While cryptocurrency is gaining popularity around the world, Ethiopia remains one of the few countries without clear regulations or policies regarding digital assets like Bitcoin. However, that has not stopped Ethiopian cryptocurrency enthusiasts from getting involved in this new digital gold rush.
This guide will explain the currently available options for Ethiopians looking to purchase their first Bitcoin.
What you'll learn 👉
Crypto Regulations in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, the use of cryptocurrencies is not recognized as legitimate payment methods by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). In June 2022, the central bank declared that operating crypto businesses in the country is illegal. Additionally, the Information Network Security Administration (INSA) has listed crypto firms with its national cyber security agency.
Ethiopia is one of six African countries, alongside Cameroon, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and the Republic of Congo, that have prohibited cryptocurrencies. Despite these bans, only a quarter of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have formal regulations for crypto, while two-thirds have imposed certain restrictions.
Due to the lack of specific regulations in Ethiopia, cryptocurrency companies are not licensed by the NBE, and the Financial Intelligence Control (FIC) lacks authority to monitor the activities in the cryptocurrency sector. This absence of regulatory framework presents challenges in enforcing laws and safeguarding the interests of consumers and investors in the cryptocurrency market.
Easiest and cheapest ways to buy crypto in Ethiopia
No matter where they live, people always seek the easiest and cheapest way to buy bitcoin. Buying crypto in Ethiopia is a bit harder than in some other countries so we have compiled a list of exchanges where Ethiopians can buy bitcoin.
👛 Ease of Use – Medium 👛 Fees – Low 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB
Binance was launched back in July of 2017 and very quickly became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume with more than $1 billion on a daily basis.
There are various reasons why Binance became so popular so quickly with the main ones being a professional attitude, friendly and transparent CEO, low trading fees, and the large number of cryptocurrencies supported by the platform. In fact, the number of cryptocurrencies supported is over 350 and Binance is supported in over 60 countries. The founder of the exchange is Changpeng Zhao. Binance’s headquarters are unknown.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Vary from crypto to crypto ⚡️ Trading fees: 0.1% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Debit Card, Credit Card, SWIFT, Bank Transfer (SEPA), and more ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB, and 15+ more
The largest cryptocurrency platform Various advanced services and features Low fees and high liquidity A large number of cryptocurrencies supported
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD + more
Paxful is “the Uber of the Bitcoin”. It is a crypto exchange based in the US that has over 200 employees. Paxful was launched back in 2015 so it has been around for quite some time now. The founders of Paxful are Artur Schaback and Ray Youssef.
The headquarters of the company is in NY, US. Paxful offers a simple, easy way to buy crypto assets. Moreover, if you would like to spread the word about Paxful while generating a 2% revenue from any amount bought, there is Paxful’s affiliate program called “virtual kiosk”.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Free ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: 0.5% – 5% ⚡️ Trading fees: No buyer fee, seller fee varies from 0.5% to 5% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Over 350 payment methods are available ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, and many more
An incredible number of payment methods Easy-to-use platform Available in more than 180 countries Security is on a high level
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 1 day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, JPY
Changelly offers a platform to sell, store, and trade cryptocurrencies. As a decentralized exchange (DEX), it empowers users to trade directly from their personal wallets, eliminating the need for any intermediaries. This positions Changelly as a peer-to-peer platform, facilitating direct cryptocurrency trades between users.
Changelly was founded in 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic, by the same guys who established MinerGate, one of the largest mining pools that exist today, so it’s a reliable company. Within a year Changelly has managed to attract over 100,000 users, which is really impressive. Changelly reached the 1,000,000 users milestone in April 2017, which shows how popular this cryptocurrency exchange website is becoming in such a short span of time.
Features of Changelly: Diverse Cryptocurrency Selection: Changelly boasts support for over 1,500 cryptocurrencies, encompassing popular ones like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Wallet-to-Wallet Trading: The platform allows users to trade directly from their individual wallets, ensuring a secure and transparent trading experience without the involvement of third parties. Instant Exchange: Changelly offers real-time exchanges between various cryptocurrencies. It employs a sophisticated algorithm to ascertain the most favorable exchange rate for every transaction. Intuitive User Interface: Designed with user experience in mind, Changelly’s interface is straightforward and easy to use. It offers comprehensive details about each transaction, including its status, the amount involved, and the executed rate.
⚡️ Deposit fees: Changelly does not have set fees due to the volatility of cryptocurrencies ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: None ⚡️ Trading fees: 0.25% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Debit Card, Credit Card ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP
Wide range of cryptocurrencies Low crypto-to-crypto exchange fees Easy to use
Not regulated in the U.S. High fiat-to-crypto rates Limited payment options
Best Bitcoin Wallets in Ethiopia
It is never a good idea to keep your coins on an exchange as that exposes you to numerous risks (exchange hacks, fund freezes by the exchange or some government regulatory body, etc). That is why you should use one of the wallets we list below to store your digital assets.
But, which bitcoin wallet is available in this country?
The safest option is a hardware wallet like Nano X but ZenGo is also a good choice, especially for newcomers.
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Medium 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and 10+ more
Crypto.com, headquartered in Singapore, offers services like an app, exchange, wallet, and NFT marketplace. It supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, enabling users to transact in various digital assets.
