IMF Calls on Nepal to Establish Crypto Regulatory Framework, Citing Rapid Growth in Crypto and Stablecoin Inflows in Recent Years

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated in its latest annual assessment of Nepal that, despite Nepal’s comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency transactions and mining since 2021, inflows of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins grew rapidly between 2019 and 2024—peaking at over 13% of GDP in 2021 and rebounding to approximately 8% in 2024, with cross-border flows amounting to roughly 5% of GDP. The IMF recommends that Nepal establish a cryptocurrency regulatory framework aligned with international standards, strengthen monitoring of stablecoins and unbacked crypto assets to prevent circumvention of capital controls and large-scale deposit outflows, and urges Nepal to complete the FATF action plan and exit the “gray list.”