Iceland vs Nepal
Crypto regulation comparison
Iceland
Nepal
Legal
Banned
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.
Nepal has banned cryptocurrency trading, mining, and transactions. The Nepal Rastra Bank declared crypto trading illegal in 2017, and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has been directed to block crypto exchange websites. Law enforcement has arrested individuals for operating crypto exchanges. Despite the ban, some citizens use VPNs to access crypto.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
22%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
FME (Fjármálaeftirlitið / Financial Supervisory Authority), Central Bank of Iceland
Regulator
NRB (Nepal Rastra Bank)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; follows EEA guidelines
Stablecoin Rules
All crypto activities banned
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
- NRB declared all crypto trading and transactions illegal in 2017
- Mining cryptocurrency is also prohibited
- NTA directed to block access to crypto exchange websites
- Arrests have been made for operating crypto trading platforms
- NRB exploring a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as an alternative