Mauritius vs Turkey
Crypto regulation comparison
Mauritius
Turkey
Mauritius has developed a regulatory framework for virtual assets through the Financial Services Commission. The Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services Act 2021 (VAITOS Act) provides licensing for VASPs. Mauritius positions itself as a fintech-friendly jurisdiction in Africa with a flat 15% income tax rate applicable to crypto income.
Turkey has one of the highest crypto adoption rates globally, driven by lira depreciation and high inflation. While crypto ownership is legal, the CBRT banned crypto payments in April 2021. In 2024, Turkey passed comprehensive crypto legislation under the Capital Markets Law amendment, giving the CMB authority to license and regulate crypto asset service providers. No crypto-specific tax exists yet, though legislation is under consideration. MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) oversees AML compliance.
Key Points
- VAITOS Act 2021 provides comprehensive licensing for VASPs
- FSC issues Class M (custodian), Class O (exchange), Class R (advisory) licenses
- Flat 15% income tax rate applies to crypto income
- No separate capital gains tax; gains may be treated as income
- Mauritius is a member of FATF and complies with international AML standards
Key Points
- 2024 Capital Markets Law amendment gives CMB authority to license crypto platforms
- CBRT banned the use of crypto assets for payments in April 2021
- No crypto-specific tax currently; capital gains tax legislation under discussion
- MASAK enforces AML/KYC requirements on crypto platforms
- Turkey ranks among top 5 globally for crypto adoption (driven by lira depreciation)