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Countries Where Ethereum is Banned or Legal
countries where ethereum is legal or banned
If you are looking to buy, sell, or spend Ethereum (ETH), you should first check if Ethereum is legal in your country.
Different countries hold different stances on cryptocurrency and their regulations. While some countries' laws single out Bitcoin, it is still rare to find a jurisdiction which created a different set of rules concerning the Ethereum network and its native fuel ether (ETH). In most cases, it just falls under general cryptocurrencies rules.
In some countries, even the mere possession of cryptos can get you to prison, while many of them have not even bothered to regulate it, leaving Ethereum and other cryptos in legal limbo.
Legal map of ethereum
Legal map of Ether and other cryptocurrencies. Source: coin.dance
Countries where Ethereum is banned
Although Ether and cryptocurrencies are welcomed in many parts of the world, several countries have prohibited their trade or use due to their decentralized nature, perceived threat to current monetary systems, volatility, or alleged use to facilitate illegal activities.
In 2019, countries where Ethereum is banned or its payments are banned alongside other cryptocurrencies (as of March 2019) are:
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Algeria
Bolivia
Bangladesh
Republic of Macedonia
Saudi Arabia
Vanuatu
Vietnam
In addition to the countries where ETH is banned, there are more countries in which Ethereum is restricted and cannot be used for payment. In such states, banks and other financial service providers are prohibited from dealing with cryptocurrency exchanges. In more extreme cases, such as China’s, the country has banned crypto exchanges altogether.
China
India
Ecuador
Indonesia
Morocco
Zambia
Nepal
Egypt
American Samoa
Qatar
It’s important to note that despite the bans and restrictions, strict laws have not eradicated Bitcoin, Ether, or other cryptocurrencies, their trades or their usage because it is nearly impossible to ban them. Besides, people can still make use of sites like Local Bitcoins to trade cryptocurrencies using cash and other methods. No government has the power of truly banning decentralized cryptocurrencies unless they prohibit the usage of the internet.
Legal map of ethereum
Legal map of Ether and other cryptocurrencies. Source: coin.dance
Countries where Ethereum is banned
Although Ether and cryptocurrencies are welcomed in many parts of the world, several countries have prohibited their trade or use due to their decentralized nature, perceived threat to current monetary systems, volatility, or alleged use to facilitate illegal activities.
The list can be long when considering countries with grave laws against crypto trading or adoption. Nevertheless, Ethereum is a global digital currency that can be adopted or used by anyone wherever it is legal to do so. It is not limited to any country as it is meant to serve borderless and seamless transactions using cryptography and blockchain technology.