North Korea vs Thailand
Crypto regulation comparison
North Korea
Thailand
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.
Thailand has a comprehensive crypto regulatory framework under the Digital Asset Business Emergency Decree (2018). The SEC Thailand licenses digital asset exchanges, brokers, and dealers. Crypto gains are taxed at 15% withholding tax, though the government exempted VAT on crypto trading on authorized exchanges from 2022. Thailand has a well-developed exchange ecosystem with Bitkub as the dominant platform.
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
SEC Thailand, BOT (Bank of Thailand)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
Stablecoin Rules
SEC Thailand regulates digital tokens including stablecoins
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
- Digital Asset Business Emergency Decree B.E. 2561 (2018) provides comprehensive regulation
- SEC Thailand licenses exchanges, brokers, dealers, and fund managers for digital assets
- 15% withholding tax on crypto gains; VAT exempted on authorized exchange trades since 2022
- BOT restricts crypto for payments but allows it as an investment asset
- Bitkub is the dominant exchange (~90% market share domestically)