Botswana vs Venezuela
Crypto regulation comparison
Botswana
Venezuela
Legal
Legal
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.
Venezuela has a unique crypto history. The government launched the Petro (PTR) state cryptocurrency in 2018, backed by oil reserves, though it was widely considered a failure and discontinued. SUNACRIP regulates crypto activities and has licensed mining operations. Venezuelans have high crypto adoption due to hyperinflation, with USDT widely used as a de facto currency. Crypto mining requires a SUNACRIP license.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
Up to 34%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA)
Regulator
SUNACRIP (Superintendencia Nacional de Criptoactivos)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Government launched Petro (PTR) state crypto (discontinued); SUNACRIP regulated stablecoins
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
- SUNACRIP regulates crypto exchanges, mining, and service providers
- Government-backed Petro cryptocurrency launched in 2018, largely discontinued
- Crypto mining requires SUNACRIP license and registration
- Very high crypto adoption driven by hyperinflation; USDT widely used
- Income from crypto subject to progressive tax rates up to 34%
