Independent Islamic finance consultant
Sheikh Joe Bradford
Independent (US)
American scholar specializing in personal Islamic finance for Western Muslims. His practical fatwas on home buying, retirement accounts (401k), and retail crypto investing are widely followed by English-speaking Muslims in North America and the UK.
Areas of expertise
Notable work
- Joe Bradford Online (course on halal investing)
Cited in these rulings
Is Bitcoin halal?
Scholarly opinion is split. A growing majority of contemporary scholars permit Bitcoin as a form of digital property (mal). A vocal minority — including parts of the Turkish and Egyptian fatwa councils — consider it impermissible due to volatility (gharar) and lack of intrinsic backing.
Is crypto staking halal?
Proof-of-stake validator rewards are debated. Scholars who view staking as compensation for performing a service (validation) permit it. Scholars who view it as a return on locked capital treat it as riba.