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Italy vs South Africa

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Italy | South Africa
Italy

Italy

South Africa

South Africa

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.

South Africa has embraced crypto regulation. In 2022, the FSCA declared crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act, requiring crypto service providers to obtain FSCA licenses. SARS taxes crypto gains under capital gains tax (up to 18% effective rate for individuals) or income tax depending on trading frequency. South Africa is the largest crypto market in Africa.

Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 26%
Tax Rate 18% (effective max ~18%)
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining No No
Regulator OAM (Organismo Agenti e Mediatori), Consob, Banca d'Italia
Regulator FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
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
  • Crypto declared a financial product under FAIS Act (2022); service providers must be FSCA-licensed
  • FSCA began licensing crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in 2023
  • Capital gains taxed at effective rate up to 18% (45% max marginal rate × 40% inclusion)
  • Frequent trading may be classified as income and taxed at marginal rates (up to 45%)
  • SARB regulates cross-border crypto transactions under exchange control regulations
Sources
Sources