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Djibouti: crypto & digital assets regulation

Regulated

Djibouti regulates CASPs via BCD Circulars; 100m DJF capital required

Lead regulator
Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Also involved
NFIU (AML/CFT supervision under Law No. 178/AN/25/9th L)
Core law
Circular No. 2025-01 on Virtual Asset Service Providers
Entry capital
100,000,000 DJF (CASPs)
Approval timeline
—
Customer assets
Licensed custodian only
Data protection
—
Sandbox
No

Djibouti has established a formal licensing regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs), supervised by the Central Bank of Djibouti (BCD). The framework, anchored by Circular No. 2025-01 and updated by Circular No. 2026-01, mandates strict capital, governance, and whitepaper requirements. Recent legislative amendments to the AML/CFT law explicitly bring VASPs within the scope of obliged entities, aligning the jurisdiction with international standards.

Which licence do you need?

Your activityRequirementCapitalTimelineAuthority
Exchange / trading platformLicenceCASPs Licence[1][2]

Trading platform requires full CASP licensing and capital.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Custody of client assetsLicenceCASPs Licence[1][2]

Custody is a core CASP activity requiring the same license.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Token issuance / public offeringLicenceCASPs Licence[2]

Public offering requires CASP license and whitepaper.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Broker-dealer / OTC deskLicenceCASPs Licence[1][2]

OTC desk falls under CASP regime.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Stablecoin issuanceLicenceCASPs Licence[2]

Issuance treated as CASP activity.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Crypto payments acceptanceLicenceCASPs Licence[1][2]

Crypto payments acceptance requires CASP license.

100,000,000 DJF—Banque Centrale de Djibouti
Mining / staking servicesUncertainverify with regulator

Not explicitly defined in provided texts.

———
Advisory / portfolio managementUncertainverify with regulator

Advisory services not explicitly detailed in provided texts.

———

New — what changed recently

  • 2026-01-01Circular No. 2026-01 — Amended and completed the CASP regime with stricter licensing and governance standards.[1]
  • 2025-06-04Law No. 178/AN/25/9th L — Expanded AML/CFT obliged entities to explicitly include virtual asset service providers.[3]

Market-entry checklist

  1. 1Secure 100m DJF capitalEnsure minimum capital of 100 million DJF is available for CASP licensing.
  2. 2Submit comprehensive whitepaperPrepare a detailed whitepaper as mandated by Circular No. 2025-01.
  3. 3Establish robust governanceImplement governance standards required by Circular No. 2026-01.
  4. 4Register with BCDApply for licensing through the Central Bank of Djibouti.
  5. 5Comply with AML/CFT lawsAdhere to expanded obligations under Law No. 178/AN/25/9th L.

Sources

  1. Central Bank of Djibouti Circular No. 2026-01 Amending and Completing Circular No. 2025-01 on the Regime for Crypto-Asset Service Providers
  2. Circular No. 2025-01 on the Regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers in Djibouti
  3. Law No. 178/AN/25/9th L Amending Law No. 106/AN/24/9th L on the Fight against Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction · 2025-06-04
This guide is compiled automatically from 3 primary-source documents published by Djibouti's regulators, reviewed by RegAlert, and refreshed monthly (last updated 2026-07-12). It is not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the regulator or local counsel before acting.