North Korea vs Sweden
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
Sweden
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 and regulated in Sweden. Crypto capital gains are taxed at a flat 30% rate. Finansinspektionen registers VASPs and oversees compliance. Sweden's Riksbank has been a pioneer in CBDC research with its e-krona project. MiCA applies from December 2024.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
30%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Regulator
Finansinspektionen (FI)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
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
- Flat 30% tax on crypto capital gains
- Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) actively tracks and taxes crypto; has made bulk data requests to exchanges
- VASPs must register with Finansinspektionen for AML compliance
- Riksbank e-krona CBDC pilot is one of the most advanced in Europe
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024