Is crypto legal in Nepal?

No, crypto is not legal in Nepal. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has warned since 2017 that crypto dealings break the law, and in 2024 parliament wrote a specific crypto offence into the National Penal Code. As of October 2026, Nepal remains one of the strictest countries in the world on crypto.

Is bitcoin legal in Nepal?

No. NRB first issued a notice restricting bitcoin transactions on August 13, 2017. Critics, such as a 2022 Onlinekhabar explainer, argued that the early legal basis was patchy and that prosecutors cited different laws in different cases.

That gap has since narrowed. The Act to Amend the Prevention of Money Laundering and some other Acts, published in the Nepal Gazette on April 12, 2024, added Section 262A to the National Penal Code. It bars anyone from creating, selling, transacting in, exchanging, holding, issuing or using virtual currency, other than currency issued by NRB. The penalty is up to five years in prison, seizure of the money involved and any gains on it, and a fine based on the amount.

Is crypto trading legal in Nepal?

No. In September 2021 NRB issued a notice saying crypto trading and mining, and encouraging these activities, are punishable under existing law, citing the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act. Enforcement goes back further. In October 2017, Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau arrested seven people in Kathmandu and Chitwan for running a bitcoin exchange business, the first such arrests in the country.

Access is restricted too. In January 2023 the Nepal Telecommunications Authority told internet providers to block websites and apps that facilitate crypto transactions, renewing an earlier order. Global exchanges face similar pressure in several countries, as explained in why is Binance banned in some countries.

Is crypto mining legal in Nepal?

No. NRB's 2021 notice names mining alongside trading as punishable. This matches the is crypto mining legal guide, which lists Nepal among countries where a total ban rules out mining.

How is the Nepal Rastra Bank crypto ban working?

Not perfectly, by the central bank's own account. A 2025 report from NRB's Financial Information Unit, covered by Clickmandu in January 2026, logged 658 suspicious transaction reports tied to crypto from 2021 to mid-July 2025, peaking at 252 in 2024. About three quarters of people involved were aged 21 to 35, many used as money mules. The unit suggested that prohibition alone is not working and called for better monitoring tools. For how Nepal compares with other countries, see is cryptocurrency legal.

Laws differ by country and change often. Check local regulators or a qualified professional for your own situation.