Namibia Compliance Report

Regulatory Overview

Regulatory Status

Dedicated crypto/VA legislation, licensing regime, active enforcement

Key Regulator(s)

Bank of Namibia Position Paper Virtual Assets, Bank of Namibia's August

Primary Legislation

Existing statutes such as the Namibia Anti-money Laundering Act provide a founda, The primary investment legislation remains the Foreign Investment Act of 1990 (F, Act No. 20 of 1998, Companies are regulated under the 2004 Companies Act, which covers both domestic, The Namibia Investment Promotion Act (NIPA) has been gazetted since 2016 but rem, The proposed New Equitable Economic Empowerment Bill (NEEEB), which has been und, Without FATF-aligned virtual asset regulations, Namibia risks international scru

Travel Rule

Not adopted

Tax Reporting

Businesses and Professional Traders: Companies or individuals whose primary business involves trading cryptocurrencies, providing crypto-related services, or mining.. Namibia levies no general capital gains tax, so the taxability of a crypto disposal turns on the section 1 gross-income definition in the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981, which brings in the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to a person from a source within or deemed to be within Namibia but excludes receipts and accruals of a capital nature; the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no crypto-asset guidance and no badges-of-trade test of its own.. Crypto received from mining is taxed in Namibia, if at all, through the section 1 gross-income definition in the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981, which counts the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to a person from a Namibian source and excludes receipts of a capital nature; the Act prescribes no valuation rule for virtual assets and the Namibia Revenue Agency has issued no mining guidance.. Namibian tax law uses gross income and taxable income rather than ordinary income, and staking, lending or decentralised finance rewards are taxable only where they fall inside the section 1 gross-income definition of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981; the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no guidance on staking, lending or decentralised finance.. Remuneration paid in crypto is taxable in Namibia because section 1 of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981 defines gross income as the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to or in favour of a person from a source within or deemed to be within Namibia; the Act prescribes no conversion rule for virtual assets and the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no crypto guidance on employment income.

