Iraq vs Kenya
Crypto regulation comparison
Iraq
Kenya
Banned
No Regulation
Iraq has banned cryptocurrency dealings. The Central Bank of Iraq issued a directive in 2017 prohibiting banks, financial institutions, and exchange companies from dealing in cryptocurrency. Despite the ban, some underground and peer-to-peer crypto trading reportedly persists.
Kenya has no comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation, though it is one of Africa's leading crypto markets by adoption. The Central Bank has issued warnings but no formal ban. Kenya's 2023 Finance Act introduced a 3% Digital Asset Tax on income from digital asset transfers, signaling growing regulatory attention.
Tax Type
Unclear
Tax Type
Varies
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
1.5-3% (proposed digital asset tax)
Exchanges
No
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
No
Mining
Yes
Regulator
CBI (Central Bank of Iraq)
Regulator
CBK (Central Bank of Kenya), CMA (Capital Markets Authority)
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable; crypto activities prohibited
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Key Points
- CBI banned all crypto dealings by financial institutions in 2017
- Exchange companies are prohibited from handling cryptocurrency
- No regulatory framework for crypto businesses
- Underground and P2P crypto trading reportedly exists despite the ban
- The ban is motivated by AML concerns and financial stability considerations
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation, but the 2023 Finance Act introduced a 3% Digital Asset Tax
- CBK has issued multiple warnings about crypto but has not imposed a ban
- CMA considering a framework for digital asset regulation
- Kenya consistently ranks among the top countries globally for crypto adoption (P2P volume)
- M-Pesa mobile money dominance shapes how Kenyans access crypto via P2P exchanges