Zakat on Digital Assets

To calculate Zakat on Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other cryptocurrency, you need to determine their total market value on your Zakat due date. Start by:

• Listing all your crypto holdings

• Finding the current market value in GBP (or your local currency)

• Converting each crypto to its cash equivalent

• Adding all values to your total zakatable assets

• Subtracting any legitimate debts

• If your total is above the nisab, pay 2.5% on the amount

For example, if you own 0.5 BTC and the market price on your Zakat date is £40,000/BTC, your holding is worth £20,000. You’d then owe Zakat on this amount if it exceeds the nisab (about £380 as of current rates).

If you actively trade crypto, you should include:

• Holdings you own at the time of calculation

• Profits that remain with you

• Crypto staked or lent (if accessible)

Ignore coins that are permanently lost or inaccessible. Keep records of your wallet addresses and transaction history to support your calculations.

At Global Helping Hands, we offer assistance for crypto Zakat donors and ensure your funds go directly to the most vulnerable families. Your crypto gains can fund emergency aid in places like Gaza, Syrian Refugees, and Uganda.

Yes, you must pay Zakat on any funds stored in digital wallets like PayPal, Wise, Revolut, or any other e-wallet that holds your money. These accounts are equivalent to bank accounts. If the combined balance exceeds the nisab, they are part of your zakatable assets.

On your Zakat date, check the current balance of each wallet. Add this to:

• Your cash and bank account totals

• Any cryptocurrency or investments

• Other zakatable assets (like gold or business receivables)

Then subtract any short-term debts or bills due soon. If the net value is above the nisab, pay 2.5% Zakat.

Make sure to convert any non-GBP balances to GBP using accurate exchange rates. For example, if you hold €1,000 in a Wise account and £500 in PayPal, combine them in GBP before calculating Zakat.

These digital wallets make it easier to receive donations, manage subscriptions, and handle business payments. But they also store wealth that must be purified through Zakat.

At Global Helping Hands, we accept Zakat paid via digital wallets and convert it directly into cash distributions for families in desperate need—those without access to bank accounts or financial tools of any kind.

Zakat on NFTs (non-fungible tokens) depends on the purpose and nature of ownership. If the NFT is held as:

• A tradeable investment (e.g. art NFTs bought to resell for profit)

• A digital asset intended for resale

Then Zakat is required at 2.5% of its market value on your Zakat due date—provided your total zakatable assets exceed the nisab.

However, if the NFT represents:

• A personal licence (like access to content or a course)

• A non-tradeable item

• A collectible not meant for resale

Then Zakat is generally not due, as it is considered a non-zakatable personal use asset.

Determining Zakat for NFTs is complex, especially due to the lack of standard valuation. If you can reasonably estimate its market value (e.g. on OpenSea or another trading platform), and if it's held as a saleable asset, it should be included in your Zakat.

If your NFT is listed but has not sold and has no active offers, its value may be uncertain. In that case, you may delay Zakat until a sale occurs, or estimate conservatively.

At Global Helping Hands, we guide digital asset owners in calculating Zakat on new asset types like NFTs. Your donation helps real people—not pixels—access food, water, and basic care.

Yes, if you have money or securities held in online trading accounts, they are considered zakatable assets. This includes stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, or cash balances held in platforms like eToro, Trading212, or Binance.

Zakat is due on:

• Cash balances in these accounts

• Tradeable assets held for resale

• Profits or dividends that have not yet been withdrawn

Zakat is not due on non-liquid or non-zakatable portions of certain investments, such as fixed business equipment (if investing through equity) or long-term bonds held to maturity—unless their value is accessible and tradeable.

You must assess:

• The market value of your holdings on your Zakat date

• Any fees or taxes due

• Convert the total to GBP or your local currency

• Deduct any immediate debts

• If above nisab, pay 2.5%

For those holding investments long-term (not trading), Zakat is still due annually on the full value, as it is considered wealth in your control.

At Global Helping Hands, we help Muslims make sense of modern wealth tools. Your Zakat from online platforms is transformed into real help for displaced families across 20+ countries.

Generally, gift cards or store credits are not zakatable unless they can be:

• Converted back into cash

• Used as a tradable or resaleable asset

If you simply have a £50 Amazon voucher, and it must be used to shop on Amazon, this is not a zakatable asset. It’s not cash, and you cannot use it to fulfil others’ needs. However, if you’re a reseller who deals in gift cards or trades them as part of your business, then the inventory of unused cards becomes zakatable like any other product stock.

The key question is whether the gift card represents real, accessible wealth. If not, it’s treated like a personal use item and is excluded from your Zakat calculation.

Store credits, cashback rewards, or loyalty points that cannot be converted to cash or transferred are also generally exempt.

Still, it’s good practice to be cautious. If you hold a significant value in multi-use or reloadable cards that function like digital wallets, you may consider them zakatable if the value is high and accessible.

At Global Helping Hands, we recommend focusing Zakat on assets that can truly change someone’s life—liquid, usable wealth that can be transformed into food, medicine, or shelter.

