BTC $66,147.00 (-1.80%)
ETH $1,918.39 (-3.33%)
XRP $1.39 (-5.65%)
BNB $598.17 (-3.19%)
SOL $80.46 (-3.16%)
TRX $0.28 (+0.22%)
DOGE $0.10 (-4.50%)
BCH $548.20 (-2.35%)
ADA $0.27 (-5.09%)
LEO $8.69 (+1.85%)
HYPE $28.28 (-3.38%)
XMR $327.46 (-3.94%)
CC $0.16 (-5.25%)
LINK $8.42 (-4.33%)
XLM $0.16 (-5.36%)
RAIN $0.01 (-3.07%)
ZEC $259.43 (-8.68%)
HBAR $0.10 (-4.26%)
LTC $51.75 (-4.90%)
AVAX $8.81 (-3.57%)

Saudi Arabia vs El Salvador

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Saudi Arabia | El Salvador
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

El Salvador

El Salvador

Restricted
Legal

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.

El Salvador made history in September 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender through the Bitcoin Law. However, under a January 2025 IMF agreement (Decreto 199), El Salvador amended the law to make Bitcoin acceptance by businesses voluntary rather than mandatory, and repealed several articles. There is no capital gains tax on Bitcoin. The CNAD regulates digital assets.

Tax Type None
Tax Type No tax
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 0%
Exchanges No No
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority), CMA Saudi Arabia
Regulator BCR (Banco Central de Reserva), CNAD (Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales)
Stablecoin Rules No regulation; crypto trading not authorized
Stablecoin Rules USD is the primary currency; Bitcoin-specific legislation in place
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)
Key Points
  • First country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021 via the Bitcoin Law
  • Government developed the Chivo wallet for citizens, offering $30 USD in BTC incentive
  • January 2025 Decreto 199 made merchant Bitcoin acceptance voluntary (IMF condition)
  • No capital gains tax on Bitcoin transactions for individuals
  • Government has been accumulating Bitcoin reserves and launched Bitcoin-backed bonds
Sources
Sources