Countries Where Bitcoin Is Banned or Legal In 2020
If you are looking to buy, sell, or spend Bitcoin, you should check if it is legal in your country.In fact, there are many countries with different cryptocurrency regulations. Some of them even single out Bitcoin, allowing it to be used as money, pay taxes, purchase goods, or trade it like a commodity.
In other countries, even the mere possession of Bitcoin can get you to prison. Others have not even bothered to regulate it yet, leaving Bitcoin and other cryptos in legal limbo.
Countries where Bitcoin is banned
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are generally welcomed in most parts of the world. Nevertheless, some countries have actually banned them or their use. Whether bans were imposed due to Bitcoins decentralized nature, the threat to their current financial system or just because proper regulations are yet to be approved, there are at least nine countries as of March 2019 which decided to do so. These are:- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- Algeria
- Bolivia
- Bangladesh
- The Republic of Macedonia
- Saudi Arabia
- Quatar
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
In addition to the countries where BTC is banned, there are also countries where Bitcoin is somewhat restricted and cannot be traded or used for payment. In such states, banks and other financial service providers are prohibited from dealing with cryptocurrency exchanges and companies, and in more extreme cases the countries have even banned crypto exchanges (etc China).
- China
- India
- Ecuador
- Indonesia
- Morocco
- Zambia
- Nepal
- Egypt
- American Samoa
Countries where Bitcoin is legal
On a positive note, research shows there are at least 111 states where Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are recognized by law and are legal.For instance, major countries like the United States and Canada hold a generally crypto-friendly attitude towards cryptocurrencies while also trying to enforce anti-money laundering laws and prevent fraud. Meanwhile, in the European Union, the member states are not allowed to launch their own cryptocurrency, but crypto exchanges are encouraged to be legalized and comply with the regulations.
As of January 2020, the most Bitcoin-friendly countries where BTC is legal are:
- Japan
- Gibraltar
- Malta
- Ukraine
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Lithuania
- Estonia
- The United Kingdom
- Germany
- Bermuda
- Slovenia
- Singapore
- Georgia
- Belarus
- Hong Kong
Countries where Bitcoin is neither legal nor illegal
Some countries still haven’t made their minds what to do with Bitcoin. In such cases, the usage of BTC is legal in the sense that you can own it, but there are no clear rules or legal protection concerning its status. These countries are either already creating a legal framework for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, or have taken a wait-and-see approach. These “undecided” countries include:- Albania
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Colombia
- French Guiana
- Gabon
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysia
- The Maldives
- Mauritius
- Nigeria
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Tunisia
- The United Arab Emirates
- Tanzania
- Uruguay
Because of that, many people are wary of the trustless system and rely on traditional systems instead.
Regardless, a growing number of governments choose to embrace digital innovation and play a role in the industry. At the same time jurisdictions which oppose the emerging industry are at risk of being left behind. Ironically, these countries already are some of the poorest nations in the world, and widespread Bitcoin and cryptocurrency crackdowns seem to yield no favorable results to improve the situation. Quite the contrary; embracing the cryptocurrency businesses with favorable regulations present an excellent opportunity to bring in innovation, capital, tax revenue and improve the living standard for the whole population.
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