Lebanon vs Syria
Crypto regulation comparison
Lebanon
Syria
No Regulation
Banned
Lebanon has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Banque du Liban issued a 2014 circular warning financial institutions against dealing with digital currencies, but crypto itself is not banned. Amid the severe economic crisis and banking collapse since 2019, crypto adoption has surged as citizens seek alternatives to the devalued Lebanese pound.
Syria has a restrictive stance on cryptocurrency compounded by international sanctions. The Central Bank has not authorized crypto activities. International sanctions make access to crypto platforms extremely difficult.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
BDL (Banque du Liban)
Regulator
Central Bank of Syria
Stablecoin Rules
No regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- BDL Circular 318 (2014) warned banks against dealing in crypto but did not ban it outright
- No dedicated crypto regulatory framework or licensing regime
- Severe banking crisis and capital controls have driven crypto adoption
- Crypto used as a store of value and remittance channel during economic collapse
- No specific crypto taxation rules in place
Key Points
- Central Bank has not authorized cryptocurrency activities
- International sanctions severely restrict crypto access
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Limited internet infrastructure hampers crypto use
- Informal crypto usage exists despite restrictions