New Zealand applies general law rather than a bespoke regime. Crypto businesses register on the Financial Service Providers Register and fall under the AML/CFT Act as reporting entities supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs; the Financial Markets Conduct Act's fair-dealing provisions cover misleading conduct in crypto offers, and tokens with security-like features trigger full FMC Act obligations. The Financial Markets Authority publishes guidance rather than running a licensing gateway, and a 2024–2025 parliamentary inquiry recommended a cautious, harms-based approach.
The crypto ATM question has turned. The government announced a ban on cryptocurrency ATMs in July 2025, but it was never legislated, and on July 9, 2026 Cabinet decided against a blanket ban, opting for regulation-making powers in the AML/CFT (Omnibus) Amendment Bill that would allow caps on cash purchases of virtual assets and, if harm emerges, a prohibition on cash purchases of high-risk assets. Tax treatment follows Inland Revenue guidance: crypto is property, and gains from acquisition for disposal are taxable income.
The instruments
Financial Markets Conduct Act application
Fair-dealing prohibitions apply to all crypto offers to New Zealanders; tokens that are debt, equity, or managed-investment interests carry full disclosure and licensing obligations.
AML/CFT coverage and crypto ATM restrictions
Virtual asset service providers are reporting entities under DIA supervision. The 2025 plan to ban crypto ATMs was replaced in July 2026 by proposed regulation-making powers to limit cash purchases of virtual assets, pending before Parliament at this review.