Botswana vs Senegal
Crypto regulation comparison
Botswana
Senegal
Legal
No Regulation
Botswana passed the Virtual Assets Act in 2022, first African country to issue crypto licenses. NBFIRA supervises VASPs. 4 licensed entities as of 2024. Penalties up to P250,000 or 5 years imprisonment.
Senegal has no specific national cryptocurrency legislation. As a WAEMU member, the BCEAO does not recognize crypto as legal tender and has issued warnings about risks. Crypto is not illegal but operates without legal protection. BCEAO tightened foreign exchange controls in 2024, and fintech firms now require licenses under BCEAO Instruction 001-01-2024.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA)
Regulator
BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- Virtual Assets Act enacted in 2022, effective Feb 22, 2022
- First African country to issue crypto licenses via NBFIRA
- 4 licensed VASPs as of December 2024
- Bank of Botswana assesses domestic crypto risks as minimal
- Unregistered crypto dealers face fines up to P250,000 or imprisonment
Key Points
- No specific national cryptocurrency legislation
- Crypto not illegal but BCEAO has issued warnings about risks
- Part of the WAEMU monetary zone using the CFA franc
- BCEAO tightened foreign exchange controls and AML requirements in 2024
- Fintech firms now require BCEAO licenses under Instruction 001-01-2024