Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe
Crypto regulation comparison
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe
Banned
Restricted
Bangladesh effectively bans cryptocurrency. Bangladesh Bank issued warnings in 2017 citing anti-money laundering laws, and the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 prohibits unapproved digital currency transactions. Violations can result in imprisonment up to 12 years.
Zimbabwe has restricted cryptocurrency through its central bank. The RBZ banned financial institutions from processing crypto transactions in 2018. However, in a unique move, the RBZ issued gold-backed digital tokens (ZiG tokens) in 2023 as a store of value. Zimbabwe has a history of currency instability (hyperinflation, currency collapses) which drives informal crypto adoption for hedging and remittances.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
No
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Bangladesh Bank
Regulator
RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable; all crypto transactions are prohibited
Stablecoin Rules
No private stablecoin regulation; RBZ introduced gold-backed ZiG digital token as state currency
Key Points
- Bangladesh Bank issued a 2017 notice warning against crypto transactions
- Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 used to prohibit crypto dealings
- Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012 applies to crypto-related activities
- Penalties can include up to 10 years imprisonment and fines up to 3 million BDT
- Despite the ban, some peer-to-peer trading occurs underground
Key Points
- RBZ banned banks and financial institutions from servicing crypto in 2018
- RBZ issued gold-backed digital tokens (ZiG) in 2023 as a CBDC-like instrument
- No licensing framework for crypto exchanges
- Informal crypto adoption driven by currency instability and remittance needs
- Crypto ownership itself is not explicitly criminalized for individuals