Maldives

Maldives has no cryptocurrency regulation. The Maldives Monetary Authority stated in October 2018 that no party has been granted permission to conduct financial transactions using cryptocurrencies or other virtual currencies in the Maldives.

Overview

StatusRestricted
Risk Score55/100 (High Risk)
Regionsouth asia
CurrencyMVR

Tax Information

Capital Gains (Personal)No crypto-specific rules; individuals' taxable income under the Income Tax Act is taxed at progressive rates from 0% (up to MVR 720,000 a year) to 15% (above MVR 2,400,000), and non-residents' gains on Maldivian shares, immovable property and intangibles bear 10% capital gains withholding tax
Capital Gains (Corporate)15% CIT; capital gains of companies taxed at 15%
VAT on CryptoNo
Staking TaxN/A
Airdrop TaxN/A

No crypto-specific tax guidance. The Income Tax Act, in force since 2020 and replacing the Business Profit Tax Act, taxes individuals at progressive rates of 0%, 5.5%, 8%, 12% and 15% and companies at 15%. Non-residents' gains on disposals of Maldivian property, shares and intangibles are subject to 10% capital gains withholding tax. GST applies to goods and services.

Licensing & Registration

RequiredNo
RegulatorMMA
FrameworkNo crypto framework; MMA public statement of 11 October 2018 (no party authorised to conduct transactions in virtual currencies)
Easevery_complex

Enforcement Activity

Level: Moderate

No detailed enforcement information available

CBDC

StatusResearch
NameMaldives CBDC
Issuing AuthorityMaldives Monetary Authority
Modelretail

AML / KYC

KYC RequiredYes
Travel RuleNo
FATF MemberNo
FATF Statusnon_compliant
FATF BodyAPG
Suspicious-Activity ReportingYes

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: unregulated

Stablecoins

Status: unregulated

NFTs

Status: unregulated

Mining

LegalNo
Electricity Cost$0.2/kWh
Renewable Energy20%
Infrastructurepoor

Mining is restricted due to high electricity costs and limited infrastructure; Maldives has no significant crypto mining industry.

Geopolitical Risk

Stabilitymoderate
SanctionsNo
Corruption Index40/100
Banking Accessrestricted
Sanctions Program ActiveNo

Risk Factors

Maldives has moderate political stability with no international sanctions. Corruption is a concern and banking access for crypto companies is limited. The small economy and infrastructure challenges pose risks for crypto business.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryptocurrency legal in Maldives?

Maldives has no cryptocurrency regulation. The Maldives Monetary Authority stated in October 2018 that no party has been granted permission to conduct financial transactions using cryptocurrencies or other virtual currencies in the Maldives.

What is the FATF status of Maldives?

Maldives is classified by FATF as: non_compliant.

What is the AML/KYC regime in Maldives?

KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.

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Last reviewed: 2026-09-19 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map

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