Is crypto legal in Brunei? Regulation & rules (2026)

BDCB states cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether are not legal tender in Brunei Darussalam and are not regulated by the central bank; the public is urged to exercise extreme caution with privately issued cryptocurrencies.

Brunei has not enacted legislation prohibiting the use, holding or trading of cryptocurrencies; there is no specific law criminalizing crypto activity, so it sits in an unregulated-but-not-banned space.

BDCB has publicly stated it is developing an appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the licensing and supervision of cryptocurrencies and related activities (including virtual-asset service providers).

BDCB has issued repeated advisories on the risks of cryptocurrencies, crypto mining and related scams, citing volatility, anonymity, unknown-jurisdiction platforms and misuse for illicit activity, and maintains an Alert List of unauthorised entities.

BDCB's Guidelines for Financial Institutions took effect 1 April 2024, reflecting Brunei's broader AML/CFT obligations consistent with FATF standards, though a dedicated VASP licensing regime is not yet in force.

Brunei imposes no personal income tax and no capital-gains tax on individuals, so crypto gains for individuals are effectively untaxed; there is no crypto-specific tax law, though the 18.5% corporate income tax can apply to business profits.