Regulatory AlertsArmenia: crypto & digital assets regulation
RegulatedArmenia: CBN regulates CASPs via Reg 7/01; strict licensing for exchange/custody
- Lead regulator
- Central Bank of Armenia
- Also involved
- —
- Core law
- Law of the Republic of Armenia on Crypto Assets (2023)
- Entry capital
- AMD 50,000,000 (CASPs)
- Approval timeline
- —
- Customer assets
- Licensed CASP only
- Data protection
- Law on Personal Data Protection · Data Protection Inspectorate
- Sandbox
- No
Armenia has established a comprehensive licensing regime for Crypto Assets Service Providers (CASPs) under the supervision of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA). The framework, finalized in early 2026 via Regulations 7/01–7/05, requires CASPs to obtain a license and maintain minimum capital. The regime distinguishes between domestic providers and foreign branches, with strict rules on offer documents and managerial fitness.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange / trading platform | LicenceCASPs License[1][2] Requires CASP license under Reg 7/01 | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Custody of client assets | LicenceCASPs License[1][2] Requires CASP license under Reg 7/01 | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Token issuance / public offering | LicenceCASPs License[3] Issuers must comply with Reg 7/04 offer docs | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Broker-dealer / OTC desk | LicenceCASPs License[1][2] Requires CASP license under Reg 7/01 | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Stablecoin issuance | LicenceCASPs License[1] Treated as crypto asset issuance/service | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Crypto payments acceptance | LicenceCASPs License[1][2] Requires CASP license under Reg 7/01 | AMD 50,000,000 | — | Central Bank of Armenia |
| Mining / staking services | Uncertainverify with regulator Not explicitly defined in provided docs | — | — | — |
| Advisory / portfolio management | Uncertainverify with regulator Not explicitly defined in provided docs | — | — | — |
New — what changed recently
- 2026-01-21Regulation 7/01 on CASP Licensing — Established the licensing framework and procedures for domestic CASPs and foreign branches.[1]
- 2026-01-21Regulation 7/02 on Minimum Capital — Set minimum total capital thresholds for CASPs, requiring the highest of service-specific amounts.[2]
- 2026-01-21Regulation 7/04 on Offer Documents — Mandated form, content, and submission procedures for crypto-assets offer documents.[3]
- 2026-01-21Regulation 7/05 on Manager Registration — Defined registration, rejection, and deregistration procedures for managers of CASPs.[4]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Apply for CASP LicenseSubmit application to CBA under Regulation 7/01 for domestic provider status.
- 2Meet Capital ThresholdMaintain minimum capital of AMD 50,000,000 as per Regulation 7/02.
- 3Register ManagersRegister all managers and qualifying holders with the CBA under Regulation 7/05.
- 4Prepare Offer DocumentsDraft crypto-assets offer documents complying with the disclosure rules of Regulation 7/04.
Sources
- Central Bank of Armenia Approves Regulation 7/01 on Crypto Assets Service Provider Licensing · 2026-01-21
- Central Bank of Armenia Regulation 7/02 on Minimum Total Capital Threshold for Crypto Assets Service Providers · 2026-01-21
- Central Bank of Armenia Regulation 7/04 on Crypto-Assets Offer Document Requirements · 2026-01-21
- Procedure for Registration of Managers of Crypto Assets Service Providers and Branches of Foreign Providers · 2026-01-21