{"id":471401,"date":"2021-09-12T17:34:24","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T17:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wncen.com\/?p=471401"},"modified":"2024-06-11T13:58:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T13:58:32","slug":"ukraine-adopts-new-law-to-legalize-bitcoin-and-other-cryptocurrencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wncen.com\/news\/ukraine-adopts-new-law-to-legalize-bitcoin-and-other-cryptocurrencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine Adopts New Law To Legalize Bitcoin And Other Cryptocurrencies"},"content":{"rendered":"
More governments are acknowledging the staying power of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Ukraine is the latest to join the growing list of countries that have legalized crypto. Just this week, El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Two weeks ago, Cuba passed a law to recognize and regulate cryptocurrencies, citing \u201creasons of socio-economic interest.\u201d Panama is also drafting new cryptocurrency regulations.<\/p>\n
Related Reading |\u00a0Panama To Recognize Bitcoin As Payment Alternative, Issues New Regulations<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In a nearly unanimous vote, the Parliament in Ukraine passed a law to legalize cryptocurrency. Earlier last month, there were reports of a new cryptocurrency-related bill that would allow payments in cryptocurrencies. As of then, the bill was being prepared in the parliament for the second reading, according to a\u00a0local report<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, however, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the draft law “On Virtual Assets”. Thus legally recognizing cryptocurrency in the country for the first time. The\u00a0law<\/a>\u00a0will enter into force after lawmakers approve amendments to the country\u2019s tax code about the taxation of cryptocurrency transactions. Although, the Ukrainian legislature is yet to vote on these changes.<\/p>\n This news comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law On Payment Services, another digital currency-related law. The law officially allowed Ukraine\u2019s central bank to issue a central bank digital currency, the digital hryvnia.<\/p>\n Unlike El Salvador\u2019s move to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, Ukraine\u2019s crypto law clearly states that cryptocurrencies do not constitute legal tender. However, it is an indication that the country is leaning more into bitcoin.<\/p>\n The new law recognizes virtual assets as both secured and unsecured intangible goods. However, cryptocurrencies are not accepted as a legal means of payment, and their exchange for other goods or services will not be allowed.<\/p>\n \u201cUkrainians will also be able to declare their income in virtual assets,\u201d said Anastasia Bratko of the Ministry of Digital Transformation. She added that the law \u201cguarantees judicial protection of the rights to virtual asset owners.\u201d<\/p>\n The law mandates that the term \u2018Financial virtual assets\u2019 be issued by registered entities. Crypto market participants will be able to independently determine the value of virtual assets, open bank accounts to settle transactions, and seek judicial protection for associated rights. Service providers are required to abide by the country\u2019s anti-money laundering regulations and prevent attempts to finance terrorism using their platforms, just like traditional financial institutions.<\/p>\n The laws on crypto in Ukraine were previously somewhat gray. Cryptocurrency trading was not illegal in the country even before the legislation. However, there were no laws around it. Locals were allowed to buy and exchange virtual currencies, but companies and exchanges dealing in crypto were often under close watch by law enforcement.<\/p>\n Two years ago, Ukraine\u2019s Ministry of Digital Transformation was established. It became very active in the crypto field. It partnered with Binance to jointly work on new crypto rules. The Government\u2019s online portal\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0that the Ministry of Digital Transformation partnered with a crypto exchange, Currency.com, a Belarusian service that is allegedly the first regulated exchange in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region to provide support for cryptocurrencies, fiat, and tokenized assets.<\/p>\n Ukrainian authorities have been taking a combative stance towards illegal crypto activities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In August, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)\u00a0blocked<\/a>\u00a0a network of \u201cclandestine cryptocurrency exchanges\u201d running in the capital city Kyiv. The SBU alleged these exchanges were facilitating money laundering and providing anonymity of transactions.<\/p>\n Related Reading |\u00a0Ukraine\u2019s Security Service Closes Illegal Cryptocurrency Exchanges<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Current authorities have maintained a positive attitude towards the country\u2019s growing crypto industry. By 2022, the country plans to open the cryptocurrency market to businesses and investors, according to this\u00a0Kyiv Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n On an official state visit to the U.S. last month,\u00a0<\/a>the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky,\u00a0called on<\/a>\u00a0top investors, venture capital funds to actively cooperate with Ukraine. He spoke of Ukraine\u2019s budding \u201clegal innovative market for virtual assets\u201d as a selling point for investment. Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, also said that the country was modernizing its payment market so that its National Bank would be able to issue digital currency.