Key Facts

• aml Namibia's AML/CFT framework rests on the Financial Intelligence Act 13 of 2012, which establishes the Financial Intelligence Centre and imposes registration, customer due diligence, record-keeping and reporting duties on accountable and reporting institutions; its amending instruments are the Prevention and Combating of Terrorist and Proliferation Activities Act 4 of 2014, Government Notice 339 of 2019 amending Schedule 1, the Abolition of Payment by Cheque Act 16 of 2022 and the Financial Intelligence Amendment Act 6 of 2023, effective 21 July 2023. No Financial Intelligence Amendment Act of 2017 exists, Act 2 of 2017 being the Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act. Namibia's Financial Intelligence Regulations were made under section 73(2) of the Financial Intelligence Act 13 of 2012 and published as Government Notice 3 of 2015 in Government Gazette 5658, in operation from 28 January 2015, and were amended by Government Notice 48 of 2021 and Government Notice 271 of 2023; no Financial Intelligence Regulations of 2017 were made. The Regulations prescribe the identification particulars for natural persons in regulation 6 and for companies and trusts in regulations 7 and 10, enhanced due diligence in regulation 15(3), a five-year record retention period in regulation 18(5), cash-reporting thresholds of N$99 999.99 and N$24 999.99 in regulation 23 and the originator and beneficiary particulars for reportable transfers in regulation 32. Namibia's Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2004 creates the money-laundering, racketeering and criminal-gang offences and the confiscation, forfeiture and asset-recovery regime for proceeds of unlawful activities, and it has been amended by the Prevention of Organised Crime Amendment Act 10 of 2008, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 1 of 2018 and the Prevention of Organised Crime Amendment Act 9 of 2023, which took effect on 28 July 2023. Natural Persons: Obtain full name, date of birth, residential address, nationality, identification number (e.g., national ID, passport). Verify identity using reliable, independent source documents, data, or information (e.g., government-issued ID, utility bills). Legal Persons/Arrangements (Companies, Trusts): Obtain name, legal form, proof of existence, powers that regulate and bind the legal person/arrangement, and the names of relevant persons holding senior management positions. Beneficial Ownership: Identify and verify the identity of the beneficial owner(s) of the customer, ensuring that VASPs understand the ownership and control structure of the customer. This involves identifying the natural person(s) who ultimately own or control the customer, and/or on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted. Purpose and Nature of Business Relationship: Understand the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship or occasional transaction. Ongoing Monitoring: Conduct ongoing due diligence on the business relationship and scrutiny of transactions undertaken throughout the course of that relationship to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the VASP's knowledge of the customer, their business, and risk profile, including, where necessary, the source of funds.
• enforcement Bank of Namibia warnings resting on virtual assets being unregulated were superseded by the Virtual Assets Act 10 of 2023, which commenced on 25 July 2023, and by the seven sets of Bank of Namibia rules gazetted on 1 September 2023 in Government Gazettes 8196 to 8202; virtual assets nonetheless still hold no legal tender status in Namibia. Namibia's virtual-asset framework is in force rather than in progress: the Virtual Assets Act 10 of 2023 commenced on 25 July 2023, the Bank of Namibia gazetted seven sets of rules on 1 September 2023, and Government Notice 513 in Gazette 8197 sets six licence classes with minimum capital rising to N$2 700 000 for a virtual asset market place. The Bank of Namibia is the Regulatory Authority designated under section 5(1) of the Virtual Assets Act 10 of 2023, makes the rules that govern virtual asset service providers, and grants their authorisations, while NAMFISA holds no virtual-asset licensing or supervisory role. Entity Targeted: General public and unregulated entities dealing in crypto assets. No specific private entity was targeted for enforcement. Violation Type: N/A (as no specific enforcement action was taken against an entity). The BoN's actions focused on addressing the unregulated nature of virtual assets and the associated risks. Penalty Amount: N/A (no penalty issued). The Bank of Namibia's comprehensive virtual-asset paper is the Revised Position on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers dated August 2022, and no Bank of Namibia virtual-asset release of 15 June 2022 was located on the Bank's own site. Ongoing warnings have been reiterated since then. The Bank of Namibia's August 2022 revised position, which described virtual assets as under-regulated and denied them legal tender or electronic money status, was overtaken by the Virtual Assets Act 10 of 2023 and by the Bank's rules of 1 September 2023, under which a virtual asset service provider must hold a Bank of Namibia licence and register with the Financial Intelligence Centre as an accountable institution. Significance: This was a pivotal moment, moving from non-recognition to acknowledging the existence and potential future regulation of virtual assets, while emphasizing current risks. It set the stage for future legislation.
• licensing The current regulatory landscape in Namibia lacks specific provisions for cryptocurrencies and digital assets, leaving a significant gap that could impact market participants. Existing licensing frameworks primarily address traditional financial services and professional activities, with limited direct applicability to blockchain-based technologies. Proposed reforms aim to clarify the legal status of digital assets, establish clear licensing pathways, and integrate anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. Namibia's regulatory framework for digital assets is currently underdeveloped, with no dedicated legislation explicitly covering cryptocurrencies or blockchain technologies. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) within the Ministry of Finance oversees AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism) regulations, but these are broadly applicable and may not suffice for emerging digital asset markets. Existing statutes such as the Namibia Anti-money Laundering Act provide a foundation for monitoring financial transactions, yet they do not specifically address the unique characteristics of cryptocurrencies. Entities seeking to engage in cryptocurrency-related activities may fall under general licensing requirements for professional services as outlined in the LICENCES, RIGHTS AND PERMITS document. The Namibia - Licensing Requirements for Professional Services guide suggests that digital asset service providers might need to obtain licenses from relevant professional bodies, such as the Investment and Securities Authority of Namibia (ISAN).
