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Nigeria vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Nigeria | United States
Nigeria

Nigeria

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

Nigeria has the highest crypto adoption rate in Africa and among the highest globally. After the CBN banned banks from servicing crypto exchanges in 2021 (driving activity to P2P), the ban was lifted in December 2023. The SEC Nigeria now regulates digital asset exchanges and issuances under its Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP). Nigeria's progressive rates up to 25% applies to crypto disposals.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate Progressive: up to 25% (individuals) / 30% (companies)
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator SEC Nigeria, CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoins subject to SEC digital asset rules
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
Key Points
  • CBN lifted the 2021 banking ban on crypto in December 2023
  • SEC Nigeria oversees VASPs under the Investments and Securities Act and ARIP
  • Progressive rates up to 25% applies to profits from crypto asset disposals according to Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (eff. Jan 2026)
  • Nigeria ranks among the top 5 globally for crypto adoption (Chainalysis index)
  • P2P trading dominates the market; Binance and other platforms face regulatory scrutiny
Key Points
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources