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Lithuania vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Lithuania | United States
Lithuania

Lithuania

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated in Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania oversees VASPs under AML regulations and has been an early mover in crypto regulation within the EU. Lithuania attracted a large number of VASP registrations due to initially favorable conditions, though it tightened requirements significantly in 2022-2023. The MiCA framework now applies.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 15%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos Bankas)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
Key Points
  • VASPs must register with the Bank of Lithuania under AML/CFT law
  • Capital gains from crypto taxed at 15% personal income tax rate
  • Lithuania became a major EU hub for crypto companies; over 500 VASPs registered by 2022
  • Tightened VASP requirements in 2022-2023, including local substance and capital requirements
  • MiCA transition underway from December 2024
Key Points
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources