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Kuwait vs El Salvador

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Kuwait | El Salvador
Kuwait

Kuwait

El Salvador

El Salvador

Restricted
Legal

Kuwait has taken a restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Kuwait and the Capital Markets Authority have prohibited banks and financial institutions from processing crypto transactions. There is no licensing framework for crypto exchanges. However, owning crypto is not explicitly illegal, and there is no personal income tax in Kuwait, so no crypto-specific tax applies.

El Salvador made history in September 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender through the Bitcoin Law. However, under a January 2025 IMF agreement (Decreto 199), El Salvador amended the law to make Bitcoin acceptance by businesses voluntary rather than mandatory, and repealed several articles. There is no capital gains tax on Bitcoin. The CNAD regulates digital assets.

Tax Type None
Tax Type No tax
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0%
Exchanges No No
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator CBK (Central Bank of Kuwait), CMA
Regulator BCR (Banco Central de Reserva), CNAD (Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales)
Stablecoin Rules No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules USD is the primary currency; Bitcoin-specific legislation in place
Key Points
  • CBK prohibits banks and financial institutions from dealing in virtual currencies
  • No licensing framework exists for crypto exchanges or VASPs
  • Personal ownership of crypto is not explicitly criminalized
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Kuwait applies to crypto
  • CMA has warned investors about the risks of cryptocurrency
Key Points
  • First country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021 via the Bitcoin Law
  • Government developed the Chivo wallet for citizens, offering $30 USD in BTC incentive
  • January 2025 Decreto 199 made merchant Bitcoin acceptance voluntary (IMF condition)
  • No capital gains tax on Bitcoin transactions for individuals
  • Government has been accumulating Bitcoin reserves and launched Bitcoin-backed bonds
Sources
Sources