Kenya vs Nepal
Crypto regulation comparison
Kenya
Nepal
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.
Nepal has banned cryptocurrency trading, mining, and transactions. The Nepal Rastra Bank declared crypto trading illegal in 2017, and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has been directed to block crypto exchange websites. Law enforcement has arrested individuals for operating crypto exchanges. Despite the ban, some citizens use VPNs to access crypto.
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
NRB (Nepal Rastra Bank)
Stablecoin Rules
No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
All crypto activities 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
- NRB declared all crypto trading and transactions illegal in 2017
- Mining cryptocurrency is also prohibited
- NTA directed to block access to crypto exchange websites
- Arrests have been made for operating crypto trading platforms
- NRB exploring a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as an alternative