Morocco vs Malaysia
Crypto regulation comparison
Morocco
Malaysia
Morocco's central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) banned cryptocurrency transactions in 2017, making it illegal for financial institutions to process crypto payments. Despite the ban, Morocco has one of the highest crypto adoption rates in Africa. The government has been exploring a potential regulatory framework, with Bank Al-Maghrib reportedly studying a CBDC and reconsidering its crypto stance.
Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated in Malaysia. The Securities Commission oversees digital asset exchanges (DAX) and initial exchange offerings under the Capital Markets and Services (Prescription of Securities) Order 2019. Only SC-approved exchanges can operate. Malaysia does not impose capital gains tax on crypto for individuals, though frequent trading may be classified as business income.
Key Points
- Bank Al-Maghrib banned crypto transactions for financial institutions in 2017
- Crypto ownership is technically in a legal gray area; trading happens via P2P
- Morocco ranks among the top crypto adopters in Africa despite the ban
- Government exploring regulatory framework and potential CBDC
- No crypto taxation framework exists due to the ban
Key Points
- Digital asset exchanges must be registered and approved by the Securities Commission
- Only approved tokens can be listed on registered exchanges (e.g., BTC, ETH, XRP on approved list)
- No capital gains tax for individuals; frequent trading may be treated as business income
- BNM regulates crypto for AML/CFT purposes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act
- IEOs must be conducted through SC-approved platforms