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United Arab Emirates vs Kenya

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | United Arab Emirates | Kenya
United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Kenya

Kenya

Legal
No Regulation

The UAE has become a global crypto hub with multiple regulatory frameworks. Dubai's VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority), established in 2022, is the world's first dedicated crypto regulator and licenses exchanges, brokers, and other VASPs. Abu Dhabi's ADGM regulates crypto through the FSRA. The federal SCA also oversees crypto at the national level. The UAE has no personal income or capital gains tax. Major global exchanges (Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com) have obtained UAE licenses.

Kenya has no comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation, though it is one of Africa's leading crypto markets by adoption. The Central Bank has issued warnings but no formal ban. Kenya's 2023 Finance Act introduced a 3% Digital Asset Tax on income from digital asset transfers, signaling growing regulatory attention.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Varies
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 1.5-3% (proposed digital asset tax)
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator VARA (Dubai), ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi), SCA (Federal), CBUAE
Regulator CBK (Central Bank of Kenya), CMA (Capital Markets Authority)
Stablecoin Rules VARA regulates stablecoins in Dubai; ADGM has separate framework
Stablecoin Rules No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
  • VARA (Dubai) — world's first standalone virtual asset regulator; comprehensive licensing framework
  • ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi) — separate regulatory framework for digital assets in the financial free zone
  • No personal income tax or capital gains tax in the UAE
  • 9% corporate tax (from 2023) may apply to crypto businesses but not individual investors
  • Major exchanges licensed: Binance, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com, BitOasis
Key Points
  • No specific cryptocurrency legislation, but the 2023 Finance Act introduced a 3% Digital Asset Tax
  • CBK has issued multiple warnings about crypto but has not imposed a ban
  • CMA considering a framework for digital asset regulation
  • Kenya consistently ranks among the top countries globally for crypto adoption (P2P volume)
  • M-Pesa mobile money dominance shapes how Kenyans access crypto via P2P exchanges
Sources
Sources