. In December 2024, Malaysia became the first country to allow zakat payments using cryptocurrencies. The Zakat Collection Centre of the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Council (PPZ-MAIWP) launched a channel that allows Muslims to pay zakat directly using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The move aims to keep pace with technological developments and make it easier for Muslims to perform their religious duties, regardless of the type of assets they hold.
Sharlife has been appointed as the zakat collection agent via cryptocurrencies, where individuals can pay zakat directly from their digital wallets without having to convert assets into local currency first. Various types of cryptocurrencies are accepted, and to ensure value stability, payers are advised to convert their currencies into stablecoins such as USDT before paying.
This development reflects Malaysia’s commitment to innovation in Islamic finance and its keenness to integrate modern technology to meet the needs of the Muslim community.