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This guy claims you can get a crypto license in Dubai (for about $15K) and bank easily that way?

PinkCat

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Dec 20, 2022
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He basically says that you can solve the Dubai banks crypto unfriendliness by getting this crypto license for your Dubai company and then bank without any problems.
However what is real situation on the ground?
 
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That dude left dubai already. (The vid is also 2y old, lots have changed since).
Better to perfom your own deep due diligence and pick someone else. He provided lots of lets be nice here, so so info but charging a burj khalifa.

Dubai is a lot but not the place you can just do this turnkey with everything provided on a silver platter from the internet, where info turn old so fast.

That being said, a lot is possible but it depends on your business, especially if pockets deep enough.
You now will have to get license from vara and have proper books and taxes.
In just 2 short years a lot change.
 
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so tell us the truth guys, what is actually possible now in Dubai?

Nobody knows for sure; we are all waiting for the UAE government to provide clear guidance on what is actually taxable and what isn't.

I know my fair amount of very sizable crypto traders in UAE and we are all in disbelief tbh, current sentiment is we rather move to SEAsia where they will leave us alone or to MX where ditto.
 
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Nobody knows for sure; we are all waiting for the UAE government to provide clear guidance on what is actually taxable and what isn't.

I know my fair amount of very sizable crypto traders in UAE and we are all in disbelief tbh, current sentiment is we rather move to SEAsia where they will leave us alone or to MX where ditto.
Do you have examples of countries and some more details?

In my view things are quite clear for UAE in 2024 (see other topics); the only pending question is whether crypto to crypto transactions will constitute a taxable event I think.
 
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the only pending question is whether crypto to crypto transactions will constitute a taxable event I think

I like your careful wording. 9% might not be a deal breaker in itself, if the bookkeeping requirement is rational such as NAV. Per-transaction accounting in local fiat currency is insane, for people who do a lot of crypto to crypto transactions.
 
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Do you have examples of countries and some more details?

Thailand (though less so now due to recent changes) is still workable, and I assume you can circumvent the new restrictions by using foreign cards. Other viable options in Southeast Asia include the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos (which is very poor so I cant really recommend it).

Mexico is also a feasible, and most countries in Central America are options, though Southeast Asia generally offers better safety.

In my view things are quite clear for UAE in 2024 (see other topics); the only pending question is whether crypto to crypto transactions will constitute a taxable event I think.

I am still waiting for a ruling, hoping that by some grace of God there will be a decision stating that personal trading is considered personal income regardless of size. If we don't get such a ruling, my plan is to split my time between Thailand and Mexico, with occasional visit to Eastern Europe.
 
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I like your careful wording. 9% might not be a deal breaker in itself, if the bookkeeping requirement is rational such as NAV. Per-transaction accounting in local fiat currency is insane, for people who do a lot of crypto to crypto transactions.
Sure, also noticed this point. It will depend on the quality of the statement reports proposed by the exchanges. The difficulty is probably not in designing an excel file allowing to do such currency conversions on a per transaction basis, it is more in the use of partial entries and partial exits I believe.

Thailand (though less so now due to recent changes) is still workable, and I assume you can circumvent the new restrictions by using foreign cards. Other viable options in Southeast Asia include the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos (which is very poor so I cant really recommend it).

Mexico is also a feasible, and most countries in Central America are options, though Southeast Asia generally offers better safety.


I am still waiting for a ruling, hoping that by some grace of God there will be a decision stating that personal trading is considered personal income regardless of size. If we don't get such a ruling, my plan is to split my time between Thailand and Mexico, with occasional visit to Eastern Europe.
Thanks for your view. I've also seen several traders moving to Thailand for 6 months. Was hence trying to make the link.

By ruling I guess you're referring to a tax clarification right. I've also this option in mind to know if 'virtual currencies works' also concern crypto to crypto transactions (in my mind, based on the decrees, personal trading as main activity would be taxable).

Any way, every trader will need a personal ruling as proof I guess, would such transactions be exempted. Might not be needed to submit a request if the answer is negative though. I'll see around me too here in Dubai.

Nb: Cyprus might be another option. My current understanding (to be confirmed) is that crypto to crypto transactions are not a taxable event (profits could be used when setting up a company afterwards). Only issue is that capital gain from forex trading is taxable though.
 
