The Information Network Security Administration (INSA), an agency in charge of Ethiopia’s cyberspace security, called all entities that perform transfers of crypto and mining services in Ethiopia to register.
INSA is to “regulate and control cryptographic products and their transaction, establish the necessary standards and develop operating procedures” according to Article 6(9) of Decree №808/06. The agency stated this in a public notice (translation can vary):
“To properly tame this field INSA has begun to register individuals and entities that are involved in crypto operations (services) including transfer and or mining”.
According to the announcement, companies are to submit the registration form within 10 working days starting from August 24 via the official website. Legal measures will be brought against companies that fail to comply with the requirements.
People’s reactions vary, but they mostly doubt that crypto in Ethiopia can be regulated and question why “government is trying to control the uncontrollable” (check the comments below this post as an example).
This summer the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) said that people are extensively using cryptocurrencies, but the use of digital currencies is currently illegal and the Birr is the only approved monetary unit in the country. Seems now that authorities are paving the way for further crypto adoption.
We have already written about registration of crypto services providers in different countries. Here you can find our observations on South Korea and Philippines.
