Iceland vs Lesotho
Crypto regulation comparison
Iceland
Lesotho
Legal
No Regulation
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.
Lesotho has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. The central bank has not issued formal guidance on crypto.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
22%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FME (Fjármálaeftirlitið / Financial Supervisory Authority), Central Bank of Iceland
Regulator
Central Bank of Lesotho
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; follows EEA guidelines
Stablecoin Rules
No 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
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Central bank has not issued formal crypto guidance
- Part of the Common Monetary Area with South Africa
- Limited crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto services