Cryptocurrencies are gaining popularity every day due to the simplicity and transparency of their circulation. However, due to the lack of direct regulation, there is an issue of taxing cryptocurrency transactions, as well as their compliance with the law on money laundering, and on countering the financing of terrorism. The complexity of this issue lies in the fact that there is no clear legislative definition of cryptocurrency, nor even a common understanding of its nature.
Some regulators consider cryptocurrencies a financial asset and a subject to regulation under securities laws (SEC, MAS). Others believe that cryptocurrency is a commodity, and all payments for goods and services are just a usual trade, while others consider cryptocurrencies a foreign currency (for example, Japan). The least popular option for determining the nature of cryptocurrencies is calling them a money surrogate, since this approach usually means ban on their use.
As for taxation, there is also no consensus: most often,
cryptocurrency is a subject to a profit tax or a capital gains tax, which directly depends on the legal nature of cryptocurrency. So, the capital gains tax is applied to financial assets, and is based on...
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