Panama vs São Tomé and Príncipe
Crypto regulation comparison
Panama
São Tomé and Príncipe
Legal
No Regulation
Panama passed Law 129 in 2024 regulating crypto assets, virtual asset service providers, and tokenized securities. Panama has no capital gains tax on foreign-sourced or investment income, making it attractive for crypto investors. The law provides a regulatory framework for exchanges and establishes AML/KYC obligations for VASPs.
São Tomé and Príncipe has no specific cryptocurrency regulation.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
SBP (Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá), SMV
Regulator
Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- Law 129 (2024) regulates crypto assets and VASPs in Panama
- No capital gains tax on investment or foreign-sourced income (territorial tax system)
- VASPs must comply with AML/KYC requirements under the new framework
- Crypto payments for commercial transactions are permitted
- Panama's territorial tax system means crypto gains from international trading are untaxed
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Central bank has not addressed crypto
- Very limited financial infrastructure
- Minimal crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto services