Iceland vs Kuwait
Crypto regulation comparison
Iceland
Kuwait
Legal
Restricted
Cryptocurrency is legal in Iceland and subject to a 22% capital gains tax. Iceland is a major crypto mining destination due to abundant geothermal and hydroelectric energy. As an EEA member, Iceland follows EU financial regulations including MiCA through EEA incorporation.
Kuwait has taken a restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Kuwait and the Capital Markets Authority have prohibited banks and financial institutions from processing crypto transactions. There is no licensing framework for crypto exchanges. However, owning crypto is not explicitly illegal, and there is no personal income tax in Kuwait, so no crypto-specific tax applies.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
22%
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FME (Fjármálaeftirlitið / Financial Supervisory Authority), Central Bank of Iceland
Regulator
CBK (Central Bank of Kuwait), CMA
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; follows EEA guidelines
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- 22% capital gains tax on crypto profits
- Iceland is one of the world's largest crypto mining locations due to cheap renewable energy
- FME supervises crypto businesses under AML/KYC regulations
- As an EEA member, Iceland incorporates EU financial regulations including MiCA
- Capital controls (imposed 2008-2017) originally complicated crypto usage but have been lifted
Key Points
- CBK prohibits banks and financial institutions from dealing in virtual currencies
- No licensing framework exists for crypto exchanges or VASPs
- Personal ownership of crypto is not explicitly criminalized
- No personal income or capital gains tax in Kuwait applies to crypto
- CMA has warned investors about the risks of cryptocurrency