Bahrain vs Morocco
Crypto regulation comparison
Bahrain
Morocco
Legal
Restricted
Bahrain is one of the most crypto-friendly jurisdictions in the Middle East. The Central Bank of Bahrain introduced a comprehensive crypto-asset regulatory framework in 2019, and there is no personal income or capital gains tax. Several major exchanges including Binance have obtained licenses.
Morocco's central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) banned cryptocurrency transactions in 2017, making it illegal for financial institutions to process crypto payments. Despite the ban, Morocco has one of the highest crypto adoption rates in Africa. The government has been exploring a potential regulatory framework, with Bank Al-Maghrib reportedly studying a CBDC and reconsidering its crypto stance.
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
0%
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
CBB (Central Bank of Bahrain)
Regulator
BAM (Bank Al-Maghrib), AMMC
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under CBB crypto-asset module; stablecoin issuance requires CBB licensing
Stablecoin Rules
No regulation; crypto transactions banned by central bank
Key Points
- CBB Crypto-Asset Module provides a full regulatory framework for exchanges, custodians, and brokers
- No personal income tax or capital gains tax in Bahrain
- Licensed exchanges include Binance (CoinMENA), Rain, and others
- VASPs must meet AML/CFT requirements and obtain CBB licensing
- Bahrain positions itself as a regional fintech and crypto hub
Key Points
- Bank Al-Maghrib banned crypto transactions for financial institutions in 2017
- Crypto ownership is technically in a legal gray area; trading happens via P2P
- Morocco ranks among the top crypto adopters in Africa despite the ban
- Government exploring regulatory framework and potential CBDC
- No crypto taxation framework exists due to the ban