Iraq vs Mauritius
Crypto regulation comparison
Iraq
Mauritius
Banned
Legal
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.
Mauritius has developed a regulatory framework for virtual assets through the Financial Services Commission. The Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services Act 2021 (VAITOS Act) provides licensing for VASPs. Mauritius positions itself as a fintech-friendly jurisdiction in Africa with a flat 15% income tax rate applicable to crypto income.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
15%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
CBI (Central Bank of Iraq)
Regulator
FSC (Financial Services Commission)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable; crypto activities prohibited
Stablecoin Rules
Virtual assets regulated under FSC framework
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
Key Points
- VAITOS Act 2021 provides comprehensive licensing for VASPs
- FSC issues Class M (custodian), Class O (exchange), Class R (advisory) licenses
- Flat 15% income tax rate applies to crypto income
- No separate capital gains tax; gains may be treated as income
- Mauritius is a member of FATF and complies with international AML standards
