Italy vs Nepal
Crypto regulation comparison
Italy
Nepal
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.
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.
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
- 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