Ghana vs El Salvador
Crypto regulation comparison
Ghana
El Salvador
No Regulation
Legal
Ghana has no specific cryptocurrency legislation. The Bank of Ghana has warned citizens about the risks of crypto but has not imposed an outright ban. SEC Ghana has indicated plans to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets, and the country has one of Africa's growing crypto communities.
El Salvador made history in September 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender through the Bitcoin Law. However, under a January 2025 IMF agreement (Decreto 199), El Salvador amended the law to make Bitcoin acceptance by businesses voluntary rather than mandatory, and repealed several articles. There is no capital gains tax on Bitcoin. The CNAD regulates digital assets.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
No tax
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Bank of Ghana (BoG), SEC Ghana
Regulator
BCR (Banco Central de Reserva), CNAD (Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales)
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation; Bank of Ghana exploring e-Cedi CBDC
Stablecoin Rules
USD is the primary currency; Bitcoin-specific legislation in place
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation or regulatory framework exists
- Bank of Ghana issued warnings about crypto risks but has not banned it
- SEC Ghana has expressed interest in developing a digital asset framework
- Ghana has high crypto adoption relative to its economy, particularly for P2P trading
- Bank of Ghana has been piloting the e-Cedi CBDC
Key Points
- First country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021 via the Bitcoin Law
- Government developed the Chivo wallet for citizens, offering $30 USD in BTC incentive
- January 2025 Decreto 199 made merchant Bitcoin acceptance voluntary (IMF condition)
- No capital gains tax on Bitcoin transactions for individuals
- Government has been accumulating Bitcoin reserves and launched Bitcoin-backed bonds