Only 62 (52.1%) of the 119 countries where cryptocurrency is legal have comprehensive regulations. This number has gone up by 53.2% since 2018 when only 33 jurisdictions had cryptocurrency regulations.
Among the 62 countries with established regulations, 36 (58.0%) are individual countries, 22 (35.5%) are part of the European Union (EU), and 4 (6.5%) are British Overseas Territories. Notably, half of these countries are advanced economies, while the remaining half are emerging and developing economies.
Half of the countries that have legalized cryptocurrency have yet to implement robust regulatory frameworks. This gap between legalization and full regulation raises potential concerns about investor protection and clarity for businesses operating in the cryptocurrency space in those countries.
Instead, several countries have taken the approach of adapting existing regulatory frameworks to encompass cryptocurrencies, rather than establishing entirely new regulations. This approach often involves applying established tax laws and anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) laws to cryptocurrency transactions and activities.
Major advanced economies, including France, Japan, and Germany, have successfully established regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies.
In contrast, other major advanced economies, such as Italy, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, face challenges in implementing comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations. Multiple governments and financial regulatory bodies in these countries contribute to the complexity of the regulatory process.
EU member states, on the other hand, adhere to EU-wide regulations regarding crypto assets. These regulations provide a more harmonized approach to cryptocurrency regulation within the bloc.
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