Is crypto legal in Botswana?

Crypto is legal in Botswana as of October 2026, but businesses that deal in it need a licence. Individuals can own and trade crypto, while exchanges and other service providers must be licensed by NBFIRA under the Virtual Assets Act. Crypto is not legal tender, so no one has to accept it as payment.

Is bitcoin legal in Botswana?

Yes. Nothing in Botswana's law bans people from buying, holding or selling bitcoin. What the law controls is the businesses that offer those services.

The Bank of Botswana set out its view in a November 2021 statement. It said crypto assets are not legal tender, lack the core features of money, and are not backed by the state or the central bank. It warned that investments can lose all their value, that many schemes may be pyramid schemes or scams, and that it offers no recourse for crypto losses beyond enforcing the laws it administers.

Is cryptocurrency legal in Botswana for businesses?

Only with a licence. The Virtual Assets Act came into force on February 22, 2022, and gave existing crypto businesses until May 31, 2022 to apply. NBFIRA's FAQ says the law covers virtual asset service providers and issuers of initial token offerings, and that it applies to platforms serving Botswana wherever they are located.

In October 2022, NBFIRA announced that Yellow Card Botswana had been granted a licence to operate as a virtual asset service provider. In March 2023, ITWeb reported that the regulator had ordered an unlicensed firm to stop operating and that the Act allows fines of up to P250,000, prison of up to five years, or both.

What changed with the 2025 Virtual Assets Act?

Regional assessors had found that the 2022 law's definition of a service provider did not meet Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards. In December 2024, the finance minister presented a bill under a certificate of urgency to repeal and re-enact the Act, Botswana's government Daily News reported.

A 2026 Africa guide by law firm Webber Wentzel lists the Virtual Assets Act No. 4 of 2025 as the governing law. It says a licence holder must have a physical presence in Botswana, keep cash equal to half of its estimated operating costs for the next 12 months, and meet fit-and-proper rules for owners and directors. Licensed firms also have anti-money laundering duties under the Financial Intelligence Act. The same guide says the law does not specifically address crypto mining. Background on these duties is in crypto anti-money laundering rules.

To compare Botswana with its neighbours, see is crypto legal in South Africa, is crypto legal in Zimbabwe and crypto regulation around the world.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the regulator or a qualified professional for your own situation.