Crypto Policy Monitor
South Africa · consultation · consultation · 17 Apr 2026

Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations: crypto formally enters SA's exchange control regime

JurisdictionSouth Africa (Africa)
AuthorityNational Treasury
Instrumentconsultation
Statusconsultation
Event date17 Apr 2026
Coverage date19 Apr 2026
Deadline30 Jun 2026
SourcesNational Treasury media statement · Draft regulations (Treasury PDF) · SAnews (deadline extension)
Referencecpm-2026-0009

Gazetted on 17 April 2026 (Government Gazette No. 7375), the Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations replace the Exchange Control Regulations of 1961 in their entirety and bring crypto assets into South Africa's capital flow framework for the first time: crypto is expressly defined as capital, cross-border transfers above prescribed thresholds must run through an authorised crypto asset service provider, and an administrative penalties regime attaches. The draft also legislatively reverses the May 2025 Standard Bank ruling that crypto fell outside the 1961 regulations. It is the structural counterpart to FSCA licensing, CARF data-sharing (effective 1 March 2026) and FIC's Travel Rule guidance. Re-verified 6 July 2026: the comment deadline, originally 18 May, was extended to 30 June at stakeholders' request and has now closed. Final form pending.

capital-controls · securities-regulation deadline 30 Jun 2026