Kenya vs North Korea
Crypto regulation comparison
Kenya
North Korea
No Regulation
Banned
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.
North Korea does not allow civilian cryptocurrency use. The regime has been accused by the UN and US of using state-sponsored hacking to steal cryptocurrency to fund weapons programs.
Tax Type
Varies
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
1.5-3% (proposed digital asset tax)
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
No
Regulator
CBK (Central Bank of Kenya), CMA (Capital Markets Authority)
Regulator
Central Bank of North Korea
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
Not applicable — crypto banned
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
Key Points
- No civilian cryptocurrency use permitted
- State-sponsored crypto theft alleged by UN and US
- Lazarus Group linked to major crypto exchange hacks
- International sanctions restrict all financial activities
- Cryptocurrency used by state actors, not civilians