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Qatar vs South Africa

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Qatar | South Africa
Qatar

Qatar

South Africa

South Africa

Restricted
Legal

Qatar has a restrictive stance on cryptocurrency. The Qatar Central Bank banned crypto trading and services in 2018, and the QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre. However, Qatar has shown interest in blockchain technology for non-crypto applications and is exploring a potential CBDC. The Qatar Financial Centre issued a Digital Assets Framework in 2024 focused on tokenized real-world assets, not cryptocurrencies.

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 No No
Mining No No
Regulator QCB (Qatar Central Bank), QFCRA
Regulator FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), SARB (South African Reserve Bank)
Stablecoin Rules Not permitted under current QCB regulations
Stablecoin Rules Crypto assets declared financial products under FAIS; stablecoins included
Key Points
  • QFCRA prohibited authorized firms from providing virtual asset services (2019 alert, reaffirmed 2024)
  • QFCRA prohibits virtual asset services within the Qatar Financial Centre
  • QFC introduced a 2024 Digital Assets Framework for tokenized securities (not crypto)
  • No personal income or capital gains tax in Qatar (but crypto trading is banned)
  • Qatar exploring blockchain and CBDC applications separate from crypto
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