Benin vs Zimbabwe
Crypto regulation comparison
Benin
Zimbabwe
Benin has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. As a WAEMU member, it falls under BCEAO oversight. The BCEAO has warned against crypto but there is no formal ban.
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.
Key Points
- No specific national cryptocurrency legislation
- BCEAO provides regional monetary and regulatory oversight
- Part of the WAEMU monetary zone using the CFA franc
- Limited crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto businesses
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