Iceland vs Mauritius
Crypto regulation comparison
Iceland
Mauritius
Legal
Legal
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.
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
Capital gains
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
22%
Tax Rate
15%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FME (Fjármálaeftirlitið / Financial Supervisory Authority), Central Bank of Iceland
Regulator
FSC (Financial Services Commission)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; follows EEA guidelines
Stablecoin Rules
Virtual assets regulated under FSC framework
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
- 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
