The Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill 2025 in Kenya aims to regulate the operations of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) by requiring them to obtain licenses and adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) standards. The bill places VASPs under the oversight of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), depending on their activities[1][2][3]. Key provisions include:

- Licensing Requirements: VASPs must secure licenses and maintain physical offices in Kenya[2][3].
- Regulatory Oversight: CBK will oversee wallet providers and stablecoin issuers, while CMA will handle exchanges and tokenization platforms[3][6].
- Compliance Measures: Providers must implement robust cybersecurity and data protection systems[5][8].
- Penalties: Non-compliance can result in significant fines and imprisonment[1][8].

Sources
[1] Treasury seeks identity of crypto owners in new bill - Business Daily https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/treasury-seeks-identity-of-crypto-owners-in-new-bill-4994192
[2] Bill to regulate VASPs lands before Kenyan lawmakers - Mariblock https://www.mariblock.com/bill-to-regulate-vasps-lands-before-kenyan-lawmakers/
[3] Kenya Proposes First Crypto Bill To Regulate Stablecoins - CIO Africa https://cioafrica.co/kenya-proposes-first-crypto-bill-to-regulate-stablecoins/
[4] [PDF] The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025 - The National Treasury https://www.treasury.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VIRTUAL-ASSET-SERVICE-PROVIDERS-BILL-2024.pdf
[5] Kenya moves to regulate digital assets with new crypto bill https://techpoint.africa/news/kenya-to-regulate-digital-assets/
[6] Kenya seeks to regulate crypto with new Virtual Assets Bill https://itweb.africa/content/KPNG8v8NPgDM4mwD
[7] Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill - CMS law https://cms.law/en/ken/news-information/draft-national-policy-on-virtual-assets-and-virtual-asset-service-providers-virtual-assets-service-providers-bill-regulation-regime-on-the-horizon
[8] The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025 - CM Advocates LLP https://cmadvocates.com/en/blog/the-virtual-asset-service-providers-bill-2025
[9] [PDF] The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025 - Parliament of Kenya http://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-04/THE%20VIRTUAL%20ASSET%20SERVICE%20PROVIDERS%20BILL,%202025%20(2).pdf
[10] [PDF] Draft-Public-Notice-VIRTUAL-ASSETS-AND ... - The National Treasury https://www.treasury.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Draft-Public-Notice-VIRTUAL-ASSETS-AND-VIRTUAL-ASSET-SERVICE.pdf
[11] [PDF] blockchain association of kenya - BitcoinKE https://bitcoinke.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VASP-Draft-Bill-Stamped-by-Clerk-National-Assembly.pdf
[12] [PDF] Draft National Policy on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service ... https://www.treasury.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DRAFT-NATIONAL-POLICY-ON-VAs-AND-VASPs.pdf
[13] THE VIRTUAL ASSETS SERVICE PROVIDERS BILL 2024 https://www.oraro.co.ke/review-of-the-virtual-assets-service-providers-bill-2024/
[14] Draft National Policy on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service ... https://www.dentonshhm.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/april/11/draft-national-policy-on-virtual-assets-and-virtual-asset-service-providers
[15] Government of Kenya takes steps to regulate Virtual Asset Activities https://www.spencer-west.com/news/government-of-kenya-takes-steps-to-regulate-virtual-asset-activities/
[16] Protecting Kenyans from crypto scams: How the VASP Bill, 2025 ... https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/news/publications/2025/Practice/Banking-Finance-Projects/banking-finance-and-projects-alert-20-february-protecting-kenyans-from-crypto-scams-how-the-vasp-bill-2025-aims-to-stop-pump-and-dump-schemes
[17] Kenya - Bowmans https://bowmanslaw.com/insights/kenya-the-virtual-assets-service-providers-bill-2024/
[18] How to Get a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) License in Kenya https://masibolaw.co.ke/2025/04/22/how-to-get-a-virtual-asset-service-provider-vasp-license-in-kenya/
[19] Treasury holds public participation on Virtual Assets Service ... https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/treasury-holds-public-participation-on-virtual-assets-service-providers-bill-2025/

Best Regards

______________________

Mwendwa Kivuva
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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