• securities Namibia does not have a comprehensive, dedicated legal framework specifically regulating cryptocurrency or digital asset securities as of [research date], and no Namibian regulator has issued binding rules tailored to virtual assets. Namibia - United States Department of State ZERO VASPs LICENSED: As of [research date], no Namibian entity has been granted a license or registration to operate a cryptocurrency exchange, digital asset custodian, or virtual asset service provider (VASP) under any framework. No such dedicated licensing framework currently exists in the public record. Namibia - United States Department of State The primary securities regulator in Namibia is the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), which operates under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Act No. 2 of 2021, "FIMA"), though no specific crypto-asset licensing regime has been published by this authority. Namibia - United States Department of State The practical reality is that cryptocurrency businesses in Namibia operate in a legal gray zone, subject to general securities, banking, and anti-money laundering laws that were not designed for digital assets. Namibia - United States Department of State Persons dealing in crypto assets that qualify as "securities" under Namibian law may fall under the ambit of existing securities regulations, but no official guidance has clarified how digital assets are characterized. Namibia - United States Department of State Actionable Conclusion: No dedicated VASP license exists; operating a crypto exchange or custodian requires fit-for-purpose securities/banking licenses under FIMA 2021 with no precedent of approval. The Bank of Namibia (BoN) is the central bank and primary regulator of banking and payment systems in Namibia and has issued public warnings regarding the risks of cryptocurrency but has not established a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers. Namibia - United States Department of State NAMFISA (Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority) is the regulator responsible for non-banking financial institutions, including collective investment schemes, retirement funds, and securities markets, with its official mandate derived from the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Act No. 2 of 2021). NAMFISA's licensing authority for securities services is established under FIMA sections 69–73, which govern market infrastructure and licensed intermediaries. Namibia - United States Department of State
• stablecoin Stablecoins have no legal tender status in Namibia: the Bank of Namibia's Revised Position on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers of August 2022 states that virtual assets remain without legal tender status and that the Bank does not recognise their use and acceptance as legal tender or as electronic money, and the Bank's Virtual Assets Act infographic states that virtual currencies do not enjoy legal tender status on par with the Namibia Dollar. The Bank of Namibia has issued no statement that stablecoins may qualify as electronic money, and its Revised Position of August 2022 states the opposite, that the Bank does not recognise virtual assets as electronic money in Namibia. Determination PSD-3 confines electronic money to monetary value issued on receipt of legal tender, denominated in Namibia Dollar and redeemable on demand for cash in Namibia Dollar, and it was made under section 45 of the Payment System Management Act, 2023 (Act No. 14 of 2023) rather than the 2003 Act. The Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021 (Act No. 2 of 2021), gazetted as Government Notice 207 in Government Gazette 7645 of 1 October 2021 and administered by NAMFISA, carries no virtual-asset, crypto, stablecoin or electronic-money provision, and section 1 of the Virtual Assets Act, 2023 excludes securities and other financial assets regulated under Namibian securities or financial assets law from the definition of a virtual asset. Namibia's dedicated virtual-asset framework is already in force: the Virtual Assets Act, 2023 (Act No. 10 of 2023) was assented on 14 July 2023, published as Government Notice 215 in Government Gazette 8143 of 21 July 2023 and commenced on 25 July 2023, and the Bank of Namibia made seven rules under it gazetted on 1 September 2023 as Government Notices 512 to 518 in Government Gazettes 8196 to 8202. Schedule 1 to the Act sets six licence classes and creates no separate stablecoin or issuer category. Bank of Namibia (BoN) Statement on Virtual Assets (VAs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs): While a direct permanent URL to the official press release might change, the essence is widely reported and forms the basis of their current policy. Look for news archives or publications section on the BoN website around Feb/March 2023. A typical search query would be "Bank of Namibia virtual assets statement 2023". Namibia's payment system and electronic money regime rests on the Payment System Management Act, 2023 (Act No. 14 of 2023); the Bank of Namibia issued Determination PSD-3 on the Issuing of Electronic Money in Namibia under section 45 of that Act on 15 September 2024, effective 27 March 2025, and PSD-3 defines electronic money as monetary value stored electronically, issued on receipt of an equivalent amount of legal tender, accepted by persons other than the issuer and redeemable on demand for cash in Namibia Dollar. URL (example of finding legislation): You might need to search the Namibian Parliament website or legal databases for the official gazetted version. An example might be through the Policy and Legal Advice Centre (PLAC) or Namibia's Ministry of Justice. For instance, you could search "Payment System Management Act 2003 Namibia legislation". The Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021 is Act No. 2 of 2021, published as Government Notice 207 in Government Gazette 7645 of 1 October 2021, administered by NAMFISA, and it consolidates and harmonises the laws regulating financial institutions, financial intermediaries and financial markets in Namibia while carrying no virtual-asset, crypto, stablecoin or electronic-money provision.
