Bitcoin in Nepal: rules, tax and how it's priced
Bitcoin's price in Nepalese rupees is often written in lakh (for example Rs 1 lakh = Rs 1,00,000). Crypto trading and mining are illegal in Nepal, so the figures on this page are for information only. They show the international BTC/USD price converted to NPR at today's exchange rate. They are not a price at which bitcoin can lawfully be bought in Nepal.
Is bitcoin legal in Nepal?
No. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank, treats cryptocurrency transactions as illegal. In a public notice of September 2021 it said that crypto trading, crypto mining and encouraging these activities are punishable under existing law. It relies on the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act, 2019 BS (1962), and warned against people defrauding others through crypto schemes. NRB has also declared crypto-based networking (multi-level marketing) businesses illegal. Bitcoin is not legal tender, and no Nepali regulator licenses crypto exchanges.
Enforcement and penalties
Because crypto trading is banned, Nepal has no tax regime for crypto gains. Enforcement runs through banks and investigators. According to NRB's Financial Intelligence Unit, banks and other institutions filed 658 crypto-related suspicious transaction reports between 2021 and mid-July 2025, and hundreds of cases were passed to Nepal Police, the Department of Revenue Investigation and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation. Most people involved were aged 21 to 35. Police have also broken up crypto investment scams. NRB has acknowledged that prohibition alone has not stopped the activity and has recommended better transaction monitoring and blockchain analytics.
Banks, payments and digital currency
Banks and payment providers may not facilitate crypto trades and must report suspicious transactions, including frequent small transfers described as loans or repayments. In August 2026 Parliament's Finance Committee was considering an amendment to the Nepal Rastra Bank Act that would add NRB-issued digital currency, meaning a possible central bank digital currency, to the legal definition of currency. The proposed wording explicitly excludes privately issued cryptocurrencies, so it would not legalise bitcoin. The rupee figures on this page are for information only and are not an invitation to trade.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.