North Korea

North Korea has no specific cryptocurrency regulation.

Overview

StatusBanned
Risk Score100/100 (Very High Risk)
Regionasia pacific
CurrencyKPW

Tax Information

Capital Gains (Personal)N/A
Capital Gains (Corporate)N/A
VAT on CryptoNo
Staking TaxN/A
Airdrop TaxN/A

No crypto-specific tax guidance available.

Licensing & Registration

RequiredNo
RegulatorN/A
FrameworkComprehensive international sanctions; crypto activity state-directed for sanctions evasion
Easevery_complex

Enforcement Activity

Level: Moderate

No detailed enforcement information available

AML / KYC

KYC RequiredNo
Travel RuleNo
FATF MemberNo
FATF Statusblacklisted_countermeasures
FATF BodyFATF
Suspicious-Activity ReportingNo

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: Banned

Stablecoins

Status: Banned

NFTs

Status: Banned

Mining

LegalNo
Electricity Cost$0.04/kWh
Renewable Energy35%
Infrastructurevery_poor

Crypto mining is banned due to strict government control and international sanctions. Infrastructure is very poor with limited internet and data center facilities.

Geopolitical Risk

Stabilityvery_unstable
SanctionsYes
Corruption Index17/100
Banking Accessvery_restricted
Sanctions Program ActiveYes

Risk Factors

North Korea is under comprehensive international sanctions severely restricting crypto activities. Political environment is highly unstable with very limited business freedom and internet censorship.

Recent Political Events

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryptocurrency legal in North Korea?

North Korea has no specific cryptocurrency regulation.

What is the FATF status of North Korea?

North Korea is classified by FATF as: blacklisted_countermeasures.

What is the AML/KYC regime in North Korea?

KYC is not universally mandated.

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Last reviewed: 2026-09-16 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map

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