North Korea vs Norway
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
Norway
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.
Cryptocurrency is legal in Norway and regulated by Finanstilsynet. Norway taxes crypto capital gains at 22% and includes crypto holdings in the annual wealth tax calculation (net wealth above NOK 1.7M taxed at ~1.1%). VASPs must register with Finanstilsynet. Norway is an EEA member and aligning with MiCA through the EEA agreement.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Wealth and capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
22% (gains) + 1.1% (wealth)
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Regulator
Finanstilsynet (Financial Supervisory Authority)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; general financial rules apply
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
- Crypto capital gains taxed at 22% flat rate
- Crypto included in wealth tax base (~1.1% on net wealth above threshold)
- VASPs must register with Finanstilsynet and comply with AML/CFT requirements
- Norway is a major crypto mining hub due to cheap hydroelectric power
- EEA member; MiCA implementation expected through EEA Agreement adaptation