Norway

#33

Crypto Exchanges & Regulation – Top exchanges in Norway by Coincub criteria

Country facts

Norway crypto score

Trade and store crypto

Bitcoin and crypto trading in Norway

Norway’s vast riches accumulating within its sovereign wealth fund don’t seem to be boosting the country’s crypto credentials. Perhaps old money is good enough. There is no specific cryptocurrency legislation in Norway in regard to banking and money transmission or the regulation of exchanges, miners, issuers or sponsors. Last year amended Anti-Money Laundering Laws AML came into force and all crypto trading activities are taxable under prevailing tax laws. Norway, however, carries high(ish) scores for numbers of blockchain organizations, Bitcoin odes and, surprisingly, for Bitcoin mining. Norway moves up one place to round out the top thirty

Spend Bitcoin and cryptocurrency trading in Norway

The crypto economy in Norway is open and progressive with a positive outlook towards cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology that supports it. Spending your coins, however, is not that easy with few directly participating stores and outlets. There are worldwide brands that accept crypto, such as the inevitable Microsoft and Gyft, but for the most part, you could try some form of crypto debit card to make your purchases that you top up with crypto to spend in the converted Euro flat currency.

Law and crypto trading in Norway

Norway is served by all the leading exchanges and has a population with high volumes of trading and holding cryptocurrency. The cryptoeconomy is largely unregulated, but that is not to say Norway is totally sold on Crypto. This is a country with a vast Sovereign Wealth Fund and the establishment is doing very nicely without crypto, thank you. The financial regulator, Finanstilsynet, only recently warned against the risks of investing in such a volatile currency as Bitcoin. Much public opinion has the opposite view with high trading volumes and numbers of people holding crypto.

Paying tax on my crypto trading in Norway

Although crypto or virtual currencies share many similarities with conventional (fiat) currencies, for tax purposes, they are not considered to be ordinary currency because they are not issued or guaranteed by a national central bank. They are, however, taxable and you must report all buying, selling and mining or cryptocurrency to the tax authorities. Holding, purchasing or selling cryptocurrency is not reported automatically to the tax authorities, but you are responsible for reporting your activities. Income identified as gains is taxed at a rate of 22%. Any capital gains you gain from the realization of a capital asset you make as an individual are taxable, with losses deductible and this applies to your cryptocurrency whether it is purchased or mined. For example, if you sell your bitcoin for another cryptocurrency, then the gain is taxable with all gains and losses calculated in Norwegian kroner at the time of the transaction.

Tax relief, changing residency and gifting crypto coins in Norway

The taxable gross capital/wealth you have accrued is considered to be all capital objects with a sale value that you own at the end of the income year – and that includes your cryptocurrency. Using crypto as a means of payment and the exchange of virtual currency services can be exempt from VAT but you need tax advice as to the exact circumstances. Overall, the taxation of your gains applies wherever in the world your assets are located and your crypto holdings will be taxable on the gross capital wealth basis whether you gift it or not. Should you change residency, your tax matters will be applicable to your new country of residence.

Norway crypto mining regulations

Thinking of mining crypto? It’s a highly technical and expensive activity at the best of times, involving powerful computers – and lots of energy – but it is perfectly legal in Norway. However, if you own your own hydroelectric dam and go ahead, you are liable for tax on your gains and you must report your mining in your tax return. Mined coins count as income at market value at the time of acquisition and you’re in possession of these at the end of the income year, the value is considered as capital wealth. Keeping records of trading and mining activity is vital, the authorities can simply request it from you and you have to comply. Whether you are mining as a private individual or as a business will have a direct impact on your taxation or not.

Planning your retirement and investing in cryptocurrency in Norway

Cryptocurrency is a big investment play among an increasing amount of population. That said cryptocurrency is still viewed as too volatile and unpredictable for most organizations offering long-term financial planning. Despite a positive attitude from the government, the risks of high price volatility remain and traditional long-term investment organizations may steer clear, it is likely that any investment plan would probably carry higher fees due to the higher risks involved.

Norway’s financial services’ outlook on Bitcoin and crypto economy

Norway’s banking system is highly advanced and cash usage is low, with some four out of five peer-to-peer payments made using mobile payment services. The country also rates top in Europe in terms of Internet Banking. However, like many countries, and especially those in Scandinavia, there are wide differences of opinion about the crypto space between central and mainstream banks, and the general financial community in general. While the central bank is not particularly enamored of the potential of bitcoin and crypto in general, some mainstream banks wish to provide the services their customers are demanding. One such bank is the Norwegian savings bank, Sparebanken Øst, which has invested in a fast-growing bitcoin exchange, NBX, to match demand and challenge competitors with its range of services.

Norway and DeFi, the latest developments

Central Banks around the world are all investigating or trialing some form of digital currency and Norway is definitely one of them, however, Norway’s central bank firmly believes its main mandate is to provide for a stable financial system. Norway’s central bank is assessing the need for a central bank digital currency but admitted that this is still some way off – actually a position very similar to Denmark’s. Likewise, any practical assessment on decentralized finance (DeFi) as a replacement for the existing financial system remains at the level of speculative debate.

Crypto regulation in Norway

The cryptoeconomy has been left with something of a ‘wait and see’ approach in Norway, with very light, or no specific regulation. There is also little statutory consumer protection for cryptocurrency buyers, unlike with traditional investments. This approach is not unlike other Scandinavian countries that have also been relatively ‘hands-off’ with crypto developments.
Cryptocurrency trading platforms in Norway are obliged to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) provisions and with little supervision from Finanstilsynet beyond that. As to the security and suitability of any exchange, it’s advisable to do some homework into their track record, levels of customer services and insurance they may or may not carry against fraud or theft.