Djibouti: fintech & payments regulation

Who regulates

• Banque Centrale de Djibouti

  Primary supervisor for VASPs, payment systems, credit institutions, and microfinance.

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Core laws & rules

• Circular No. 2025-01 on the Regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers (2025)

  Establishes the licensing framework, governance standards, and operational obligations for VASPs, including definitions of cryptoassets and white paper requirements.

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• Circular No. 2026-01 Amending Circular No. 2025-01 (2026)

  Amends and completes the regulatory framework for CASPs, reinforcing licensing requirements and capital adequacy standards.

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• Law No. 118/AN/15/7th Legislature on the National Payment System (2024)

  Establishes the comprehensive regulatory framework for the National Payment System under BCD supervision, defining payment terms and licensing for payment service providers.

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Licensing & registration

• Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) / VASP

  Mandatory licensing for entities providing crypto-asset services, requiring robust governance, operational standards, and prior regulatory approval. Capital: 100 million DJF Timeline: 2025-2026

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• Electronic Money Issuer

  Licensing required for electronic money issuers, with specific prudential standards and distribution network regulations. Capital: 100 million FDJ Timeline: 2017

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Restrictions & warnings

• Strict licensing requirements apply to all crypto-asset service providers, with mandatory minimum capital and governance standards enforced by the Central Bank.

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Direction of travel

• The regulatory environment is evolving with recent amendments (2026) to the 2025 VASP framework, indicating a trend towards stricter oversight and formalization of the crypto-asset sector.

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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 · 2026-01-01
2. Circular No. 2025-01 on the Regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers in Djibouti · 2025-01-01
3. Law No. 118/AN/15/7th Legislature on the Creation, Regulation, and Supervision of the National Payment System · 2024-03-01
4. Conditions and Modalities for the Exercise of Activities of Electronic Money Issuers · 2017-01-01