Is Bitcoin Legal in Tanzania?
Partly. Tanzania's central bank does not recognise crypto and warns against it, but it is not criminalised, it has been taxed since July 2024, and a 2024 High Court ruling upheld crypto deals.
Legal, lightly regulated · facts checked November 2026 · some details from secondary sources · bitcoin is $77,627 today
| Status | Legal, lightly regulated |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Bank of Tanzania (BoT); Tanzania Revenue Authority (tax) |
| Main law | BoT public notice (12 Nov 2019); Finance Act 2024 (amending the Income Tax Act, 2019) |
| Exchanges | No licensing regime for exchanges. |
| Paying with bitcoin | Not legal tender; the BoT says only the Tanzanian shilling is legal tender and discourages crypto use. |
| Banks | Discouraged; the BoT warns against dealing in crypto, so banks generally avoid it. |
| Tax | Since 1 July 2024, a 3% withholding tax applies to payments from digital-asset exchanges or transfers to residents (Finance Act 2024). |
| Mining | Not regulated |
| Recent change | 13 Dec 2024: the High Court (Yellow Card Tanzania v. Nyamwero) held that taxed crypto transactions cannot be treated as illegal. |
Bitcoin in Tanzania: FAQ
Is bitcoin legal in Tanzania?
Partly: Tanzania's central bank does not recognise crypto and warns against it, but it is not criminalised, it has been taxed since July 2024, and a 2024 High Court ruling upheld crypto deals.
Is bitcoin legal tender in Tanzania?
Not legal tender; the BoT says only the Tanzanian shilling is legal tender and discourages crypto use.
How is bitcoin taxed in Tanzania?
Since 1 July 2024, a 3% withholding tax applies to payments from digital-asset exchanges or transfers to residents (Finance Act 2024).
Who regulates crypto in Tanzania?
Bank of Tanzania (BoT); Tanzania Revenue Authority (tax). No licensing regime for exchanges.
Is bitcoin mining legal in Tanzania?
Not regulated.
Other Countries Where Bitcoin Is Legal, Lightly Regulated
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