Egypt vs United Kingdom
Crypto regulation comparison
Egypt
United Kingdom
Egypt heavily restricts cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Egypt prohibits banks from dealing in or facilitating crypto transactions, and a 2018 Dar al-Ifta fatwa declared crypto trading haram. However, Egypt's 2020 banking law created a framework that could eventually allow regulated crypto under CBE licensing.
The UK has an evolving and increasingly comprehensive crypto regulatory framework. The FCA registers crypto firms for AML/CFT compliance and has imposed strict financial promotion rules requiring risk warnings and banning incentives. HMRC treats crypto as property subject to Capital Gains Tax (10% basic rate, 20% higher rate, with £3,000 annual exemption from 2024/25). The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 brought crypto assets into the UK regulatory perimeter, and HM Treasury is developing rules for a full crypto regime including exchange licensing, stablecoin regulation, and a potential UK CBDC ('Britcoin').
Key Points
- CBE prohibits banks and financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrency
- Dar al-Ifta issued a 2018 religious ruling (fatwa) against crypto trading
- 2020 Central Bank and Banking Sector Law requires CBE approval for any crypto activity
- Creating or operating a crypto platform without CBE license is illegal
- Despite restrictions, Egypt has significant peer-to-peer crypto activity
Key Points
- FCA AML registration required for all crypto firms operating in the UK
- Capital Gains Tax: 10% (basic rate) or 20% (higher rate); £3,000 annual exempt amount (2024/25)
- Financial promotions regime (2023): strict rules on crypto advertising, risk warnings mandatory
- Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 brings crypto into regulatory perimeter
- HM Treasury developing comprehensive crypto regulatory regime (exchange licensing, conduct rules)
Sources
Sources
- HMRC - Cryptoassets Manual
- FCA - Cryptoassets Information
- HMRC - Capital Gains Tax Rates
- HMRC - Cryptoassets Manual: Mining
- FCA - Regulation of Digital Assets Speech
- FCA - Cryptoasset Registration Application
- FCA - Regulating Cryptoasset Activities (DP25/1)
- FCA - Financial Promotion Rules for Cryptoassets (PS23/6)