Zimbabwe has introduced a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency businesses, requiring all virtual asset service providers to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

The new rules, enacted through Statutory Instrument 99 of 2026 on June 12, require crypto firms involved in buying, selling, transferring or safeguarding digital assets to obtain official registration before operating in the country.

Operators must pay a $500 registration fee and a $400 annual renewal fee, while businesses that fail to register could face criminal penalties under the new regime.

The framework marks a significant shift from Zimbabwe’s 2018 policy that prohibited financial institutions from facilitating cryptocurrency…