Malaysia vs Trinidad and Tobago
Crypto regulation comparison
Malaysia
Trinidad and Tobago
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.
Trinidad and Tobago's crypto sector is largely unregulated. The Central Bank, TTSEC, and FIU jointly warned in 2019 that crypto providers are neither regulated nor supervised. A 2025 Virtual Assets Bill proposes banning crypto transactions until December 2027 with fines up to M TTD. Most banks block crypto purchases.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
SC (Securities Commission Malaysia), BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia)
Regulator
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), TTSEC
Stablecoin Rules
Digital assets on approved exchanges only; stablecoins not separately regulated
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
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
- Joint 2019 advisory: crypto providers neither regulated nor supervised
- Virtual Assets Bill 2025 proposes ban on crypto transactions until December 2027
- Most commercial banks block crypto-related transactions
- Proposed fines up to M TTD for unauthorized virtual asset activities
- TTSEC designated as primary regulator under proposed legislation