Nepal Rastra Bank and Crypto Regulations: What You Need to Know

When it comes to Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal that controls monetary policy and financial regulation. Also known as NRB, it has one of the strictest crypto stances in Asia—banning all cryptocurrency transactions since 2017. Unlike countries that try to regulate crypto, Nepal outright forbids it. No buying, selling, trading, or even holding digital assets is legal under NRB rules. This isn’t just a warning—it’s a legal violation that can lead to fines or worse.

Why does Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal that controls monetary policy and financial regulation. Also known as NRB, it has one of the strictest crypto stances in Asia—banning all cryptocurrency transactions since 2017. take such a hard line? The bank claims crypto threatens financial stability, enables money laundering, and undermines the Nepali rupee. But the real issue? It’s about control. When people use Bitcoin or USDT to send money abroad or protect savings from inflation, they bypass the banking system NRB manages. That’s why NRB works closely with Nepal’s financial law enforcement, government agencies tasked with monitoring and prosecuting unauthorized financial activities. Also known as Financial Intelligence Unit, it monitors bank transfers and shuts down accounts linked to crypto activity. Even peer-to-peer trades on platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins are risky—users have been arrested for receiving crypto payments.

Despite the ban, crypto use hasn’t disappeared. Thousands of Nepalis still trade through informal channels—using cash, mobile wallets, or friends as middlemen. Many send money to India or Thailand, then convert to crypto there. Others use USDT to preserve value amid high inflation and unstable banking services. This underground market thrives because the need is real: remittances make up nearly 25% of Nepal’s GDP, and traditional banking is slow, expensive, and unreliable. The Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal that controls monetary policy and financial regulation. Also known as NRB, it has one of the strictest crypto stances in Asia—banning all cryptocurrency transactions since 2017. has no plan to legalize crypto, and recent statements suggest they’re tightening enforcement, not relaxing it.

What you’ll find in this collection are real stories from people who’ve navigated this gray zone. From traders who lost funds to fake exchanges pretending to be NRB-approved, to users who used crypto to survive economic collapse, these posts cut through the noise. You’ll see how crypto bans work in practice—not in theory—and what happens when people try to outsmart a system that refuses to change. This isn’t about speculation. It’s about survival, access, and the quiet rebellion happening in the shadows of Nepal’s financial walls.