South Korea vs Vatican City
Crypto regulation comparison
South Korea
Vatican City
Legal
No Regulation
South Korea is one of the world's largest crypto markets. The Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA), effective July 2024, provides comprehensive investor protection including requirements for exchanges to hold user assets in cold storage and carry insurance. All VASPs must register with FIU and comply with strict AML rules under the Specific Financial Information Act. A 20% crypto gains tax (above KRW 2.5 million exemption, raised from the original 250K KRW threshold) has been deferred multiple times and is now scheduled for January 2027.
Vatican City has no cryptocurrency regulation. The micro-state's financial system is focused on the Holy See's financial activities. ASIF provides financial oversight.
Tax Type
Varies
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
20%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
FSC (Financial Services Commission), FSS, FIU (Korea Financial Intelligence Unit)
Regulator
ASIF (Supervisory and Financial Information Authority)
Stablecoin Rules
Under development; stablecoins subject to VASP rules
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA) effective July 2024 — major investor protection law
- VASPs must register with FIU and partner with real-name verified bank accounts
- 20% national tax (22% effective incl. 2% local income surtax) above KRW 2.5M annual exemption (deferred to January 2027)
- Exchanges must hold 80%+ of user assets in cold wallets and carry insurance/reserves
- Only won-denominated trading pairs allowed on major exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit)
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- ASIF provides financial oversight for the Holy See
- Micro-state with very limited financial market
- No crypto exchanges or services
- AML/CFT framework aligned with international standards