South Africa: Workshop on Fraud and Investigations Involving Crypto Assets

In response to a request from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducted a capacity development workshop in November 2025 focused on fraud and investigations involving crypto assets. The workshop was the first of its kind. It aimed to enhance SARS’ investigative and intelligence capabilities by providing technical knowledge on the crypto asset ecosystem, regulatory frameworks, and practical investigation techniques. Key findings highlighted the evolving regulatory environment in South Africa, the challenges posed by crypto assets for tax and customs enforcement, and the benefits of cross-agency collaboration and open-source intelligence tools. Recommendations emphasize the need for ongoing training tailored to different expertise levels, and the development of analytical and investigative tools to better detect and address crypto-related fraud and tax evasion.