Maldives vs Philippines
Crypto regulation comparison
Maldives
Philippines
Restricted
Legal
The Maldives Monetary Authority has warned against cryptocurrency and does not recognize it as legal tender. No specific legislation exists but the MMA discourages crypto activities.
The Philippines is one of the largest crypto markets in Southeast Asia. The BSP licenses Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) under Circular 1108 (2021), and the SEC regulates crypto as securities where applicable. The Philippines saw massive adoption through play-to-earn games (Axie Infinity) and remittances. Crypto income is taxed at progressive income tax rates.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0-35%
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)
Regulator
BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), SEC Philippines
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
BSP regulates virtual asset service providers including stablecoin operations
Key Points
- MMA has warned against cryptocurrency use
- Crypto not recognized as legal tender
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Financial institutions discouraged from dealing in crypto
- Limited crypto adoption
Key Points
- BSP Circular 1108 (2021) provides comprehensive VASP licensing framework
- BSP has licensed major exchanges including Coins.ph and PDAX
- SEC Philippines regulates crypto securities and has issued warnings on unregistered offerings
- Crypto income taxed at progressive rates (0-35%); 12% VAT may apply to exchanges
- Play-to-earn gaming (Axie Infinity) drove massive adoption, especially in rural areas