Regulatory Alerts2025-12-29
Passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana announces Parliament's passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, which establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the virtual asset sector. The legislation mandates that all individuals and entities conducting virtual asset activities must obtain a license or official registration from either the SEC or the Bank of Ghana. The SEC will specifically oversee and regulate key services including exchanges, trading platforms, issuance, tokenization, ETFs, management, advisory, brokerage, and mining activities while joint guidelines with the Bank of Ghana will operationalize the Act.
‘Ensuring Investor Protection’ THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Securities and Exchange Commission, Ghana, hereinafter referred to as the “SEC”, is mandated to regulate and promote the growth and development of an efficient, fair and transparent securities market in which investors, and the integrity of the market are protected. The SEC wishes to inform the public and all market operators that Parliament has passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) Bill. The Bill outlines the legal and regulatory framework for regulating Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers in Ghana. The relevant regulatory authorities are the Bank of Ghana, the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory body prescribed by the Minister of Finance. All persons and entities conducting virtual asset activities will need to be licensed or officially registered by the SEC or the Bank of Ghana, based on their activity. The SEC and the Bank of Ghana will issue guidelines and other regulatory instruments to operationalize the Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the SEC shall license and regulate the following Virtual Asset Services under the Act.
- Virtual Asset Exchanges
- Virtual Asset Trading Platforms
- Virtual Asset Issuance
- Virtual Asset Tokenization
- Virtual Asset Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Virtual Asset Managers
- Virtual Asset Investment Advisor
- Virtual Asset Brokerage
- Virtual Asset Advocacy (On Securities)
- Virtual Asset Mining and Validation (On Securities)
- Virtual Asset Sandbox (On Securities) PRESS RELEASE PASSAGE OF THE VIRTUAL ASSET SERVICE PROVIDERS BILL (NOTICE NO. SEC/PR/001/12/2025)
The SEC assures the general and investing public of its continued diligence and unwavering commitment to fostering a safe, efficient, fair, and transparent virtual asset ecosystem in which investors are protected, and market integrity is upheld. For further information, kindly send an email to info@sec.gov.gh , call +233-302-768970-2 or the toll-free line, 0800100065, or visit the SEC website at www.sec.gov.gh . This Press Release is issued pursuant to sections 3 and 208(c) of the Securities Industry Act, 2016 (Act 929), as amended. ISSUED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) DATED: DECEMBER 29, 2025