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HYPE $28.67 (+6.32%)
CC $0.17 (+8.38%)
LINK $9.21 (+7.07%)
XMR $342.35 (+0.59%)
XLM $0.16 (+6.12%)
RAIN $0.01 (+2.29%)
HBAR $0.10 (+4.87%)
LTC $55.87 (+4.84%)
ZEC $244.11 (+2.56%)
AVAX $9.27 (+4.60%)

Malaysia vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Malaysia | United States
Malaysia

Malaysia

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

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.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator SC (Securities Commission Malaysia), BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules Digital assets on approved exchanges only; stablecoins not separately regulated
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
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
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources