When the Nepal crypto ban, a government prohibition on buying, selling, or trading cryptocurrency within Nepal’s borders. Also known as Nepal’s cryptocurrency prohibition, it was enforced by the central bank in 2017 and remains active today. This isn’t just a policy—it’s a legal wall. The Nepal Rastra Bank declared digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum as illegal, warning that anyone caught using them could face fines or even jail time. Unlike countries that regulate crypto tightly, Nepal chose to shut it down entirely. And yet, people still find ways to trade. That’s the strange reality: a ban that’s widely ignored.
The crypto illegal countries, nations where owning or trading cryptocurrency is against the law list includes just ten places, and Nepal is one of them. Others include Egypt, Iraq, and Qatar. But Nepal’s ban stands out because it’s not just about fear of financial chaos—it’s tied to cultural and religious concerns too. Some officials argue crypto violates Hindu and Buddhist principles around money and value. Meanwhile, in places like the U.S. or Singapore, regulators are building frameworks to control crypto, not kill it. The crypto regulation, government rules that define how digital assets can be used, taxed, or traded in most of the world is moving toward oversight, not prohibition. Nepal is an outlier.
Even with the ban, crypto use hasn’t disappeared. Underground trading happens through peer-to-peer platforms, remittance apps, and WhatsApp groups. Many Nepalis send money home from abroad using crypto because it’s faster and cheaper than traditional banks. The government knows this, but hasn’t cracked down hard—probably because enforcing the ban is nearly impossible. You can’t stop people from using the internet. And with over 60% of Nepal’s population under 30, digital finance isn’t going away. The real question isn’t whether the ban will last—it’s whether Nepal will eventually have to change its mind like other countries have.
What you’ll find below are real stories and deep dives into how crypto bans work, who gets hurt, and who still finds a way through. From the mechanics of the Nepal ban to how similar laws play out in other nations, these posts cut through the noise. You’ll see what happens when governments try to outlaw technology that doesn’t care about borders.
Nepal imposes up to three years in prison for cryptocurrency transactions over 10 million NPR. This article breaks down the law, how it's enforced, who gets targeted, and what real people are facing - no sugarcoating.