Greece vs Qatar
Crypto regulation comparison
Greece
Qatar
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.
Qatar has a restrictive stance on cryptocurrency. The Qatar Central Bank banned crypto trading and services in 2018, and the QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre. However, Qatar has shown interest in blockchain technology for non-crypto applications and is exploring a potential CBDC. The Qatar Financial Centre issued a Digital Assets Framework in 2024 focused on tokenized real-world assets, not cryptocurrencies.
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
- QFCRA prohibited authorized firms from providing virtual asset services (2019 alert, reaffirmed 2024)
- QFCRA prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre
- QFC introduced a 2024 Digital Assets Framework for tokenized securities (not crypto)
- No personal income or capital gains tax in Qatar (but crypto trading is banned)
- Qatar exploring blockchain and CBDC applications separate from crypto