Turkmenistan vs Zimbabwe
Crypto regulation comparison
Turkmenistan
Zimbabwe
Legal
Restricted
Turkmenistan enacted the Law on Virtual Assets effective January 2026, legalizing crypto exchanges and mining under Central Bank licensing. Crypto is treated as property, not legal tender.
Zimbabwe has restricted cryptocurrency through its central bank. The RBZ banned financial institutions from processing crypto transactions in 2018. However, in a unique move, the RBZ issued gold-backed digital tokens (ZiG tokens) in 2023 as a store of value. Zimbabwe has a history of currency instability (hyperinflation, currency collapses) which drives informal crypto adoption for hedging and remittances.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
None
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
N/A
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
No
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Central Bank of Turkmenistan
Regulator
RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe)
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under Virtual Assets Law
Stablecoin Rules
No private stablecoin regulation; RBZ introduced gold-backed ZiG digital token as state currency
Key Points
- Law on Virtual Assets enacted November 2025, effective January 2026
- Crypto exchanges and mining require Central Bank licensing
- Crypto treated as property, not legal tender
- Banks prohibited from directly providing crypto services
- Low electricity costs attract mining operations
Key Points
- RBZ banned banks and financial institutions from servicing crypto in 2018
- RBZ issued gold-backed digital tokens (ZiG) in 2023 as a CBDC-like instrument
- No licensing framework for crypto exchanges
- Informal crypto adoption driven by currency instability and remittance needs
- Crypto ownership itself is not explicitly criminalized for individuals