Crypto Tax by Country: What You Really Pay in the US, Japan, Nigeria, and More

When you buy, sell, or even swap crypto, the crypto tax by country, the legal requirement to report cryptocurrency gains or income based on where you live. Also known as cryptocurrency taxation, it’s not a global rule—it’s a local one, and getting it wrong can cost you big. In the U.S., the IRS treats crypto like property. Every trade, even swapping ETH for SOL, triggers a taxable event. But in Germany, if you hold crypto for over a year, you pay zero tax. And in Portugal? No crypto capital gains tax at all—for now.

That’s why where you live matters more than how much you own. Take Japan, a country with strict crypto exchange licensing and clear tax rules for traders. Also known as Japanese crypto regulations, it requires all exchanges to report user activity to tax authorities. Traders there pay up to 55% in combined income and local taxes on profits. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, a market where crypto is legal but under new regulatory pressure from the SEC. Also known as Nigeria crypto rules, the government doesn’t yet enforce crypto taxes—but that’s changing fast, with a 2026 deadline looming. In contrast, Iran, a nation that tightly controls crypto through state-run platforms and mandatory reporting. Also known as Iranian crypto rules, it taxes mining profits and requires users to declare holdings—even while banning private exchanges. And then there’s Bolivia, which outright banned crypto for a decade, or Afghanistan, where Bitcoin became a lifeline under the Taliban—taxes weren’t the issue, survival was.

These aren’t just stories. They’re real rules that affect your wallet. If you’re holding Bitcoin in Texas, you’re taxed differently than if you’re holding it in Singapore or Tunisia. Some countries track every transaction. Others ignore it—until they don’t. The posts below show you exactly how different places handle crypto taxes, enforcement, and legal gray zones. You’ll see how traders in Tunisia bypass bans, how Japan’s licensing system forces compliance, and why Nigeria’s new rules could hit you hard if you’re unprepared. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s happening right now, on the ground, in your country or the next one you’re thinking about moving to.