RegAlertDR Congo: crypto & digital assets regulation — 2026-09
RestrictedDRC bans crypto; CBN Instruction 15 enforces AML on fiat interfaces
Frozen snapshot — the guide as it stood at the end of 2026-09. See the live guide for the current state.
The Democratic Republic of Congo prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies for payments and investment. The Central Bank of Congo (CBC) enforces strict anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) norms via Instruction No. 15. Financial institutions must apply risk-based approaches to client identification and transaction monitoring, effectively restricting crypto-related fiat interfaces to high-compliance banking channels.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange / trading platform | Prohibited[1] Crypto payments and investment banned by CBC | — | — | CBC |
| Custody of client assets | Prohibited[1] Custody of crypto assets not permitted | — | — | CBC |
| Token issuance / public offering | Prohibited[1] Public offering of crypto tokens banned | — | — | CBC |
| Broker-dealer / OTC desk | Prohibited[1] OTC crypto trading prohibited | — | — | CBC |
| Stablecoin issuance | Prohibited[1] Stablecoin issuance and use banned | — | — | CBC |
| Crypto payments acceptance | Prohibited[1] Crypto payments explicitly banned | — | — | CBC |
| Mining / staking services | Uncertainverify with regulator Mining not explicitly banned but unregulated | — | — | — |
| Advisory / portfolio management | Uncertainverify with regulator Advisory services unregulated but risky | — | — | — |
New — what changed recently
- 2023-09-05Instruction No. 15 (Modification No. 3) — CBC updated AML/CFT norms for credit institutions, reinforcing risk-based client identification and transaction monitoring.[1]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Confirm crypto ban complianceEnsure no crypto payments or investment activities are conducted in DRC.
- 2Implement CBC AML normsAdopt Instruction No. 15 risk-based client identification for all fiat transactions.
- 3Register with CNILComply with Law No. 16/019 for data protection if handling personal data.
- 4Consult Ministry of FinanceVerify tax implications for any digital asset-related income or services.
Sources
- Instruction No. 15 (Modification No. 3) · 2023-09-05