Is Crypto Legal in New Zealand?

Cryptocurrency is legal in New Zealand, with the country applying existing financial services and tax laws rather than creating crypto-specific legislation (1). The Financial Markets Authority notes that crypto is not specifically regulated in New Zealand, and international laws and regulations vary widely from country to country (1). The primary regulatory bodies overseeing crypto-related activities include the Financial Markets Authority, Inland Revenue, and the Department of Internal Affairs (2). Cryptocurrencies are legally recognized as a form of personal property following the landmark court decision in Ruscoe v Cryptopia Ltd (2).

Inland Revenue treats cryptoassets as a form of property for tax purposes, with the tax treatment depending on the characteristics and use of the assets rather than what they are called (2). Cryptoassets are not subject to GST when bought or sold, but do have GST implications when received as payment for normal business activities (2). They are considered excepted financial arrangements, meaning that if cryptoassets are trading stock they are valued at cost at the end of the tax year (2).

"Crypto is a high risk, speculative investment. Prices can go up and down very quickly. You should be prepared to lose all your money invested."

The Financial Markets Authority recommends that individuals wanting to buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies use platforms registered on New Zealand's Financial Service Providers Register, which provides access to independent dispute resolution schemes (1). Many crypto investments are unlikely to have basic consumer protections expected from other financial products due to the lack of specific regulation (1). The FMA licenses providers offering crypto CFDs or derivatives and maintains a warnings and alerts page detailing the latest scams (1).

Source:
https://www.fma.govt.nz/consumer/investing/types-of-investments/cryptocurrencies/
https://www.ird.govt.nz/cryptoassets

Last updated: 19-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.