North Korea vs Serbia
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
Serbia
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.
Serbia's Law on Digital Assets, enacted in December 2020 and effective June 2021, created one of the first comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks in the Western Balkans. The NBS oversees virtual currencies while the Securities Commission handles digital tokens. Service providers must obtain licenses and comply with AML/KYC requirements. Capital gains taxed at 15%.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
15%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Regulator
National Bank of Serbia (NBS), Securities Commission
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 Digital Assets enacted December 2020, effective June 2021
- NBS regulates virtual currencies; Securities Commission regulates digital tokens
- Capital gains on crypto taxed at 15%
- Service providers must obtain licenses and maintain physical offices in Serbia
- Transfer/conversion of digital assets exempt from VAT