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Crypto Exchanges & Regulation – Top exchanges in Portugal by Coincub criteria
| Total population | 10,247,605 |
| GDP (in USD Millions) | 298,949 |
| Total # of universities | 109 |
| Leading blockchain universities | 16 |
| Jobs in blockchain | 318 |
| Bitcoin mining | 0.05% |
| CBDC stage | - |
| Crypto received (in USD$) | 511.14K |
| Crypto sent | 673.42K |
| Bitcoin ATMs | 11 |
| Bitcoin nodes | 18 |
| Companies with bitcoin in treasury | - |
| Population % owning crypto | 7.6% |
| Crypto exchanges based in country | - |
| Bitcoin Interest | 18 |
| ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) | 10 |
| ICOs energy | 2 |
| Fraud crypto score | - |
| Crypto financial services | 12/50 | |
| Web3 population adoption | 8/20 | |
| Web3 environmental impact | 4/20 | |
| Crypto trading | 6/20 | |
| Web3 talent | 12/30 | |
| Web3 proliferation | 9/30 |
As 2023 comes to a close, the landscape of web3 jobs has undergone significant shifts. Bitcoin-mentioning jobs are down 95%, crypto jobs are cut by 90%, and blockchain jobs are cut by half. At a country level, Germany has seen the biggest fall from 1st to 9th place globally while losing 92% of the web3 […]
Summary Portugal to lose tax haven status under new tax rules Portugal’s first crypto license is given to Bison Bank Pioneer bitcoin-purchase home Portugal has witnessed a meteoric rise in crypto trading popularity in the past couple of months. An influx of Bitcoin families and incredible growth in the Bitcoin-run real estate industry speak volumes. […]
Portugal’s laid-back attitude towards the taxation of crypto gains and its positive policy towards attracting high-net-worth individuals has long marked the country as a crypto-friendly favorite amongst overseas investors – or Non-Habitual Residents (NHRs).
For indigenous non-professional crypto holders or ‘casual investors’, there is no tax on gains made and regulation is a light touch. VAT mostly doesn’t apply, as we have seen in several countries. However, firm regulation and more protection for consumers make for a more attractive crypto environment, especially for corporate players. That said, Portugal is also very keen on facilitating the take-up of blockchain enterprises, as expressed within its Digital Transformation Action Plan a few years back. Within the scope of the plan, it is hoped to provide a productive environment for innovation and ‘digital transformation’ of businesses, including the exploitation of blockchain potential via hubs and shared technologies – something that, admittedly, is being promoted in so many countries.
Cryptocurrency transactions are exempt from VAT, but you can be paid in cryptocurrency and pay for items with crypto visa cards (This may change as many countries are implementing bans on the use of crypto for payments following so many high-profile exchange failures in 2022.
Whilst gains from buying and selling cryptocurrencies are not taxed, any company providing services related to cryptocurrency is taxed on capital gains between 28% and 35%.
As with many countries, whether your trading incurs income tax very much depends on whether you are deemed a business or casual investor. If your Bitcoin activities are undertaken as your main source of income, you’ll need to file a tax return. So, the frequency of your trades, the number of exchanges you use, and even the profits you make will all be taken into consideration. A good tax lawyer should put you right.
Portugal’s tax-friendly environment, especially for rich ex-pats, makes it something of a haven for crypto investing. Investors can easily crypto on any number of leading platforms and enjoy the sunshine and fine ports too! Despite price falls in Bitcoin and the lack of a more cohesive crypto strategy aside from its low to zero taxation policy, the country still retains an exceptionally high volume of crypto trading online and moves Portugal up a place in the Coincub Q1 2022 ranking.
Portugal has a rapidly expanding digital currency culture; at least 4 ATMs are dotted around the country, with two located in Lisbon. Spending cryptocurrency is growing fast in a number of bars, restaurants, and retailers. In addition, many popular world brands accept bitcoin, including Wikipedia, Microsoft, AT&T, and Gyft among others.
