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Germany vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Germany | United States
Germany

Germany

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

Germany has one of the most well-defined crypto regulatory environments in Europe. BaFin has regulated crypto custody as a financial service since 2020. Notably, crypto held for over one year by individuals is completely tax-free, making Germany one of the most favorable jurisdictions for long-term holders.

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 Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0-45%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under MiCA; BaFin already licensed crypto custody under existing German law since 2020
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
Key Points
  • Crypto held for more than 1 year is completely tax-free for individuals
  • Short-term gains (under 1 year) taxed as income at up to 45% plus solidarity surcharge
  • Annual exemption of €1,000 for short-term crypto gains (since 2024, previously €600)
  • BaFin licenses crypto custody businesses under the KWG (German Banking Act) since January 2020
  • MiCA framework applicable from December 2024, complementing existing German regulation
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