Laos vs Taiwan
Crypto regulation comparison
Laos
Taiwan
Legal
Legal
Laos authorized cryptocurrency mining and trading through a 2021 pilot program (PM Notification No. 1158). Six companies were initially licensed, growing to 15+ by 2023. Mining operations must be 100% Lao-owned and use at least 10MW from Électricité du Laos. Two crypto exchanges (LDX, Bitqik) registered with Bank of Lao PDR.
Taiwan regulates cryptocurrency under FSC guidance. In 2023, the FSC was designated as the primary regulator for virtual assets. VASPs must register and comply with AML regulations. Taiwan has a vibrant crypto community and several compliant exchanges. Crypto income is subject to income tax at progressive rates.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
15% on transaction fees
Tax Rate
5-40%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Ministry of Technology and Communications, Bank of the Lao PDR
Regulator
FSC (Financial Supervisory Commission)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation; pilot covers BTC, ETH, LTC
Stablecoin Rules
Under FSC guidance; stablecoins treated as virtual assets
Key Points
- PM Notification No. 1158 (2021) authorized pilot crypto mining and trading
- Two licensed exchanges: LDX and Bitqik, registered with Bank of Lao PDR
- Mining leverages surplus hydroelectric power from Électricité du Laos
- Mining must be 100% Lao-owned; trading platforms require 51% Lao ownership
- 15% tax on transaction fees; M security deposit required for exchanges
Key Points
- FSC designated as primary crypto regulator in 2023
- VASPs must comply with AML/CFT rules and register with the FSC
- Self-regulatory guidelines issued for VASP industry (2023-2024)
- Crypto income taxed at progressive rates (5-40%)
- Major exchanges include MaiCoin/MAX, BitoEX/BitoPro