Crypto Laws: What You Need to Know About Global Regulations and Bans

When it comes to crypto laws, the legal rules governing how cryptocurrencies can be used, taxed, traded, or banned by governments. Also known as cryptocurrency regulation, these rules aren’t the same anywhere—what’s legal in Japan is illegal in Qatar, and what’s taxed in India is ignored in El Salvador. There’s no global rulebook. Instead, you’ve got a patchwork of local policies that can make or break your trading strategy overnight.

Some countries treat crypto like cash, others like securities, and a few treat it like contraband. Take Qatar, a Gulf nation that blocks all institutional crypto activity but allows tokenized assets under strict oversight. Or Japan, where exchanges must register with the Financial Services Agency, hold cold wallets, and prove they’re not laundering money. Then there’s Angola, which shut down crypto mining to save its power grid after blackouts hit 60% of homes. These aren’t random decisions—they’re responses to real problems: energy shortages, financial instability, or fear of uncontrolled capital flight.

And it’s not just about bans. Crypto tax, how governments track and charge you for crypto gains, is another minefield. In the U.S., the IRS treats crypto like property, so every trade could trigger a taxable event. In India, you pay 30% tax on gains plus a 1% TDS on every transaction. Meanwhile, countries like Portugal and Singapore don’t tax personal crypto profits at all. If you’re holding crypto across borders, you might also need to file FBAR, a U.S. form that reports foreign crypto accounts over $10,000. Miss it, and penalties can hit $10,000 per year.

Why does this matter? Because if you’re trading on a platform that’s not licensed where you live, you could lose your money with no legal recourse. If you’re mining in a country that just banned it, your equipment could be seized. If you’re holding tokens tied to a project that’s illegal in your region, you could be breaking the law—even if you didn’t know it.

Below, you’ll find real cases of how crypto laws are playing out: from North Korea laundering stolen coins to Bangladeshis using VPNs to trade, from Japan’s strict PSA licensing rules to India’s surprising crypto boom despite heavy taxes. These aren’t abstract policies—they’re daily realities for millions of traders, miners, and investors. Know the rules where you are. Know the risks where you trade. And don’t assume what’s legal elsewhere is safe for you.