North Korea vs New Zealand
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
New Zealand
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 New Zealand and treated as a form of property for tax purposes. The IRD taxes crypto depending on the purpose of acquisition — if bought with the intention to sell, gains are taxable income. New Zealand does not have a formal capital gains tax, but crypto profits are often taxable under income tax rules. Exchanges are not specifically licensed but must comply with AML/CFT requirements.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
10.5-39%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Regulator
FMA (Financial Markets Authority), IRD (Inland Revenue)
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
- Crypto treated as property; gains taxable if acquired with intent to dispose
- No formal capital gains tax, but income tax applies to crypto trading profits
- Tax rates from 10.5% to 39% depending on income bracket
- Crypto salary payments are treated as taxable income
- Exchanges must comply with AML/CFT Act and register as reporting entities with DIA