Regulatory AlertsAlgeria: crypto & digital assets regulation
BannedAlgeria bans crypto; Bank of Algeria enforces prohibition under Law 23-09
- Lead regulator
- Bank of Algeria
- Also involved
- AMF (AML monitoring) · CNRC (financial intelligence)
- Core law
- Monetary and Banking Law No. 23-09 (2023)
- Entry capital
- —
- Approval timeline
- —
- Customer assets
- Prohibited
- Data protection
- Law 18-07 · CNPD
- Sandbox
- No
Algeria maintains a strict prohibition on virtual assets. The Bank of Algeria, under Monetary and Banking Law No. 23-09, forbids the use, exchange, and holding of cryptocurrencies. While the AMF monitors money laundering risks associated with the underground market, no legal framework exists for licensing crypto businesses. The regulatory stance is prohibitive, with enforcement focused on financial compliance and anti-money laundering measures.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange / trading platform | Prohibited[1] Trading platforms banned under banking law | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Custody of client assets | Prohibited[1] Custody services forbidden for virtual assets | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Token issuance / public offering | Prohibited[2] Public offerings of virtual assets banned | — | — | AMF |
| Broker-dealer / OTC desk | Prohibited[1] OTC desks and brokerage prohibited | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Stablecoin issuance | Prohibited[1] Issuance banned as virtual asset | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Crypto payments acceptance | Prohibited[1] Payments in crypto forbidden | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Mining / staking services | Prohibited[1] Mining activities linked to prohibited assets | — | — | Bank of Algeria |
| Advisory / portfolio management | Prohibited[2] Advisory on virtual assets restricted | — | — | AMF |
New — what changed recently
- 2025-06AMF Risk Assessment Report on Virtual Assets — AMF published detailed ML/TF risk assessment highlighting 1.74M users despite ban, fulfilling FATF recommendations.[2]
- 2023-06Monetary and Banking Law No. 23-09 — Law explicitly prohibits virtual assets and establishes Bank of Algeria's autonomous regulatory power.[1]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Confirm legal prohibitionVerify that all crypto activities are banned under Law 23-09; no licenses exist.
- 2Avoid banking interfaceDo not attempt to use Algerian banks for crypto transactions; accounts may be frozen.
- 3Assess AML exposureRecognize that underground usage is monitored by CNRC for money laundering risks.
- 4Do not incorporateIncorporating a crypto entity in Algeria is not viable due to total prohibition.