Guatemala vs Philippines
Crypto regulation comparison
Guatemala
Philippines
No Regulation
Legal
Guatemala has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. The Banco de Guatemala has stated that crypto is not legal tender and not backed by the central bank, but has not banned its use. Crypto usage exists primarily for remittances from the US-based diaspora.
The Philippines is one of the largest crypto markets in Southeast Asia. The BSP licenses Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) under Circular 1108 (2021), and the SEC regulates crypto as securities where applicable. The Philippines saw massive adoption through play-to-earn games (Axie Infinity) and remittances. Crypto income is taxed at progressive income tax rates.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0-35%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Banguat (Banco de Guatemala), SIB
Regulator
BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), SEC Philippines
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin-specific regulation
Stablecoin Rules
BSP regulates virtual asset service providers including stablecoin operations
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation exists
- Banguat has warned that crypto is not legal tender and not government-backed
- Crypto is neither explicitly legal nor illegal for private use
- Remittance use case is significant given large diaspora in the US
- Tax treatment of crypto gains is unclear
Key Points
- BSP Circular 1108 (2021) provides comprehensive VASP licensing framework
- BSP has licensed major exchanges including Coins.ph and PDAX
- SEC Philippines regulates crypto securities and has issued warnings on unregistered offerings
- Crypto income taxed at progressive rates (0-35%); 12% VAT may apply to exchanges
- Play-to-earn gaming (Axie Infinity) drove massive adoption, especially in rural areas