Regulation Tracker

Who's actually regulated crypto?
In plain English.

A simple, honest snapshot of which countries have passed real crypto rules — and which are still figuring it out. Not legal advice, just a plain-English scoreboard.

🇺🇸
Where the US Stands
Split down the middle — one law done, one stuck
✅ GENIUS Act — Stablecoins

Signed into law July 18, 2025. Sets federal rules for dollar-backed stablecoins. Regulators are finalizing the fine print by July 18, 2026.

🟡 CLARITY Act — Everything Else

Passed the House in July 2025. Would decide which regulator oversees exchanges and whether tokens count as securities or commodities. Still stuck in the Senate as of August 2026.

In short: the US has rules for stablecoins, but not yet for the rest of the crypto market — while places like the EU, Japan, and the UAE already have comprehensive frameworks covering everything at once.

✅ Comprehensive Framework 🟡 Partial / In Progress ❌ Banned / Heavily Restricted
Americas
🇧🇷
Brazil
Central bank rolled out licensing + AML rules for crypto exchanges (Nov 2025).
✅ Full
🇨🇦
Canada
Legal and taxed. Exchanges register as securities dealers + money service businesses, but no single unified crypto law yet.
🟡 Partial
🇸🇻
El Salvador
Bitcoin is still legal to hold and spend, but its "legal tender" status was reversed in Jan 2025 under IMF pressure — now voluntary, not required.
🟡 Partial
Europe
🇪🇺
European Union (all 27 countries)
MiCA — the world's first fully comprehensive crypto law, covering all 27 member states at once. Fully enforced since July 1, 2026.
✅ Full
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Comprehensive framework enacted Feb 2026. Firm licensing opens Sept 30, 2026; the full regime doesn't kick in until Oct 2027.
🟡 Partial
Asia-Pacific
🇯🇵
Japan
Long-running licensing regime under the Financial Services Agency. New flat 20.315% tax on crypto gains starts fiscal year April 2026.
✅ Full
🇸🇬
Singapore
Payment Services Act covers licensing, AML, custody, and consumer protection for crypto businesses.
✅ Full
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
Stablecoin-issuer licenses granted starting April 2026; SFC has standards for licensed platforms. One of Asia's most active regulated hubs.
✅ Full
🇰🇷
South Korea
Travel Rule enforced, dedicated virtual-asset crime unit launching Oct 2026, and a stablecoin law is being fast-tracked — but not finalized yet.
🟡 Partial
🇦🇺
Australia
Legal and taxed (personal holdings exempt from capital gains tax), but no single MiCA-style comprehensive law yet.
🟡 Partial
🇨🇳
China
All crypto trading and mining has been banned since September 2021. No change in policy direction.
❌ Banned
Middle East & Central Asia
🇦🇪
United Arab Emirates
Updated federal framework (early 2026) governs exchanges, custodians, and brokers with stricter compliance rules than before.
✅ Full
🇰🇿
Kazakhstan
Signed a comprehensive Digital Assets Law in January 2026, positioning itself as a Central Asian crypto hub.
✅ Full
🇷🇺
Russia
A new federal law took effect September 1, 2026, licensing exchanges, custodians, and brokers — but retail investors are capped at ~$3,700/year through intermediaries, and paying for goods/services with crypto is still banned.
🟡 Partial

This list isn't exhaustive — it covers major economies and the most notable regulatory moves. Over 100 countries now have some form of crypto framework in place, up from roughly 60 in 2023. Not legal or financial advice; just a plain-English scoreboard. Last updated September 2026.

Sources: PwC Global Crypto Regulation Report, official government/regulator announcements (EU MiCA, UK FCA, US Congress, Japan FSA, Hong Kong SFC/HKMA, UAE regulators, Banco Central do Brasil, Kazakhstan government), and reporting from CoinDesk, Reuters, and other major outlets.

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