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Kuwait vs South Africa

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Kuwait | South Africa
Kuwait

Kuwait

South Africa

South Africa

Restricted
Legal

Kuwait has taken a restrictive approach to cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Kuwait and the Capital Markets Authority have prohibited banks and financial institutions from processing crypto transactions. There is no licensing framework for crypto exchanges. However, owning crypto is not explicitly illegal, and there is no personal income tax in Kuwait, so no crypto-specific tax applies.

South Africa has embraced crypto regulation. In 2022, the FSCA declared crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act, requiring crypto service providers to obtain FSCA licenses. SARS taxes crypto gains under capital gains tax (up to 18% effective rate for individuals) or income tax depending on trading frequency. South Africa is the largest crypto market in Africa.

Tax Type None
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 0%
Tax Rate 18% (effective max ~18%)
Exchanges No No
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining No No
Regulator CBK (Central Bank of Kuwait), CMA
Regulator FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules No specific stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
Key Points
  • CBK prohibits banks and financial institutions from dealing in virtual currencies
  • No licensing framework exists for crypto exchanges or VASPs
  • Personal ownership of crypto is not explicitly criminalized
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Kuwait applies to crypto
  • CMA has warned investors about the risks of cryptocurrency
Key Points
  • Crypto declared a financial product under FAIS Act (2022); service providers must be FSCA-licensed
  • FSCA began licensing crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in 2023
  • Capital gains taxed at effective rate up to 18% (45% max marginal rate × 40% inclusion)
  • Frequent trading may be classified as income and taxed at marginal rates (up to 45%)
  • SARB regulates cross-border crypto transactions under exchange control regulations
Sources
Sources