Kosovo: crypto & digital assets regulation

Who regulates

• Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK)

  Primary supervisor for crypto-asset service operators and financial stability oversight

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Core laws & rules

• Regulation on Licensing of Crypto-Assets Service Operators Providing Exchange Services (2025)

  Mandates licensing for legal entities providing crypto-asset exchange services, including fiat conversions and peer-to-peer crypto swaps, with specific capital and governance requirements.

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Licensing & registration

• Crypto-Asset Service Operator (Exchange Services)

  Required for legal entities providing fiat-to-crypto and peer-to-peer crypto exchange services. Requires fit-and-proper management and adherence to AML/CFT standards. Capital: €125,000 Timeline: 2025

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Restrictions & warnings

• Licensing is mandatory for exchange services; operators must maintain minimum capital and fit-and-proper management. The regulatory framework is designed to balance financial innovation with risk-based supervision and AML/CFT compliance.

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Direction of travel

• The CBK is actively strengthening its supervisory capacities and AML/CFT frameworks with technical assistance from the U.S. Treasury and guidance from the IMF. Recent high-level conferences indicate a continued focus on developing comprehensive regulatory frameworks for crypto-assets and digital money to ensure financial stability.

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Sources

1. Governor Ismaili welcomes new U.S. Treasury Technical Assistance Mission to further strengthen AML/CFT capacities in Kosovo · 2026-06-11
2. CBK Governor Ismaili Meets IMF Director Tobias Adrian on Financial Stability and Reforms · 2026-06-04
3. CBK Organizes Meeting with Financial Stakeholders at Regional Conference on Digital Money · 2026-06-04
4. CBK Public Lecture on Global Financial Stability and Emerging Financial Sector Challenges with the IMF · 2026-06-04
5. High-Level Regional Conference on Crypto-Assets and Digital Money in Prishtina · 2026-06-03
6. Governor Ismaili meets with IMF Executive Board Member, Mr. Yigit Yaşar · 2026-06-03
7. High-Level Panel of Regional Central Banks on Crypto-Assets, Digital Money, and Regulatory Frameworks in Prishtina · 2026-06-03
8. Regulation on Licensing of Crypto-Assets Service Operators Providing Exchange Services · 2025-08-29