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Ethiopia vs South Africa

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Ethiopia | South Africa
Ethiopia

Ethiopia

South Africa

South Africa

Restricted
Legal

Ethiopia's Proclamation No. 1359/2024 explicitly prohibits cryptocurrency for payment transactions but allows the NBE to issue future guidelines on digital assets. Crypto mining is legal and actively growing, with Ethiopia emerging as a major Bitcoin mining destination leveraging hydroelectric power. A comprehensive regulatory framework is under development.

South Africa has embraced crypto regulation. In 2022, the FSCA declared crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act, requiring crypto service providers to obtain FSCA licenses. SARS taxes crypto gains under capital gains tax (up to 18% effective rate for individuals) or income tax depending on trading frequency. South Africa is the largest crypto market in Africa.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate N/A
Tax Rate 18% (effective max ~18%)
Exchanges No No
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining No No
Regulator National Bank of Ethiopia
Regulator FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
Key Points
  • Proclamation No. 1359/2024 prohibits cryptocurrency for payment transactions
  • NBE authorized to issue future directives on crypto assets and CBDCs
  • Crypto mining is legal and rapidly expanding, leveraging hydroelectric power
  • Ethiopia has become one of the fastest-growing Bitcoin mining destinations globally
  • Comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework under development
Key Points
  • Crypto declared a financial product under FAIS Act (2022); service providers must be FSCA-licensed
  • FSCA began licensing crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in 2023
  • Capital gains taxed at effective rate up to 18% (45% max marginal rate × 40% inclusion)
  • Frequent trading may be classified as income and taxed at marginal rates (up to 45%)
  • SARB regulates cross-border crypto transactions under exchange control regulations
Sources
Sources