Originally founded in 2016 in Hong Kong as “Monaco” by Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo, it rebranded to Crypto.com in 2018 after acquiring a domain from cryptography expert Matt Blaze. The company is a subsidiary of Foris DAX MT (Malta) Limited.
By June 2023, Crypto.com boasted 80 million customers and a workforce of 4,000.
Features: Cryptocurrency Trading: The platform allows users to trade numerous cryptocurrencies and offers staking options. Crypto Wallet: Users can securely store their digital assets. In 2022, they introduced support for the Ledger wallet. Crypto.com Pay: A credit card service facilitating payments in cryptocurrencies. NFT Marketplace: A space for trading NFTs. Trading Services: Includes margin and derivatives trading.
An extensive list of supported cryptocurrencies Transparent, competitive fees with discounts available Support for an ecosystem of cryptocurrency products
Higher fees unless you hold and use CRO Poor customer support Trading fee discounts can be confusing to navigate
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – Average 👛 Verification – 2-3 Days 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD
Kraken has been a dominant force since its inception in 2011. The platform is a hub for trading a diverse range of over 220 digital assets, with popular names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano leading the pack. Kraken’s reputation for top-tier security measures is well-earned, ensuring a safe trading environment for its users.
Its reach is truly global, with availability spanning across many countries, though a few like Iraq and New York are left out. Kraken is also user-centric, offering a multitude of payment methods and accommodating various fiat currencies for transactions. For those with a penchant for advanced trading, Kraken provides a suite of sophisticated tools.
⚡️ Deposit fees: EUR SEPA Deposit (Free) – EEA countries only USD Bank Wire Deposit ($5 USD) – US onlyEUR Bank Wire Deposit (€10) – outside the US only USD Bank Wire Deposit ($10 USD) – outside US onlyJPY Bank deposit (Free, ¥5,000 deposit minimum) – Japan-only USD, Wire Deposit (Free) ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: Cryptocurrency: Fees vary, SEPA Withdrawal (€0.09) – EEA countries only USD Bank Wire Withdrawal ($5 USD) – US only USD Bank Wire Withdrawal ($60 USD) – outside US onlyEUR Bank Wire Withdrawal (€60) – outside US onlyJPY Bank withdrawal (¥20) – Japan onlyCAD EFT Withdrawal ($10 CAD) ⚡️ Trading fees: Maker: 0.16%Taker: 0.28% ⚡️ Payment Methods: Fedwire, Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT, Wire Transfer, Etana Custody, Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN), FPS, CHAPS, and BACS, PayID, Osko ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD
Available almost worldwide Longevity on the crypto market – highly respected exchange Over 90 cryptocurrencies Advanced trading and staking services
Fees are fairly high compared to its main competitors No derivates or futures trading
👛 Ease of Use – Easy 👛 Fees – High 👛 Verification – 1 Day 👛 Reputation – Trusted 👛 Supported fiat – USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
Coinamma is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges since it was launched back in 2013. The headquarters of the company is in Slovakia and Ireland and its founders are Laurence Newman, Nimrod Gruber, and Ilan Schuster.
Coinmama is an exchange that boasts a user base of over 1.5 million people in more than 150 countries, and has a team of over 40 employees. It is notable for its user-friendly interface, which makes it a great choice for beginners. In addition, Coinmama ensures that the coins purchased through their platform are directly transferred to the user’s non-custodial wallet, rather than being kept in Coinmama’s own wallets.
⚡️ Deposit fees: 0 – 5 % ⚡️ Withdrawal fees: None ⚡️ Trading fees: 2.9 – 3.9 % ⚡️ Payment Methods: Bank Transfer (SEPA), SWIFT, Fedwire, Bank cards, Open Banking, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Skrill ⚡️ Supported fiat: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
Simple, user-friendly interface Various ways to deposit such as bank transfers or via credit card Suitable for beginners No withdrawal fee Available in almost all countries
No mobile app and no staking No phone number for customer support
Frequently asked questions about buying Bitcoin in Ethiopia
Is Bitcoin available in Ethiopia❓
Bitcoin is not recognized as legal tender by the Ethiopian government and the central bank does not regulate the operations of Bitcoin, therefore, the public must be cautious of the risks connected with the usage of such digital currency.
Is crypto legal in Ethiopia❓
The country has anti-money laundering legal norms that are embodied in domestic laws and international and regional instruments that it has ratified. However, these legal norms have strategic deficiencies in regulating cryptocurrencies.
Does PayPal Work in Ethiopia❓
Unfortunately, PayPal doesn’t support Ethiopia.
Does Cex IO work in Ethiopia❓
Yes, Cex.io is available in Ethiopia.
How do I transfer money from Paxful to a bank account❓
Head over to your Paxful Wallet and look for the Transfer to Bank button. Before you convert your crypto, you’ll see the current exchange rate and the fees included with the transfer. Once you’re ready, you’ll input your banking information, how much you want to transfer, and then you’ll be on your way.
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As the Head of Content at Captainaltcoin, I bring years of experience in the crypto industry. With a strong belief in the potential of the web3 market since 2017, I'm passionate about sharing valuable insights and knowledge.
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and let's discuss the exciting world of cryptocurrencies and decentralized technologies!