In line with its positive stance on crypto, Portugal has no tax on residents’ inheritance, wealth, or gifts.
Mining crypto is beyond the scope of most individuals and calls for significant investment in time, money, and equipment. However, Portugal’s income tax laws treat mining in the same way as trading – in which case, as a business or professional activity, it is likely to be taxed.
Most retirement and pension funds worldwide deem cryptocurrencies to be too volatile to become part of long-term retirement schemes. As Portugal is something of a generous haven for high-net-worth individuals, those who can pay are more likely to be offered some form of cryptocurrency as an option in retirement planning.
Banks have an encouraging openness towards bitcoin but are still very much on their guard against fraud and money laundering. Some have previously restricted crypto transactions but later re-instigated them. Online services such as Revolut are able to buy, sell and exchange crypto – as with all things crypto, the situation is changing all the time.
Decentralized finance is behind cryptocurrency’s rapid interest and growth and is underpinned by blockchain technology. Although no Defi projects have been completed or trialed fully, the Portuguese authorities are interested in such developments and are looking keenly at what is happening in this field. As a member of the EC, major initiatives on Defi are most likely to come from EU-wide regulatory initiatives.
As with many European countries, crypto has leveled the playing field for smaller countries. The global crypto economy has created new financial hubs and leading economies. Portugal officially recognizes digital currencies and, within EU legislation, has some autonomy to write favorable crypto legislation. Portugal is one of the most crypto-friendly countries anywhere – perhaps one reason why so many people, especially rich ones, retire there.
Crypto trading is legal and advanced in Portugal, making it one of the most crypto-friendly countries. All leading exchanges operate in the country. Portugal recently approved two home-based cryptocurrency exchanges with the central bank, the Banco de Portugal, licensing Mind the Coin and Criptoloja.
In Portugal, the central bank requires registering bodies that wish to act as virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The bank requires that they comply with legal and regulatory provisions on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT). Improved security for your crypto assets inevitably means increased legislation and regulation. However, security is largely a question of doing your homework. If you lose your keys or get hacked, your most likely compensation is through any insurance your exchange offers on your holdings. Remember that all exchanges have their own levels of security, advantages, and disadvantages, so you need to find the best service that satisfies your needs.
As with many government bodies, the tax authorities can request information from crypto exchanges and expect compliance with their laws. You’ll need to provide personal details and proof of ID – so anonymous dealing is not possible. Crypto entities must be registered if they are providing exchange services. In addition, bodies providing crypto transfer services and custody of digital assets or instruments must also register with the central bank.
Want to find out how Portugal compares to other countries in terms of their crypto-friendliness? Read here about the crypto economies in Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, and Romania or read Coincub’s latest Global Crypto Ranking.
Holding crypto and not selling, even if it goes up in value, is not taxable. Any gains made from the
purchase or sale of bitcoin are not taxed. To say this is rare is something of an understatement. Should an individual’s gains from crypto form a major part of their income, then the activity could be subject to tax. There are similar examples of this around the world.
Payments in bitcoin to individuals in Portugal are also not taxed. Companies that deal in bitcoin will be liable to capital gains tax of between 28% and 35%. Keeping track of your dealings is vital, as much depends on classification and definitions. As always, some things are best sorted out with a trained accountant.
Much depends on whether you are trading professionally or as a casual investor. Crypto trading is both recognized and tax allowable. For ex-pats or financial immigrants to Portugal who declare a tax residency in the country, there is a highly attractive tax regime called NHR (Non-Habitual Resident), offering tax reductions and exceptions.
If you are a long-term resident of Portugal, you are deemed a permanent resident for tax purposes. Should you move and become a resident elsewhere, your tax affairs will come under the jurisdiction of your resident country. Thanks to Portugal’s generous tax breaks for wealthy immigrants, more people are coming into the country rather than leaving it.
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