Iraq vs Thailand
Crypto regulation comparison
Iraq
Thailand
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.
Thailand has a comprehensive crypto regulatory framework under the Digital Asset Business Emergency Decree (2018). The SEC Thailand licenses digital asset exchanges, brokers, and dealers. Crypto gains are taxed at 15% withholding tax, though the government exempted VAT on crypto trading on authorized exchanges from 2022. Thailand has a well-developed exchange ecosystem with Bitkub as the dominant platform.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
15%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
CBI (Central Bank of Iraq)
Regulator
SEC Thailand, BOT (Bank of Thailand)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable; crypto activities prohibited
Stablecoin Rules
SEC Thailand regulates digital tokens including stablecoins
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
- Digital Asset Business Emergency Decree B.E. 2561 (2018) provides comprehensive regulation
- SEC Thailand licenses exchanges, brokers, dealers, and fund managers for digital assets
- 15% withholding tax on crypto gains; VAT exempted on authorized exchange trades since 2022
- BOT restricts crypto for payments but allows it as an investment asset
- Bitkub is the dominant exchange (~90% market share domestically)