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Cyprus might be another option

I think Cyprus could be interesting if you have a software company that does algo trading using its own IP. If CySEC agree that it doesn't need to be a regulated fund (due to the shareholder capital being from a tight group) and if the Tax Department agree that IP Box applies and that Specialised Accounting Practices can be used - i.e. NAV.

Three "if"s, but it could be the Goldilocks jurisdiction if they did all apply.

RAK or DXB are probably simpler, but Cyprus would be a nice can more cost efficient place estination to live, open an office and employ people.
 
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I think Cyprus could be interesting if you have a software company that does algo trading using its own IP. If CySEC agree that it doesn't need to be a regulated fund (due to the shareholder capital being from a tight group) and if the Tax Department agree that IP Box applies and that Specialised Accounting Practices can be used - i.e. NAV.

Three "if"s, but it could be the Goldilocks jurisdiction if they did all apply.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. It's probably an interesting option to examine indeed, quite advanced though.

For Cyprus I was more referring to trading stocks, indices, commodities as a natural person (main activity, with social contributions) and doing the same for crypto if crypto to crypto transactions are confirmed to be tax exempted.

For forex or crypto to fiat transactions a company would be needed though, to reduce taxation. With accounting and possibly audit requirements.

RAK or DXB are probably simpler, but Cyprus would be a nice can more cost efficient place estination to live, open an office and employ people.
Cyprus is certainly attractive regarding all these costs, esp. when comparing with Dubai. Curious to know why you're considering RAK and DXB as simpler.

Regarding trading operating costs in UAE, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be interesting to find quite cheap accounting and audit services in another emirate than Dubai, e.g. in Sharjah or Ajman (where some have a company/freelance company) even if trading as a natural person in Dubai. To be confirmed if this is allowed and if such low cost services can be easily found obviously.
 
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I think Cyprus could be interesting if you have a software company that does algo trading using its own IP. If CySEC agree that it doesn't need to be a regulated fund (due to the shareholder capital being from a tight group) and if the Tax Department agree that IP Box applies and that Specialised Accounting Practices can be used - i.e. NAV.

Three "if"s, but it could be the Goldilocks jurisdiction if they did all apply.

RAK or DXB are probably simpler, but Cyprus would be a nice can more cost efficient place estination to live, open an office and employ people.
This is indeed an option in Cyprus. Having your own software and with the proper structuring could reduce the effective tax rate significantly. It does however require a significant investment and also a tax ruling from the authorities to make the structure as bulletproof as possible.

Happy to PM anyone interested in this.
 
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This is indeed an option in Cyprus. Having your own software and with the proper structuring could reduce the effective tax rate significantly. It does however require a significant investment and also a tax ruling from the authorities to make the structure as bulletproof as possible.

Happy to PM anyone interested in this.

Do you think that SySEC will accept a high frequency trading business using its own IP and shareholder capital to trade crypto as non-regulated?

If so, then I am certainly interested.
 
This is indeed an option in Cyprus. Having your own software and with the proper structuring could reduce the effective tax rate significantly. It does however require a significant investment and also a tax ruling from the authorities to make the structure as bulletproof as possible.

Happy to PM anyone interested in this.
Could you briefly explain the interest, i.e. why a software company with own IP? I guess it's related to a specific tax regime for IP; though, would such a regime also apply to profits from using such a software, as compared to selling/licensing it.

Do you think that SySEC will accept a high frequency trading business using its own IP and shareholder capital to trade crypto as non-regulated?

If so, then I am certainly interested.
You can trade crypto in any case in Cyprus, including through a company if you wish to convert profits into fiat. You'll just have the corporate tax and need to use a proper banking solution.
 
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Do you think that SySEC will accept a high frequency trading business using its own IP and shareholder capital to trade crypto as non-regulated?

If so, then I am certainly interested.
As long as you are trading own funds then this is not regulated. We can discuss the prospect of structuring it under the IP Box regime, I will send you a PM.

Could you briefly explain the interest, i.e. why a software company with own IP? I guess it's related to a specific tax regime for IP; though, would such a regime also apply to profits from using such a software, as compared to selling/licensing it.
In very simple terms, under the IP Box regime in Cyprus, any profit from royalties from a qualifying IP asset can have a benefit of tax deduction of around 80&, which could drive the effective tax rate as low as 2.5% Happy to PM you about this
 
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