Algeria: crypto & digital assets regulation

Banned

Legal ban on virtual assets, with ongoing risk assessment despite significant user activity

Lead regulator:: Algerian Cell for Identifying Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks
Last updated:: 2026-07-12

Algeria currently maintains a legal ban on virtual assets. This prohibition is explicitly noted in a 2025 risk assessment report.

Despite the ban, the country observes significant engagement, with over 1.74 million users active in the virtual asset space.

The Algerian Cell for Identifying Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks, in conjunction with the Commission d'Organisation et de Surveillance des Operations de Bourse, published a report in 2025 evaluating money laundering and terrorist financing risks associated with virtual assets, aligning with GAFIMOAN recommendations.

While the 2023 Monetary and Banking Law modernizes the financial framework and establishes the Bank of Algeria as the central bank, the specific legislation underpinning the virtual asset ban is not detailed in the provided sources.

Who regulates

Algerian Cell for Identifying Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks
Issued a 2025 risk assessment report on money laundering and terrorist financing risks related to virtual assets.
^[1]
Commission d'Organisation et de Surveillance des Operations de Bourse
Publisher of the 2025 risk assessment report on virtual assets.
^[1]
Bank of Algeria
Established as an autonomous commercial entity with exclusive currency issuance, responsible for restructuring and modernizing the nation's financial framework under the 2023 Monetary and Banking Law.
^[2]

Core laws & rules

Monetary and Banking Law No. 23-09 (2023)
Promulgated on June 21, 2023, this law restructures and modernizes Algeria's financial framework and establishes the Bank of Algeria as an autonomous commercial entity.
^[2]
A legal ban on virtual assets is in place, though the specific legislative act imposing this ban is not detailed in the provided sources.
Low confidence — verify with the regulator before relying on this.

Restrictions & warnings

Virtual assets are subject to a legal ban in Algeria.
^[1]

Direction of travel

Despite the legal ban, there is significant user activity in virtual assets (over 1.74 million users). A 2025 risk assessment report on ML/TF risks related to virtual assets, fulfilling GAFIMOAN recommendations, indicates ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the sector.
^[1]

Sources

Risk Assessment Report on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks Related to Virtual Assets · 2025-01-01
Monetary and Banking Law No. 23-09 of June 21, 2023 · 2023-08-21

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This guide is compiled automatically from 2 primary-source documents published by Algeria'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.