Has Malaysia included cryptocurrency in Zakat-news focus bd

Malaysia has become the first country in the world to include cryptocurrency in the scope of zakat. Datuk Abdul Hakim Amir Osman, chief executive of the Zakat Collection Centre, an arm of the country's government Islamic body, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council, made the announcement at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Datuk Abdul Hakim said at the press conference that cryptocurrency is a growing sector in Malaysia, currently accounting for 54.2 percent of the country's total investors. Most of these investors are between the ages of 18 and 34 and have assets equivalent to 16 billion ringgit (43,526 crore 21 lakh taka in Bangladeshi currency).

Abdul Hakim Amir Osman said, "That's why we think this crypto sector can be a new source of zakat, especially for the younger generation."

According to data, 63.5 percent of Malaysia's total population of 34.5 million 64 thousand people is Muslim. A large portion of investors in the country's crypto sector are also Muslims.

Noting that digital currency was recently recognized as a tradable product at the 134th session of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council, Datuk Abdul Hakim also said, "Now is the era of digitalization. As the economy is becoming digital, we also have to adapt to the changing situation."