Qatar Financial Centre bans crypto trading, confirms its regulator

Cryptocurrency • January 6, 2020, 1:50AM EST
UPDATED: March 8, 2021, 7:15AM EST
HasanZaidi/ shutterstock.com

The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) has confirmed to The Block that it has banned cryptocurrency trading within the business center.

In a statement shared with The Block, the regulator said, “Virtual Asset Services may not be conducted in or from the QFC at this time." 

The banned services include fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto trading, custody, and financial services related to virtual assets, per the statement. 

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Specifically, the regulator has said that the ban includes "anything of value that acts as a substitute for currency, that can be digitally traded or transferred and can be used for payment or investment purposes."

The move has been taken "in accordance with QFC Law No. 7 of 2005 and the Financial Services Regulations (FSR)," said the authority, adding that "all Authorised Firms (as defined in the FSR) are not currently permitted to provide and/or facilitate the provision of Virtual Asset Services or otherwise exchange, trade or deal in Virtual Assets, until further notice."

There will be penalties in case of any violation of the law, said the regulator.

In 2018, Qatar’s central bank also said that bitcoin trading is illegal in the country. “This cryptocurrency is highly volatile and can be used for financial crimes and electronic hacking as well as risk loss of value because there are no guarantors or assets,” the central bank said at the time.

UPDATE (Jan. 7): This story has been updated to include comments from the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority

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Yogita Khatri is a senior reporter at The Block, covering all things crypto. As one of the earliest team members, Yogita has played a pivotal role in breaking numerous stories, exclusives and scoops. With nearly 3,000 articles under her belt, Yogita holds the records as The Block's most-published and most-read author of all time. Prior to joining The Block, Yogita worked at crypto publication CoinDesk and The Economic Times, where she wrote on personal finance. To contact her, email: [email protected]. For her latest work, follow her on X @Yogita_Khatri5.