<\/p>\n More governments are acknowledging the staying power of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Ukraine is the latest to join the growing list of countries that have legalized crypto. Just this week, El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Two weeks ago, Cuba passed a law to recognize and regulate cryptocurrencies, citing \u201creasons of socio-economic interest.\u201d Panama is also drafting new cryptocurrency regulations. Related Reading |\u00a0Panama To Recognize Bitcoin As Payment Alternative, Issues New Regulations In a nearly unanimous vote, the Parliament in Ukraine passed a law to legalize cryptocurrency. Earlier last month, there were reports of a new cryptocurrency-related bill that would allow payments in cryptocurrencies. As of then, the bill was being prepared in the parliament for the second reading, according to a\u00a0local report. On Wednesday, however, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the draft law “On Virtual Assets”. Thus legally recognizing cryptocurrency in the country for the first time. The\u00a0law\u00a0will enter into force after lawmakers approve amendments to the country\u2019s tax code about the taxation of cryptocurrency transactions. Although, the Ukrainian legislature is yet to vote on these changes. This news comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law On Payment Services, another digital currency-related law. The law officially allowed Ukraine\u2019s central bank to issue a central bank digital currency, the digital hryvnia. What The Law Says Unlike El Salvador\u2019s move to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, Ukraine\u2019s crypto law clearly states that cryptocurrencies do not constitute legal tender. However, it is an indication that the country is leaning more into bitcoin. The new law recognizes virtual assets as both secured and unsecured intangible goods. However, cryptocurrencies are not accepted as a legal means of payment, and their exchange for other goods or services will not be allowed. \u201cUkrainians will also be able to declare their income in virtual assets,\u201d said Anastasia Bratko of the Ministry of Digital Transformation. She added that the law \u201cguarantees judicial protection of the rights to virtual asset owners.\u201d The law mandates that the term \u2018Financial virtual assets\u2019 be issued by registered entities. Crypto market participants will be able to independently determine the value of virtual assets, open bank accounts to settle transactions, and seek judicial protection for associated rights. Service providers are required to abide by the country\u2019s anti-money laundering regulations and prevent attempts to finance terrorism using their platforms, just like traditional financial institutions. History Of Crypto In Ukraine The laws on crypto in Ukraine were previously somewhat gray. Cryptocurrency trading was not illegal in the country even before the legislation. However, there were no laws around it. Locals were allowed to buy and exchange virtual currencies, but companies and exchanges dealing in crypto were often under close watch by law enforcement. Two years ago, Ukraine\u2019s Ministry of Digital Transformation was established. It became very active in the crypto field. It partnered with Binance to jointly work on new crypto rules. The Government\u2019s online portal\u00a0reported\u00a0that the Ministry of Digital Transformation partnered with a crypto exchange, Currency.com, a Belarusian service that is allegedly the first regulated exchange in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region to provide support for cryptocurrencies, fiat, and tokenized assets. Ukrainian authorities have been taking a combative stance towards illegal crypto activities. Total crypto market at $2.13 Trillion | Source: Crypto Total Market Cap from TradingView.com In August, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)\u00a0blocked\u00a0a network of \u201cclandestine cryptocurrency exchanges\u201d running in the capital city Kyiv. The SBU alleged these exchanges were facilitating money laundering and providing anonymity of transactions. Related Reading |\u00a0Ukraine\u2019s Security Service Closes Illegal Cryptocurrency Exchanges Current authorities have maintained a positive attitude towards the country\u2019s growing crypto industry. By 2022, the country plans to open the cryptocurrency market to businesses and investors, according to this\u00a0Kyiv Post. On an official state visit to the U.S. last month,\u00a0the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky,\u00a0called on\u00a0top investors, venture capital funds to actively cooperate with Ukraine. He spoke of Ukraine\u2019s budding \u201clegal innovative market for virtual assets\u201d as a selling point for investment. Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, also said that the country was modernizing its payment market so that its National Bank would be able to issue digital currency. Featured image from PYMNTS.com, Chart from TradingView.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":545,"featured_media":471411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[6804,6664,17137,13331,6352,4276],"class_list":["post-471401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-bitcoin-law-ukraine","tag-crypto","tag-crypto-law","tag-crypto-regulation","tag-cryptocurrency-regulation","tag-ukraine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat The Law Says<\/h2>\n
History Of Crypto In Ukraine<\/h2>\n
Total crypto market at $2.13 Trillion | Source: Crypto Total Market Cap from TradingView.com<\/a><\/pre>\n
Featured image from PYMNTS.com, Chart from TradingView.com<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"