Crypto Exchanges & Regulation – Top exchanges in Romania by Coincub criteria
| Total population | 19,892,812 |
| GDP (in USD Millions) | 369,971 |
| Total # of universities | 102 |
| Leading blockchain universities | 15 |
| Jobs in blockchain | 100 |
| Bitcoin mining | 0.01% |
| CBDC stage | - |
| Crypto received (in USD$) | 102.58K |
| Crypto sent | 327.07K |
| Bitcoin ATMs | 140 |
| Bitcoin nodes | 25 |
| Companies with bitcoin in treasury | - |
| Population % owning crypto | 6.2% |
| Crypto exchanges based in country | 2 |
| Bitcoin Interest | 14 |
| ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) | 32 |
| ICOs energy | 2 |
| Fraud crypto score | - |
| Crypto financial services | 9/50 | |
| Web3 population adoption | 10.5/20 | |
| Web3 environmental impact | 5/20 | |
| Crypto trading | 5.5/20 | |
| Web3 talent | 12/30 | |
| Web3 proliferation | 9/30 |
Which continents lead the way in crypto adoptions, and which are falling behind? Do continents display individual traits and characteristics? And is China pulling down Asia in the crypto race? North America is the world’s top crypto continent North America takes the top spot as the leading crypto continent in the latest 2022 Coincub world crypto […]
Romanian citizens have a positive outlook toward cryptocurrency, and the country has high scores for Google crypto searching. The country has forged an envious reputation as an information technology hub – at least in its cities, and the crypto community is continuing to grow. As yet, and not uniquely, there is, as yet, no clear legal regime governing cryptocurrencies, but their growing popularity is now prompting increased regulatory scrutiny. The country offers unrestricted access to global exchange platforms and crypto service providers. Several homegrown crypto exchanges even provide crypto trading linked to the Romanian leu with ATMs for crypto exchanges across Romania. The government’s outlook isn’t, however, as strong as that of its financial institutions and a coherent strategy has yet to emerge. Despite this, Romania has a high number of all-important Bitcoin nodes, ATMs, and ICOs, many of which are centered on environmental projects. Romania moved up from 37 to 24 in the Q1 2022 rankings, but went down to 54th place in 2024.
Romania comes in at number 5 in Top Crypto Risers thanks to its fast-developing blockchain community and high scores for numbers of ICOs, Blockchain-related organizations, and Bitcoin nodes. Romanian citizens have a very positive outlook toward cryptocurrency, and the country also has high search volumes for crypto-related terms. Several homegrown crypto exchanges even provide crypto trading linked to the Romanian leu. Romania moves up from 11th place and could go further later in the year.
Most retirement and pension funds worldwide deem cryptocurrency too volatile to become part of long-term retirement schemes. There is little certainty on this at present.
Low interest rates given by commercial banks in the European Union and Romania are a major reason why investors look to buy crypto. However, Romanian banks view cryptocurrency as too risky and likely to cause reputational damage, so the outlook for financial acceptance at an institutional level is not high, although as we have seen, it is widely accepted by the population. The banking system is looking for a lead, perhaps from the EU’s perspective. The Romanian National Bank (BNR) classified digital currencies such as bitcoin as speculative assets, issuing a warning that they are too risky for involvement and this outlook has been adopted by local banks not facilitating crypto transactions.
As yet Romanian financial institutions are lagging in their consolidation of this new technology. However, a Romanian blockchain start-up, Elrond, is preparing to have its new global payments app support Bitcoin this year to tap what it sees as surging interest in cryptocurrencies.
Romania has a generous number of retailers across most of its cities that accept bitcoin as a payment, but you’ll have to look for them, and most tend to be in the capital, Bucharest. The bitcoin-accepting outlets range from large stores to small online retailers, including beauty salons, car rentals, and travel services.
You won’t be able to reduce your tax by gifting your cryptocurrency. Whatever gain you have made on it will be taxable up to the point at which you gift it.
In Romania, one of the best places to buy bitcoin is MEXC. It is important to note that the safety of an exchange can be affected by various factors such as security measures, user reviews, and history of hacking incidents. It is recommended to do thorough research and due diligence before choosing an exchange and always keeping your funds in a secure wallet.
Regarding the lowest fees, it is always best for you to compare the fees charged by different exchanges for the specific crypto assets you want to trade, as fees can vary depending on the exchange and the trading pair. In general Bybit has some of the lowest fees in the industry when you pay by card or bank transfer, but that can vary. It is also regulated by the Romanian authorities and has even announced its first step in Romania. We can’t wait to hear more about it.
A recommended approach would be to open several exchange accounts and before using them to really have a deeper look at usability, price of tokens and transfer fees, as well as security and regulatory environment.
When seeking the safest crypto exchanges in Romania, it’s crucial to consider factors such as the platform’s security measures, user reviews, and any history of hacking incidents. Some of the top regulated exchanges in Romania include Binance, CoinFlux, and Bitfinex, which have strong reputations for security and user-friendly interfaces. Remember to conduct thorough research and due diligence before selecting an exchange, and always keep your funds in a secure wallet.
