The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Zimbabwean central bank has mandated that all virtual asset service providers (VASPs) formally register with the regulatory body.
New Legal DefinitionsThe regulatory push stems from the Finance Act No. 7 of 2025, passed in December 2025, which amended Section 2 of Zimbabwe’s Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act. This amendment formally incorporated virtual asset service providers, or VASPs, into the statutory definition of a “financial institution.”
According to a statement released by the FIU, the primary objective of the new framework is compliance, specifically aligning Zimbabwe with international standards for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. The FIU has been designated as the primary supervisory authority responsible for enforcing these statutory measures.
However, the FIU explicitly warned stakeholders that registration with its unit is strictly for monitoring purposes and does not grant firms a blanket commercial license.
“Registration with the FIU for AML/CFT purposes does not, in itself, constitute authorization to carry on business in Zimbabwe,” the public notice reads.
VASPs are still required to independently obtain any necessary operational approvals, licenses or authorizations from other relevant domestic authorities, such as the RBZ or the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe, depending on their business models.
