Finland vs Iraq
Crypto regulation comparison
Finland
Iraq
Cryptocurrency is legal in Finland and well-regulated by the FIN-FSA. Crypto gains are taxed as capital income at 30% (34% for gains exceeding €30,000). Finland is one of few EU countries that has actively enforced tax compliance on crypto through data requests to exchanges.
Iraq has banned cryptocurrency dealings. The Central Bank of Iraq issued a directive in 2017 prohibiting banks, financial institutions, and exchange companies from dealing in cryptocurrency. Despite the ban, some underground and peer-to-peer crypto trading reportedly persists.
Key Points
- Crypto capital gains taxed at 30% (34% for gains over €30,000 per year)
- FIN-FSA registers and supervises virtual currency providers under AML law
- Finnish Tax Administration actively sends letters to crypto holders based on exchange data
- Losses on crypto can be deducted from capital gains
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
Key Points
- CBI banned all crypto dealings by financial institutions in 2017
- Exchange companies are prohibited from handling cryptocurrency
- No regulatory framework for crypto businesses
- Underground and P2P crypto trading reportedly exists despite the ban
- The ban is motivated by AML concerns and financial stability considerations