Best Crypto Cards in Tanzania (2026)

Tanzania's crypto regulatory landscape is defined by the December 2024 High Court ruling that transformed the legal environment. The Bank of Tanzania (BOT, Benki Kuu ya Tanzania) is the sole monetary authority and issued a public notice in November 2019 warning against virtual currencies, stating they are contrary to existing foreign exchange regulations and that the Tanzanian shilling is the only legal tender.

However, the High Court's ruling in Yellow Card Tanzania Limited v. Nyamwero Michael Nyamwero established that since digital asset participants pay taxes under the Income Tax Act and the Finance Act, their transactions cannot be declared illegal. This precedent effectively legitimized crypto trading despite the absence of specific legislation.

The Finance Act 2024, effective July 1, 2024, introduced a 3% withholding tax on payments by digital asset exchange platforms, formally acknowledging the existence of crypto transactions within the tax system. The Tanzania Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) monitors transactions under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2006.

The BOT is conducting research on a potential Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), announced by the Deputy Minister of Finance in June 2024. Tanzania is moving toward regulation rather than prohibition. The Yellow Card court precedent and the Finance Act's tax provisions suggest formal legalization is a matter of when, not if.

Tanzania's Finance Act 2024 established the first formal crypto tax framework in East Africa. The Act introduced a 3% withholding tax on payments made by digital asset exchange platforms to residents for the exchange or transfer of digital assets. The definition covers cryptocurrencies, tokens, and NFTs broadly. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA, Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania) administers these taxes.

Capital gains from cryptocurrency sales are taxable under existing income tax provisions. Business income from crypto activities falls under standard income tax rates (progressive, up to 30% for individuals, 30% for corporations).

Example: You acquired BTC worth TZS 500,000 and it appreciated to TZS 1,500,000. If you spent TZS 1,500,000 via a crypto card, the TZS 1,000,000 gain would attract capital gains tax = approximately TZS 300,000 in tax (at 30% rate). The 3% withholding tax applies separately on exchange platform transactions.

USDC funding minimizes the tax burden on the disposal side. The 3% withholding tax on exchange transactions is a separate consideration. Revenue from crypto taxes contributed approximately 2% of total tax revenue in fiscal year 2024-2025, indicating growing enforcement. Tanzanian tax residents must file annual returns with the TRA.

Tanzanian crypto card applications would require a Kitambulisho cha Taifa (National Identity Card/NIN), the mandatory biometric ID issued by the National Identification Authority (NIDA, Mamlaka ya Vitambulisho vya Taifa). The NIN is a unique 20-digit number required for all citizens over 18 and is increasingly integrated with financial service APIs for real-time verification. NIDA is also rolling out a Mobile Digital National Identification (m-ID) to fast-track issuance.

Alternative identification: Tanzanian passport (Pasipoti ya Tanzania, issued by the Immigration Services Department). Proof of address via utility bills from TANESCO (Tanzania Electric Supply Company), Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (DAWASCO), or bank statements from CRDB Bank, NMB Bank, or Stanbic Bank Tanzania.

Most offshore crypto card issuers may not directly accept Tanzanian NIDA cards for KYC. Virtual cards loaded to Apple Pay or Google Pay are the most practical option, though NFC terminal availability is limited outside major urban centers.

Mobile Money Meets Crypto Cards

Tanzania is a mobile money superpower. Over 60% of adults use mobile money, with Vodacom M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Halopesa (formerly Tigo Pesa) processing over $80 billion in transactions annually. Traditional card payments play a secondary role, but Visa/Mastercard acceptance is growing at urban merchants, hotels, supermarkets, and tourist-facing businesses.

Card Selection for Tanzanians

• KAST (2% cashback, free): Best no-fee starter with GLOBAL coverage and minimal KYC
• RedotPay (3% on Solana, free virtual): Best for stablecoin spending
• MetaMask (1%, free): Best self-custody option
• Crypto.com (up to 5%): Best for those who already hold CRO

Spending Scenario: TZS 500,000/month (approx. $190, Tanzanian Professional)

TZS 120,000/year (approx. $46) in cashback. The real value for Tanzanians is currency hedging: the shilling has weakened against the dollar, and holding USDC preserves purchasing power.

Local Payment Infrastructure

Dar es Salaam has the strongest card acceptance: malls (Mlimani City, Quality Centre, Shoppers Plaza), supermarkets (Shoprite, Game Stores), hotels (Serena, Hyatt Regency), and restaurants in areas like Masaki, Oyster Bay, and Slipway. Arusha and Zanzibar (Stone Town, hotel strip) have growing card acceptance driven by tourism. Outside major cities, mobile money is the only practical digital payment method. Apple Pay and Google Pay are not officially supported in Tanzania, though NFC-enabled phones can use contactless cards at compatible terminals.

The Diaspora and Remittance Corridor

Tanzania receives approximately $700 million to $1 billion in annual remittances, primarily from the UK, US, Canada, South Africa, and Gulf states. Traditional remittance channels charge 6-10% in fees. Stablecoin transfers via crypto cards can reduce this dramatically, particularly for the growing Tanzanian tech diaspora.

Global issuers: Crypto.com (up to 5%), KAST (2%), Wirex (up to 8%), and RedotPay list global coverage. MetaMask (1%) offers self-custody spending. Practical access from Tanzania depends on KYC acceptance.

Who operates: Yellow Card is the most significant local player, having won the landmark court case that established crypto trading legality. Yellow Card operates as a P2P exchange with TZS pairs. Binance P2P serves Tanzanian users with TZS pairs through informal channels. Paxful (before shutdown) was popular in East Africa.

Local landscape: Yellow Card Tanzania is the closest thing to a formally operating crypto exchange, though no specific licensing framework exists. P2P trading through Yellow Card, Binance P2P, and Telegram groups handles most volume. Banks (CRDB, NMB, Stanbic) do not offer crypto services and have historically blocked suspected crypto transactions, though the court ruling may shift this.

ether.fi (3%, credit-based) offers a borrow-to-spend model via staking yield, but requires existing crypto holdings and strong KYC documentation.

Tanzania's Yellow Card court ruling is the most significant crypto legal precedent in East Africa. Combined with the Finance Act 2024's formal tax recognition of digital assets, Tanzania is positioned to become one of the first East African nations to establish a comprehensive crypto framework.