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Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Malaysia | Saudi Arabia
Malaysia

Malaysia

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Legal
Restricted

Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated in Malaysia. The Securities Commission oversees digital asset exchanges (DAX) and initial exchange offerings under the Capital Markets and Services (Prescription of Securities) Order 2019. Only SC-approved exchanges can operate. Malaysia does not impose capital gains tax on crypto for individuals, though frequent trading may be classified as business income.

Saudi Arabia has an ambiguous but generally restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. SAMA has not licensed any crypto exchanges, and financial institutions are warned against dealing in crypto. However, crypto is not explicitly banned by law, and Saudi Arabia has participated in blockchain initiatives (Project Aber with the UAE central bank). No personal income or capital gains tax exists in Saudi Arabia.

Tax Type None
Tax Type None
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges No No
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator SC (Securities Commission Malaysia), BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia)
Regulator SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority), CMA Saudi Arabia
Stablecoin Rules Digital assets on approved exchanges only; stablecoins not separately regulated
Stablecoin Rules No regulation; crypto trading not authorized
Key Points
  • Digital asset exchanges must be registered and approved by the Securities Commission
  • Only approved tokens can be listed on registered exchanges (e.g., BTC, ETH, XRP on approved list)
  • No capital gains tax for individuals; frequent trading may be treated as business income
  • BNM regulates crypto for AML/CFT purposes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act
  • IEOs must be conducted through SC-approved platforms
Key Points
  • SAMA has not authorized or licensed any cryptocurrency exchanges
  • Financial institutions warned against crypto transactions
  • Crypto not explicitly banned but not regulated; exists in a legal gray area
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia participated in CBDC experiments (Project Aber with UAE)
Sources
Sources