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Latvia vs South Africa

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Latvia | South Africa
Latvia

Latvia

South Africa

South Africa

Legal
Legal

Cryptocurrency is legal in Latvia and regulated under the EU MiCA framework. Since 2023, the financial regulator FKTK merged into Latvijas Banka, which now oversees VASP registration and AML compliance. Capital gains from crypto are taxed at 20%. Latvia has been proactive in implementing EU-wide crypto standards.

South Africa has embraced crypto regulation. In 2022, the FSCA declared crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act, requiring crypto service providers to obtain FSCA licenses. SARS taxes crypto gains under capital gains tax (up to 18% effective rate for individuals) or income tax depending on trading frequency. South Africa is the largest crypto market in Africa.

Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 20%
Tax Rate 18% (effective max ~18%)
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining No No
Regulator FKTK (Finanšu un kapitāla tirgus komisija) / Latvijas Banka
Regulator FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
Key Points
  • VASPs must register with Latvijas Banka and comply with AML/CFT requirements
  • Capital gains from crypto taxed at 20% personal income tax rate
  • MiCA framework applies from December 2024, transitioning existing registrations
  • Latvia transposed the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive for crypto oversight
  • Latvijas Banka absorbed FKTK regulatory functions in January 2023
Key Points
  • Crypto declared a financial product under FAIS Act (2022); service providers must be FSCA-licensed
  • FSCA began licensing crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in 2023
  • Capital gains taxed at effective rate up to 18% (45% max marginal rate × 40% inclusion)
  • Frequent trading may be classified as income and taxed at marginal rates (up to 45%)
  • SARB regulates cross-border crypto transactions under exchange control regulations
Sources
Sources