Is Bitcoin Legal in Malaysia?
Yes. Bitcoin is legal in Malaysia; exchanges must be registered with the Securities Commission, though bitcoin is not legal tender.
Legal and regulated · facts checked November 2026 · bitcoin is $76,730 today
| Status | Legal and regulated |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Securities Commission Malaysia (SC); Bank Negara Malaysia (payments) |
| Main law | Capital Markets and Services (Prescription of Securities) (Digital Currency and Digital Token) Order 2019, under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 |
| Exchanges | Yes. Digital asset exchanges (DAX) must register with the SC as recognised market operators. |
| Paying with bitcoin | Not legal tender (Bank Negara); merchants may accept voluntarily. |
| Banks | Yes, banks can serve registered DAX operators. |
| Tax | Malaysia has no capital gains tax for individuals on investment gains; trading or business profits from crypto are taxed as income (IRB/LHDN). |
| Mining | Legal, but under review; mass power-theft crackdown, and a 2025 multi-agency committee is weighing a possible ban |
| Recent change | 19 Nov 2025: the government set up a committee to study measures against bitcoin-mining power theft (RM4.57 billion lost), including a possible mining ban; 2025 SC consultation on DAX listing reforms. |
Bitcoin in Malaysia: FAQ
Is bitcoin legal in Malaysia?
Yes: bitcoin is legal in Malaysia; exchanges must be registered with the Securities Commission, though bitcoin is not legal tender.
Is bitcoin legal tender in Malaysia?
Not legal tender (Bank Negara); merchants may accept voluntarily.
How is bitcoin taxed in Malaysia?
Malaysia has no capital gains tax for individuals on investment gains; trading or business profits from crypto are taxed as income (IRB/LHDN).
Who regulates crypto in Malaysia?
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC); Bank Negara Malaysia (payments). Yes. Digital asset exchanges (DAX) must register with the SC as recognised market operators.
Is bitcoin mining legal in Malaysia?
Legal, but under review; mass power-theft crackdown, and a 2025 multi-agency committee is weighing a possible ban.
Other Countries Where Bitcoin Is Legal And Regulated
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