Regulating cryptocurrencies in the Central African Republic: Has the cart been put before the horse?
Posted: 21 July, 2022 Filed under: Rimdolmsom Jonathan Kabré | Tags: 2015 Paris Agreement, Bank of African Central States, bitcoin, carbon footprint, Central African Economic and Monetary Community, Central African Republic, cryptocurrency, electronic transactions, greenhouse gas, Law n°22.004, legal framework, legal tender, National Electronic Transaction Regulatory Agency, political opposition, tax contributions 4 Comments
Author: Rimdolmsom Jonathan Kabré
Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Introduction
On 22 April 2022, the Parliament of the Central African Republic (CAR) adopted the Law n°22.004 governing cryptocurrency in the Central African Republic (hereinafter the Law). This is the second time in the world, and the first time in Africa, that a country adopts cryptocurrencies as legal tender. Previously, some other African countries considered the issue of cryptocurrencies: In Algeria, for example, they are prohibited (see art 117 of 2018 Financial law). In Egypt, bitcoin transactions were classified as haram (in a non-binding religious decree of 2018) until the recent Central Bank and Banking Sector Law No.194 of the year 2020 which contains some rules regarding the use of financial technology. Nigeria has prohibited the trading of cryptocurrencies and launched its own digital currency called eNaira. In South Africa, the regulation of cryptocurrencies is imminent (see here and here).
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