Belgian Tax Authority Going After Crypto Investors

Cryptocurrency investments have attracted the attention of tax authorities in Belgium. Several investigations have been opened into cases of Belgian citizens who have traded on foreign exchanges. Anyone speculating on crypto markets is expected to pay 33% tax on their gains, despite the fact that bitcoin and the like are not regulated or legalized in … Read more

North Korea Obtained 11,000 bitcoins in 2017, Expert Says

North Korea may have made over $200 million USD from cryptocurrency transactions last year, according to a former NSA official. DPRK is believed to have obtained at least 11,000 bitcoins through mining or hacking in 2017. Pyongyang continues to exploit the benefits of using cryptos and the cyber security weaknesses of its adversaries, recent reports … Read more

Russian Ministry Offers to Set Up Crypto Exchange for Miners

Russia’s Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications has put forward the idea to set up a cryptocurrency exchange, where Russian miners can trade their digital coins for fiat money. The ministry has held consultations with representatives of the crypto sector and prepared a comprehensive concept to regulate the mining industry. Also read: Two Russian Regions … Read more

Ukraine’s Financial Watchdog Clarifies Stance on Cryptos

The State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine has published its official position on crypto matters. While offering some borrowed definitions of terms like virtual currency and mining, the agency notes that changes to the legal status of cryptocurrencies in the country are expected. Also read: Uzbekistan to Legalize Bitcoin and Support Developers Due Diligence In … Read more

Court Strikes Down Ban on 40 Bitcoin Sites in Russia

Saint Petersburg City Court has struck down a ban on 40 bitcoin related websites offering information about cryptocurrencies and exchange services in Russia. The ban was imposed by a district court in May last year, following a request from the Prosecutor’s Office. It prohibited the “spreading of information” about bitcoin, as well as buying and … Read more

Poll: Bitcoin More Popular With Czechs than the Euro

Czechs are more inclined to store value in cryptos than in euros, according to a new poll gauging attitudes toward currencies other than the koruna. When asked about their intentions to acquire foreign cash, twice as many respondents said they were interested in buying bitcoin than purchasing US dollars. Also read: Bafin Clarifies Stance on … Read more

Italy Completes Consultations on Registration of Crypto Companies

Public consultations on a new regulatory regime for crypto companies in Italy are now closed. Interested parties were invited by the Ministry of Economy and Finance to share suggestions and comments on a draft decree introducing registration and reporting requirements in the sector. The new set of rules will come into force within 3 months … Read more

Nigerians Trade $4 Million in Bitcoin Weekly, despite Warnings

Nigerians are trading close to $4 million worth of bitcoin a week on 13 local exchanges, despite multiple warnings by authorities against investing in cryptocurrencies. Experts have called on the government to rethink its position and adopt smart regulations, “allowing innovation to move forward”. Regulators need to understand how it works before applying bans, analysts … Read more

Steps towards Self-Regulation in Croatia and Slovenia

Communities in two countries, which share a border, history and perspectives, have expressed similar views about the future of the cryptocurrency sector. A new association in Croatia hopes to lay the foundations of self-regulation in the industry. In neighboring Slovenia, entrepreneurs and government officials have promised to work together to “educate the public” on the … Read more

Two Russian Regions to Develop Large Scale Crypto Mining

The governors of two Russian regions have indicated their readiness to accommodate large crypto mining facilities. Two of the westernmost subjects of the Federation – Kaliningrad and Leningrad – are willing to welcome miners and want to get involved in “bitcoin production”. Local authorities have expressed intentions to take mining out of garages and scale … Read more