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 in North Korea; electricity cost is low but infrastructure is very poor and mining is state-controlled or prohibited.

Geopolitical Risk

Stabilityauthoritarian_stable
SanctionsYes
Corruption Index17/100
Banking Accessvery_restricted

Risk Factors

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: 2026-06-01 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map

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