Ivory Coast

In Ivory Coast, cryptocurrency holdings and trading are legal. While there is no dedicated legal framework specifically for crypto, they are generally treated as intangible assets for tax purposes rather than legal tender. This means general tax and financial laws apply by default. The Banque Centrale des √âtats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) has issued warnings regarding crypto but has not banned it. The Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI) is responsible for tax administration in Ivory Coast. Taxation of cryptocurrencies falls under the general provisions of the General Tax Code, with recent relevant updates from the Tax Annex to Finance Law No. 2025-987. For individuals, gains from selling, swapping, or converting cryptocurrencies are taxed as ordinary income at a rate of 20%. Corporations face a standard tax rate of 25% on crypto-related income, which increases to 30% for those in the IT and telecommunications sectors. Ivory Coast does not have a separate capital gains tax regime, therefore, all crypto gains are treated as ordinary income regardless of how long the assets were held, meaning there is no specific benefit for long-term holding. Standard Value Added Tax (VAT) likely applies, although its specific application to crypto transactions is not explicitly detailed. Income derived from specific crypto activities is also subject to taxation. Staking rewards are taxed as ordinary income upon receipt, at the applicable individual or corporate rate. Similarly, income from cryptocurrency mining is taxed as ordinary income, with hardware and electricity costs likely deductible. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) activities, such as yield farming or lending, are also expected to be taxed as ordinary income. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are classified as intangible assets, and any gains from their sale are taxed as ordinary income. Converting crypto to fiat currency is considered a taxable event, with gains taxed at ordinary income rates. Swapping one cryptocurrency for another is also likely a taxable event, treated as a disposal of one asset and reacquisition of another at fair market value. A recent development is the Tax Annex 2026, effective January 5, 2026. This introduces a 30% Significant Economic Presence (SEP) tax on profits of digital businesses, including e-commerce platforms, that generate at least 50 million CFA francs annually from Ivorian consumers. This measure applies to digital service providers and may impact crypto platforms operating within this scope.