The United States maintains a clear and active regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with ongoing SEC rulemaking and enforcement actions. The SEC is focused on investor protection and market fairness, proposing new crypto asset regulations and engaging public comment.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | north america |
| Currency | USD |
| Adoption Rank | #4 |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | Up to 37% federal income tax plus state taxes, capital gains rates apply depending on holding period |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | 21% federal corporate tax rate applies to crypto gains |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Staking Tax | Taxed as ordinary income upon receipt |
| Airdrop Tax | Taxed as ordinary income at fair market value upon receipt |
Crypto gains are subject to federal income tax with rates depending on holding period and income bracket. Mining and staking rewards are taxed as ordinary income. No VAT applies to crypto transactions.
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | SEC / CFTC / FinCEN / OCC / State Regulators |
| Framework | Federal Securities Laws and FinCEN regulations |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $100,000 - $10,000,000+ |
Crypto businesses must comply with federal securities laws, register as MSBs with FinCEN, and obtain state money transmitter licenses where applicable.
The SEC and CFTC have brought numerous enforcement actions against crypto exchanges, DeFi protocols, and token issuers. Major cases in 2024-2025 included actions against several top-10 exchanges. DOJ has pursued criminal cases for fraud and sanctions evasion.
| Status | Research |
| Name | Project Hamilton |
| Issuing Authority | US Federal Reserve |
| Model | retail |
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are subject to existing securities and commodities laws; regulators are actively monitoring and proposing rules.
Status: specific_framework
The GENIUS Act provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins, requiring issuers to meet capital and operational standards.
Status: Unclear
The SEC has indicated that some NFTs, particularly fractionalized NFTs and NFTs sold with expectations of profit, may be securities. No NFT-specific regulation exists. Enforcement has been case-by-case.
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.084/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 23% |
| Infrastructure | excellent |
Mining is legal and active, with good infrastructure and moderate electricity costs. Renewable energy use is growing.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 67/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
| Sanctions Program Active | Yes |
Risk Factors
The US is politically stable with strong internet freedom and banking access. Regulatory environment is active with ongoing updates and enforcement.
Recent Political Events
The United States maintains a clear and active regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with ongoing SEC rulemaking and enforcement actions. The SEC is focused on investor protection and market fairness, proposing new crypto asset regulations and engaging public comment.
United States is classified by FATF as: compliant.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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VASP licensing, jurisdiction analysis, AML/KYC, legal opinions, company registration and banking access.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-08-31 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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