North Korea vs Mongolia
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
Mongolia
Banned
Legal
North Korea does not allow civilian cryptocurrency use. The regime has been accused by the UN and US of using state-sponsored hacking to steal cryptocurrency to fund weapons programs.
Mongolia adopted the Law on Virtual Asset Service Providers (VPSP) in December 2021, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework. The Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) registers and supervises crypto exchanges. Over 12 licensed exchanges serve 850,000+ customers. Crypto mining is legal and growing, with tax incentives for renewable energy use.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
10-25%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Regulator
Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) of Mongolia
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- No civilian cryptocurrency use permitted
- State-sponsored crypto theft alleged by UN and US
- Lazarus Group linked to major crypto exchange hacks
- International sanctions restrict all financial activities
- Cryptocurrency used by state actors, not civilians
Key Points
- Law on Virtual Asset Service Providers (VPSP) adopted December 2021
- FRC registers and supervises crypto exchanges under VPSP law
- Over 12 licensed exchanges serving 850,000+ customers
- Crypto exchange income is taxable and exempt from VAT
- Mongolia launched blockchain-based OTC securities trading in 2025