Interactive map: the legal status of Bitcoin across 140 countries

[The Bitcoin Act]

I put together a resource I couldn't find anywhere else, and this place seemed the right place to share it.

It's an interactive map of how 140 governments actually treat Bitcoin. Not just "legal / illegal," but the things that matter to someone holding coins:
=> whether self-custody is legally protected
=> how it's taxed
=> how it's formally classified in law
=> the real seizure and enforcement risk on the ground

Each country is scored across six dimensions, weighting practical enforceability over what the statute says on paper, because the two are often very different. Sources are statutory law, central-bank guidance, IMF Article IV consultations, FATF mutual-evaluation reports, and case law. I re-verify it quarterly.

The figure that stuck with me while building it: of 140 jurisdictions, only 6 give Bitcoin clear legal recognition and protect self-custody. The large majority are "legal but heavily regulated," and the line between moderate and restrictive is almost always enforcement behaviour, not the written law.

I'd rather be corrected than complimented. If your jurisdiction's classification looks wrong, tell me why and I'll fix it. That's the main reason I'm posting here rather than anywhere else.

Straight about the catch: the detailed country write-ups sit behind an email signup for the newsletter. I write on Bitcoin law. I know how this board feels about email walls, and that's fair, so I'd still genuinely value your read on the methodology even if you never go past the front page.

Link: https://thebitcoinact.xyz/bitcoin-legal-map

No token, no referral links, no affiliate anything. Just a resource. 

[hugeblack]

I find the map design and associated data fairly good.

What is the source of the legal information? Did you rely on publicly available data or consult legal sources in those countries?

For example, I checked the data for my country, and it's generally accurate. However, if you look at some newspaper articles, you'll find that anyone holding Bitcoin worth more than $3,000 might need to disclose its source.

The same applies to Oman, where mining is considered illegal despite the lack of clear legislation.

[The Bitcoin Act]

Thanks. Genuinely appreciate you checking your own country's entry, that's the most useful thing anyone can do here! 

On sources: it's built on publicly available official material rather than retained local counsel in each jurisdiction. That's a deliberate tradeoff: it keeps everything auditable and lets me re-verify quarterly, but it means the map catches the formal position and the documented enforcement pattern, and can miss the on-the-ground detail that shows up first in local reporting.

Which country is yours, out of interest? That $3,000 source-disclosure threshold is exactly the kind of nuance I'd want to get into the map, and I'd rather look at it directly than guess.

Good point on Oman. I'll get the mining details added to that one.

This is the exact kind of feedback I was hoping for by posting here rather than just shipping it and moving on! Thank you.

[thesebassv]

Excellent idea. I found it very easy to use and excellent for keeping us informed quickly.

I would only suggest one thing: you could cite the sources of your information and add them to each country's card. That way, people can verify that what's shown on the map is accurate. It would be preferable if the sources were government announcements or laws, as this would increase trust in the information presented on the map.

[robelneo]

This is an excellent tool; I bookmarked it for reference and recommendation. The information about my country is correct; it would be better to highlight this.

Drag to rotate · Scroll to zoom · Click any country for full regulatory details

I almost missed it; I learned it myself and only found that later that these are available.

[The Bitcoin Act]

Thank you!

[The Bitcoin Act]

I would only suggest one thing: you could cite the sources of your information and add them to each country's card. That way, people can verify that what's shown on the map is accurate. It would be preferable if the sources were government announcements or laws, as this would increase trust in the information presented on the map.

I'll be citing my sources. Many of my readers have pointed this out, and it's a great idea, so it's coming in my next update.