South Korea vs Vanuatu
Crypto regulation comparison
South Korea
Vanuatu
Legal
Legal
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.
Vanuatu has become a popular jurisdiction for crypto businesses due to its tax-free environment. The VFSC has developed a regulatory framework for digital assets.
Tax Type
Varies
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Rate
20%
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
FSC (Financial Services Commission), FSS, FIU (Korea Financial Intelligence Unit)
Regulator
Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC)
Stablecoin Rules
Under development; stablecoins subject to VASP rules
Stablecoin Rules
No specific 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
- VFSC regulates digital asset businesses
- No income, corporate, or capital gains tax
- Popular jurisdiction for crypto business registration
- Citizenship by investment program exists
- Developing digital asset regulatory framework