If you permanently lose access to your digital wallet—due to forgotten passwords, lost keys, or hardware damage—then the crypto within it is generally not zakatable, because you no longer control it. Zakat is only due on wealth that is owned, accessible, and usable on your Zakat date.

Islamic scholars agree that if wealth is irretrievable, it is not considered your possession in a legal or practical sense. So, if you genuinely cannot recover your wallet (even with expert help), you are not required to pay Zakat on it.

However, if access is temporarily lost and there’s a reasonable chance of recovery (for example, if a third-party platform holds the keys, or you’re resolving a technical issue), then you should delay Zakat until access is restored. Once regained, calculate Zakat for each year the funds were inaccessible and pay it accordingly.

Always document incidents like wallet loss, technical support requests, or forensic reports if available. This protects your accountability.

At Global Helping Hands, we help crypto owners assess what is realistically zakatable. Your donation—whether from accessible crypto or other funds—supports refugees, orphans, and families who have no access to any form of wealth.

Yes, staking income—rewards earned from locking up cryptocurrency in proof-of-stake networks—is zakatable. It’s considered income and part of your assets once received. On your Zakat date, you must include:

• The original crypto staked (if accessible)

• Any rewards earned from staking

• Any unlocked profits even if not withdrawn

If your staked assets are accessible and meet or exceed the nisab, you must pay 2.5% Zakat on the combined total value. If they are locked or inaccessible, defer Zakat until they become liquid, and then calculate Zakat for the prior years.

Staking income resembles profit or dividends and should be included along with other income streams. If you regularly receive staking rewards, consider separating the zakatable portion or setting aside 2.5% monthly to avoid a large lump sum later.

Convert the value of your staking rewards to GBP or your local currency on your Zakat date using current market rates.

At Global Helping Hands, we guide crypto investors through complex Zakat scenarios—including staking. Your Zakat helps people with no savings, no blockchain access, and no stability—just a need for relief and hope.

Yes, you can pay your Zakat in cryptocurrency if the receiving charity accepts it. Zakat can be given in the same form as your zakatable wealth, provided the full value is transferred and reaches an eligible recipient. That means if your Zakat is owed in Bitcoin or Ethereum, and the charity accepts it, you may donate it directly.

However, it is crucial to:

• Calculate your Zakat value in GBP or your local currency first

• Then send the equivalent value in crypto at the time of payment

• Confirm that the charity will distribute it as Zakat, not just convert it for general use

Because of crypto volatility, always check the market rate just before sending. You should also account for any transaction fees, ensuring your full Zakat amount is received.

If the charity doesn’t accept crypto, convert it into cash and pay Zakat in fiat currency.

At Global Helping Hands, we currently convert cryptocurrency into cash and distribute Zakat in hand, following the Sunnah. Your crypto donation becomes immediate relief for the poorest families in Palestine, Pakistan, Syrian Refugees, and beyond.

Yes, any assets held in digital investment platforms—like crypto staking apps, robo-advisors, or DeFi platforms—are zakatable if they:

• Belong to you

• Are accessible

• Reach or exceed the nisab threshold

Examples include:

• Holdings in apps like Binance, Coinbase, or eToro

• Crypto farming or yield accounts

• Cash balances or earnings from these platforms

Zakat is not due on fixed assets or inaccessible funds unless they’re withdrawn. For example, if you have £8,000 worth of staked ETH and £2,000 in cash in your Binance account, and you can access both, Zakat is due on the full £10,000.

Use the market value on your Zakat date. You may need to combine values across multiple platforms and convert to GBP or local currency for accurate calculation. Always account for fees or deductions.

At Global Helping Hands, we make sure your Zakat—whether digital or fiat—reaches real people in crisis. Your online investments become offline survival for orphans, the sick, and the displaced.

Yes, affiliate commissions, ad revenue, and other forms of digital income are zakatable if they are:

• Fully received (not pending)

• Reach the nisab threshold

• Have been held for one lunar year

If your digital income is received via platforms like YouTube, Amazon Affiliates, or Google Ads, assess the total amount in hand (not just pending in your dashboard). Include funds in PayPal, Wise, or your business account.

Once your digital income is added to your total wealth, subtract any debts or obligations. If what remains is above nisab, pay 2.5%.

If you receive income irregularly, consider setting aside 2.5% of each payment for Zakat to simplify annual calculations.

At Global Helping Hands, we understand the rise of online income streams. Your earnings from clicks and content can uplift people with no voice, no income, and no access to tech.

You don’t need to track every single transaction in detail, but it’s important to have a clear overview of your total zakatable assets. For crypto, online income, or digital wallets, track:

• Balances on your Zakat due date

• Any incoming payments or staking rewards

• Receivables or pending balances if collectible

Focus on what you own and control on your due date. It’s better to be consistent each year—pick one date, assess your wealth, and calculate from there.

You can use:

• Spreadsheets

• Budgeting apps

• Crypto portfolio trackers

Record your Zakat payments too. If you miss a year, these records will help you calculate missed Zakat.

At Global Helping Hands, we encourage simple, honest Zakat practices. Whether you’re tracking bank income or blockchain assets, what matters is fulfilling your duty sincerely. Your effort helps thousands rebuild their lives.