Italy vs Kazakhstan
Crypto regulation comparison
Italy
Kazakhstan
Legal
Legal
Cryptocurrency is legal in Italy with a 26% capital gains tax on crypto profits exceeding €2,000 per year. VASPs must register with the OAM (Agents and Mediators Register). Italy was one of the first EU countries to require VASP registration and has aligned with MiCA.
Kazakhstan has a dual approach to crypto regulation. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) operates as a regulated sandbox where licensed crypto exchanges can operate under AFSA supervision. Outside the AIFC, crypto regulation is more restrictive. Kazakhstan became a major mining hub after China's ban but has since tightened mining regulations.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
26%
Tax Rate
10%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
OAM (Organismo Agenti e Mediatori), Consob, Banca d'Italia
Regulator
AFSA (Astana Financial Services Authority), NBK (National Bank of Kazakhstan)
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) has its own framework for digital assets including stablecoins
Key Points
- 26% substitute tax on crypto capital gains exceeding €2,000 per year (since 2023 budget law)
- Italian government proposed raising crypto tax to 42% for 2025 but this was reduced back to 26%
- VASPs must register with OAM and comply with AML requirements
- Crypto holdings above €51,645.69 were previously the threshold; new regime simplified this
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
Key Points
- AIFC provides a regulatory sandbox for licensed crypto exchanges and businesses
- Mining is legal and licensed, with a specific tax on electricity consumption for miners
- Kazakhstan became the world's second-largest Bitcoin mining country after China's 2021 ban
- 2022 mining crackdown introduced stricter licensing and energy consumption taxes
- Outside AIFC, domestic crypto payments and exchanges face greater restrictions