• status Namibia does not currently have a comprehensive, crypto-specific legal framework; no dedicated law governing virtual assets or digital asset service providers has been enacted as of 2025–2026, and no licensing regime exists specifically for crypto businesses Namibia - United States Department of State The primary investment legislation remains the Foreign Investment Act of 1990 (FIA), as the Namibia Investment Promotion Act (NIPA) gazetted in 2016 has not yet been enforced, meaning no crypto-specific investment rules have been implemented Namibia - United States Department of State No regulatory authority in Namibia has been designated to license or supervise cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, or digital asset service providers, and no entities have been granted crypto licenses Namibia - United States Department of State The practical reality is that crypto businesses operate in a legal gray area, subject only to general business registration requirements under the Companies Act 2004 through the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA), without specific digital asset oversight Namibia - United States Department of State Customs regulations under the Customs and Excise Act (Act No. 20 of 1998) do not address digital assets, confirming that cross-border crypto transactions remain unregulated from a customs perspective Namibia - Customs Regulations The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade (MIT) is the governmental authority primarily responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Foreign Investment Act of 1990 (FIA), which remains the guiding legislation on investment in Namibia, including any investment in digital assets Namibia - United States Department of State In August 2016, Namibia promulgated and gazetted the Namibia Investment Promotion Act (NIPA), but this Act has not yet been enforced due to substantive legal concerns raised by the private sector; therefore, NIPA does not currently apply to cryptocurrency or digital asset investments Namibia - United States Department of State The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), housed in the Office of the President, serves as Namibia's official investment promotion and facilitation office and is the first point of contact for potential investors, including those in digital asset sectors, but it does not have crypto-specific regulatory authority Namibia - United States Department of State
• tax Businesses and Professional Traders: Companies or individuals whose primary business involves trading cryptocurrencies, providing crypto-related services, or mining. Namibia levies no general capital gains tax, so the taxability of a crypto disposal turns on the section 1 gross-income definition in the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981, which brings in the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to a person from a source within or deemed to be within Namibia but excludes receipts and accruals of a capital nature; the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no crypto-asset guidance and no badges-of-trade test of its own. Crypto received from mining is taxed in Namibia, if at all, through the section 1 gross-income definition in the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981, which counts the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to a person from a Namibian source and excludes receipts of a capital nature; the Act prescribes no valuation rule for virtual assets and the Namibia Revenue Agency has issued no mining guidance. Namibian tax law uses gross income and taxable income rather than ordinary income, and staking, lending or decentralised finance rewards are taxable only where they fall inside the section 1 gross-income definition of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981; the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no guidance on staking, lending or decentralised finance. Remuneration paid in crypto is taxable in Namibia because section 1 of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981 defines gross income as the total amount, in cash or otherwise, received by or accrued to or in favour of a person from a source within or deemed to be within Namibia; the Act prescribes no conversion rule for virtual assets and the Namibia Revenue Agency has published no crypto guidance on employment income. Namibia's individual income tax scale under the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981 leaves the first N$100 000 of taxable income untaxed, starts at 18% above N$100 000 and reaches 37% only on taxable income exceeding N$1 550 000, where the tax is N$429 000 plus 37% of the excess; the N$1 500 000 top threshold belongs to the pre-2024 bracket table. Namibia has cut the non-mining corporate income tax rate below 32%: the rate came down to 31% and then to 30% for companies whose financial years commence on or after 1 January 2025, so 32% now describes a superseded rate. Namibia levies no general capital gains tax at all: section 1 of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981 defines gross income as amounts received from a source within or deemed to be within Namibia and expressly excludes receipts or accruals of a capital nature, so an individual's genuine capital disposal of virtual assets falls outside income tax entirely, while proceeds of trading or speculation are taxed as ordinary income on the normal individual scale.
• travel rule Regulatory Landscape: As of October 2025, Namibia has not issued specific travel‑rule regulations for virtual assets; the Namibia Virtual Assets Act 2022 remains silent on cross‑border transfer reporting. Operational Reality: VASPs may operate without formal registration but must self‑apply FATF recommendations regarding beneficial ownership disclosure and transaction monitoring. Pending Developments: The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Central Bank of Namibia (CBN) have not released interim guidelines post‑October 2025; operators should monitor these bodies for any forthcoming compliance requirements. No Namibian Licensing Statute: Currently, no virtual asset service providers hold Namibian licenses; operators operate under self‑application of FATF standards. Self‑Application Requirement: VASPs must independently implement FATF Recommendations 15 and 16 concerning travel‑rule obligations and beneficial ownership verification. Regulatory Uncertainty: The FIU has not yet published specific travel‑rule guidelines, creating a gap that operators must monitor. Tax Treatment: Gains from virtual asset transactions are currently treated as capital income under the Income Tax Act, pending formal legislative clarification. Central Bank of Namibia (CBN) – Oversees monetary policy and financial institution oversight; currently lacks a dedicated virtual asset licensing division.

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