Is Bitcoin halal?
Genuinely contested: substantial scholarly support for spot Bitcoin as digital property (mal), and serious institutional rulings against it on volatility and speculation grounds.
The permissive analysis: Bitcoin is ownable, transferable, scarce, and market-valued — the classical criteria for property — so spot ownership is permissible like any commodity, with the usual prohibitions applying to how it's traded. The restrictive analysis, held by several national fatwa bodies: extreme volatility is gharar, there is no productive enterprise underneath, and dominant use is speculation.
What tips practice for many: hold spot only (no leverage, no perpetuals, no yield programs), self-custody or reputable custodial spot, size the position to reflect the unresolved ruling, and pay zakat on market value. Everything leveraged or yield-bearing around Bitcoin fails on independent riba/maysir grounds regardless of camp.
The conditions that matter
- Spot only — no margin, futures, or perpetuals
- No interest-like 'earn' yields
- Zakatable at market value each lunar year
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Is Bitcoin mining halal?
Generally viewed as permissible paid computation, with honestly-paid electricity — provided you consider the mined asset itself permissible to hold.
Related
Educational summary of commonly held scholarly positions — not a fatwa or financial advice. Where scholars differ, we say so; for a binding ruling on your situation, consult your scholar. See how Penny screens.