For those interested in low-fee crypto exchanges, it is essential to compare the trading fees charged by various platforms for the specific cryptocurrencies you plan to trade. Binance, for instance, has some of the lowest fees in the industry when paying by card or bank transfer, but this can vary. CoinFlux, a Romanian-based exchange, also offers low fees and user-friendly services. Opening accounts with multiple exchanges allows you to compare usability, token prices, transfer fees, security, and the regulatory environment before committing to a single platform.
Romania has experienced significant growth in the digital assets and crypto space, prompting increased regulatory scrutiny. Currently, the country aligns with the EU’s fifth directive, which regulates exchange services between virtual and fiat currencies and digital wallet providers. Authorized exchange services must register and comply with anti-money laundering laws. Crypto earnings exceeding a cumulative 600RON per year are subject to income or capital gains tax at a flat rate of 10%. Additionally, the Romanian tax authorities can request information from crypto exchanges and expect compliance with their laws.
In conclusion, when exploring crypto exchanges and regulation in Romania, it’s essential to consider factors such as security, trading fees, and the regulatory environment. With a growing blockchain community and the increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies, Romania offers a dynamic and evolving crypto landscape.
What are the top regulated exchanges in Romania?
| NAME | RATING | FOUNDED DATE | DEPOSIT METHOD | BASED IN | REVIEW | SIGN UP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
|
MEXC | 4.0 | 2018 | Crypto card SEPA (limited regions) P2P third parties | Seychelles | Coincub Review | Register Now |
| #2 |
|
Revolut | 4.0 | 2015 | Credit Card Bank Transfer | London, UK | Coincub Review | Register Now |
| #3 |
|
Bybit | 3.6 | 2018 | Card Crypto Sepa Wise Alipay Wechat Apple Pay Google Pay | UAE | Coincub Review | Register Now |
MEXC
4.0
Revolut
4.0
Bybit
3.6
As bitcoins are not issued by authorized issuers, the Romanian government does not consider them to be a currency – as issued by banks. That said, there is a growing level of acceptance generally. Romania considers crypto as a moveable asset that can be bartered and exchanged. Romania even had some of the first bitcoin ATMs in Europe, but the regulatory framework is still less developed than other countries and the government is following the lead of others rather than setting the pace on these matters.
All aspects of crypto and blockchain are under constant review but no forthcoming legislation at present.
It’s always a good idea to check the levels of security, protection, and insurance any exchange can offer you. Romania-based exchanges may offer more recourse to action if things go wrong, and a more immediate level of customer support, while overseas exchanges can provide a wider choice of services and perhaps greater transaction speeds. In all cases, you’ll have to report your identity credentials and trading details.
Romania has had a very light-touch regulation on the growth of crypto but now falls in the line with the EU’s fifth directive on aspects of crypto regulation and the authorisation of exchange services to comply with anti money laundering laws. In a nutshell, bodies that provide exchange services between virtual currencies and fiat currencies, as well as digital wallet providers, must register to gain authorization of foreign exchange activity. As with many government bodies, the Romanian tax authorities can request information from crypto exchanges and expect compliance with their laws. You’ll need to provide your personal details and proof of ID – so you can forget about the myth of anonymity that surrounds cryptocurrency.
How to tax bitcoin is always a big issue with every country – or more correctly, how much to tax it. The profits you make from cryptocurrencies are subject to income or capital gains tax, both at a flat rate of 10% on crypto earnings exceeding a cumulative 600RON per year. Income from cryptocurrency trade is considered income from other sources and the gains are subject to income tax and the health insurance contribution (CASS), but not to the social security contribution (CAS). Incidentally, a recent study found that Romania has one of the highest percentages of the population that own cryptocurrency, due in no small part to the publicity of its usage by celebrities and media figures creating an atmosphere of optimism about its future. For individuals the profits are included in the personal income tax return, however, there are no clear implications for the regulation of crypto for personal use. This, of course, may change as the market grows. And yes, the country has an inordinately large number of ATMs for its size.
Crypto trading is both recognized and tax allowable, so your expenses as a professional incurred in buying or mining them – and your losses – can be offset. For non-professional crypto dabblers, the relevant fact to consider – and declare – is whether your activity is a casual activity or a trading activity for income. The way you invest in bitcoin will largely affect its qualification for income tax purposes. The special status of Bitcoin as a non-currency makes it at present not eligible for VAT.
If you’re a resident of Romania, you have an obligation to declare your income from cryptocurrency trading – and this applies whether your gains come from within Romania sources or from foreign sources. If you take up residency abroad, however, you’ll come under that country’s tax code.
Mining is beyond the scope of most individuals and calls for significant investment in time, money, and equipment. However, if you are declaring yourself as a miner you are required to pay income on your profits, but you may also deduct your expenses, such as electricity cost (very much in the news at the moment), maintenance fees, and the cost of your hardware. Bear in mind that the cost of the electricity you use to mine your Romanian bitcoin is likely to be more than the value of your bitcoin, so you need to do the math on this one.
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