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Kenya vs South Korea

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Kenya | South Korea
Kenya

Kenya

South Korea

South Korea

No Regulation
Legal

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.

South Korea is one of the world's largest crypto markets. The Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA), effective July 2024, provides comprehensive investor protection including requirements for exchanges to hold user assets in cold storage and carry insurance. All VASPs must register with FIU and comply with strict AML rules under the Specific Financial Information Act. A 20% crypto gains tax (above KRW 2.5 million exemption, raised from the original 250K KRW threshold) has been deferred multiple times and is now scheduled for January 2027.

Tax Type Varies
Tax Type Varies
Tax Rate 1.5-3% (proposed digital asset tax)
Tax Rate 20%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator CBK (Central Bank of Kenya), CMA (Capital Markets Authority)
Regulator FSC (Financial Services Commission), FSS, FIU (Korea Financial Intelligence Unit)
Stablecoin Rules No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules Under development; stablecoins subject to VASP rules
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
  • Virtual Asset Users Protection Act (VAUPA) effective July 2024 — major investor protection law
  • VASPs must register with FIU and partner with real-name verified bank accounts
  • 20% national tax (22% effective incl. 2% local income surtax) above KRW 2.5M annual exemption (deferred to January 2027)
  • Exchanges must hold 80%+ of user assets in cold wallets and carry insurance/reserves
  • Only won-denominated trading pairs allowed on major exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit)
Sources
Sources