA-licensed
- FSCA began licensing crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in 2023
- Capital gains taxed at effective rate up to 18% (45% max marginal rate × 40% inclusion)
- Frequent trading may be classified as income and taxed at marginal rates (up to 45%)
- SARB regulates cross-border crypto transactions under exchange control regulations