National Treasury Issues Draft Manual on Cross-Border Crypto Asset Activities

Posted 03 August 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Financial Sector

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: National Treasury has issued a draft manual providing operational guidance on cross-border crypto asset activities and called for public comments by 30 September 2026.

Published under the exchange control and financial regulatory framework, the draft manual is intended to serve as practical guidance for the implementation of envisaged secondary legislation governing cross-border digital asset transactions once finalized.

Key Operational Focus Areas

According to the accompanying statement, the proposed manual focuses on establishing structured procedures for cross-border crypto asset management and compliance, specifically targeting:

  • Cross-border crypto asset transfer reporting and tracking mechanisms;
  • Integration of crypto asset flows into established exchange control reporting structures; and
  • Operational compliance requirements for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) facilitating international transfers.

National Treasury confirmed that the manual and regulatory proposals remain subject to refinement following stakeholder engagement, public feedback, and ongoing policy research.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Individuals executing offshore crypto transactions should maintain detailed records of international transfers to ensure compliance with foreign capital and discretionary allowances.
  • For your business: Crypto asset service providers (CASPs) and exchange platforms must prepare cross-border reporting systems to integrate with National Treasury and South African Reserve Bank reporting standards once secondary legislation is finalised.
  • For your clients: Corporate and individual clients seeking to transfer capital internationally via digital assets must be advised on emerging exchange control reporting rules and the submission deadline of 30 September 2026 for public comments.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/crypto-asset-cross-border-activities-input-sought-on-draft-manual

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.