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Hong Kong vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Hong Kong | United States
Hong Kong

Hong Kong

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

Hong Kong has positioned itself as a major crypto hub in Asia with a comprehensive licensing regime. The SFC implemented a mandatory licensing framework for virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs) effective June 2023. Hong Kong has no capital gains tax, making it attractive for crypto investors and businesses.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type No tax
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator SFC (Securities and Futures Commission), HKMA
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules HKMA developing a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers under a 2024 bill
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
Key Points
  • Mandatory VATP licensing regime under the AMLO effective June 1, 2023
  • No capital gains tax in Hong Kong; profits tax applies only to business profits
  • SFC approved spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs for retail investors in April 2024
  • HKMA consulting on stablecoin issuer licensing under a dedicated bill
  • Hong Kong actively competes with Singapore as Asia's leading crypto hub
Key Points
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources