In Malaysia, buying and owning crypto is legal, but it is not considered legal tender by the federal government. The country does not recognize cryptocurrency as a payment instrument, but rather as a security under the Prescription Order 2019.
Currently, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is actively developing a framework for digital assets, including public consultation on tokenized capital market products.
January 9, 2025– Order 2025 [P.U. (A) 6/2025] Capital Market and Services
Date | Regulation/ Law | Details |
July 31, 2024 | Personal Data Protection Act | Data handling requirements for crypto businesses |
June 2024 | Tax Enforcement (Ops Token) | Crackdown on undeclared crypto income |
April 1, 2022 | Crypto Travel Rule in force | Regulated by SCM |
April 26, 2021 | Transposing travel rules to the national framework | Prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing in cryptocurrency |
October 28, 2020 | SC’s revised guidelines for crypto | Allows companies to raise funds via issuing tokens; approval required by the IEO |
January 15, 2019 | Capita market and services order | Digital assets are classified as securities; subject to securities law |
2018 | Formation of the tax reform committee | It is yet to make any changes to digital taxation. |
In 2025, the Malaysian government is considering introducing new regulations for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to align with global trends. While the government is creating new frameworks, the Securities Commission of Malaysia (SCM) is focusing on:
The crypto incident framework in Malaysia aims for technical adherence and transparency in its internal structure. The crypto businesses and platforms are subject to strict penalties, including fees, blocked access, and license revocation for non-compliance with crypto laws.
Types of crypto licenses in Malaysia:
List of licensed crypto exchanges in Malaysia 2025:
Crypto Exchange | Deposit fee |
Luno | Free abiver RM 100 |
Sinegy | Free |
Tokenize | Free |
MX global | Free |
Hata | Free |
Malaysia is one of the countries that does not consider crypto as legal tender, but it has a legal regulatory framework to facilitate it. The country does not even have any specific laws for crypto tax, and this is why Malaysia is recognized as one of the crypto-friendly countries in the world. Despite not having separate laws, the country maintains strict regulations to prevent fraud and risk in the crypto landscape.
Yes, buying and owning crypto is legal in Malaysia. However, it’s not recognized as legal tender, but rather as a security under the Prescription Order 2019 (amended 2025).
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) regulates crypto as securities, overseeing digital asset trading, issuance, exchanges, and IEO platforms. They are actively developing a comprehensive framework.
Capital gains from personal crypto investments are generally not taxed. However, crypto trading as a frequent business activity, mining, or receiving crypto as compensation is subject to income tax (0-30%).
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is the main government body responsible for regulating digital asset operations in the country, including trading, issuance, and safekeeping. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) also monitors systemic risks.
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