The Capital Market Authority (CMA), Oman’s monetary markets regulator, appears to be like to ascertain a brand new regulatory framework for the digital asset trade within the Sultanate.
According to a Feb. 14 press launch, the brand new guidelines would come with oversight of digital asset actions, a licensing course of for digital asset service suppliers (VASPs), and a framework to determine and mitigate dangers surrounding the brand new asset class. The announcement reads:
“The purpose of this new regulation is to ascertain a market regime for digital belongings that embody guidelines to stop market abuse, together with [thorough] surveillance and enforcement mechanisms.”
A number of digital asset actions underneath the proposed tips embody issuing crypto belongings, tokens, crypto change services and preliminary coin choices, amongst others.
XReg Consulting Restricted, a digital belongings coverage and regulatory advisor, and Stated Al-Shahry and Companions, an Omani regulation agency, had been enlisted to advise and help the CMA in drafting the brand new laws.
The monetary markets regulators mentioned the proposed regulatory framework aligns with Oman’s Imaginative and prescient 2040, an initiative to digitally rework the nation’s economic system whereas attracting world gamers to Oman.
Whereas Oman appears to be like to place itself as a frontrunner in digital asset adoption within the Center East via the proposed regulatory oversight, the nation’s central financial institution seems to be cautious relating to cryptocurrencies.
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In October 2022, the Central Financial institution of Oman (CBO) urged residents to train warning when transacting with cryptocurrencies, given the dangers of fraud.
In repeated advisories, the CBO warned it has but to license any entity to commerce cryptocurrencies in Oman and that forex banking legal guidelines don’t cowl any digital currencies and actions involving their use.
Nevertheless, the warning didn’t cease Omanis from holding and investing in digital belongings. In keeping with the current Souq Analyst survey, about 65,000 residents, or 1.9% of the grownup inhabitants, personal cryptocurrencies within the nation.
The examine discovered that 62% of locals personal crypto for the long run, whereas 25% mentioned they use digital belongings for studying and training. The remainder mentioned they use cryptocurrencies for every day buying and selling.
