Greece vs Kazakhstan
Crypto regulation comparison
Greece
Kazakhstan
Cryptocurrency is legal in Greece and regulated under the EU framework. A 2024 tax reform established a 15% tax on crypto capital gains, replacing the prior uncertain treatment. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission oversees crypto service provider registration.
Kazakhstan has a dual approach to crypto regulation. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) operates as a regulated sandbox where licensed crypto exchanges can operate under AFSA supervision. Outside the AIFC, crypto regulation is more restrictive. Kazakhstan became a major mining hub after China's ban but has since tightened mining regulations.
Key Points
- 15% capital gains tax on crypto established under recent tax reforms
- HCMC registers and supervises crypto service providers
- Greece adopted EU AML directives for crypto businesses
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
- Crypto adoption grew during the 2015 financial crisis and capital controls
Key Points
- AIFC provides a regulatory sandbox for licensed crypto exchanges and businesses
- Mining is legal and licensed, with a specific tax on electricity consumption for miners
- Kazakhstan became the world's second-largest Bitcoin mining country after China's 2021 ban
- 2022 mining crackdown introduced stricter licensing and energy consumption taxes
- Outside AIFC, domestic crypto payments and exchanges face greater restrictions