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Algeria: fintech & payments regulation

Unregulated

Algeria fintech & payments: Unregulated/Restricted; COSOB oversees securities, not payments

Lead regulator:
Commission d'Organisation et de Surveillance des Operations de Bourse (COSOB)
Key law:
No specific fintech or payments act identified in source documents
Last updated:
2026-07-12

The provided source documents exclusively detail the regulatory framework for securities markets, investment funds, and stock exchange intermediaries under the supervision of the Commission d'Organisation et de Surveillance des Operations de Bourse (COSOB). There is no mention of a specific licensing regime, legal framework, or regulatory authority for digital assets, virtual asset service providers (VASPs), or general fintech payment services in Algeria within these texts.

While COSOB regulates traditional financial intermediaries, venture capital, and collective investment schemes, the absence of any document addressing electronic money, payment institutions, or cryptocurrency indicates that these activities are not covered by the cited securities regulations. Consequently, based strictly on the provided materials, the fintech and payments vertical is unregulated or falls outside the scope of the described securities oversight.

General public knowledge suggests that financial activities in Algeria are primarily overseen by the Bank of Algeria (BNA) and the Ministry of Finance, with strict capital controls and limited authorization for non-bank payment services, but this external context is not supported by the provided source documents.

Who regulates

Core laws & rules

  • Law No. 06-11 of June 24, 2006 (2006)

    Regulates the creation, operation, and supervision of venture capital companies (sociétés de capital investissement).

    [16]

  • Executive Decree No. 16-205 of July 25, 2016 (2016)

    Regulates the establishment, management, and exercise of investment fund management company activities.

    [12]

  • Executive Decree No. 08-56 of February 11, 2008 (2008)

    Establishes the regulatory framework for investment capital companies, including minimum capital and ownership limits.

    [15]

Restrictions & warnings

  • The source documents do not contain information regarding restrictions on fintech, digital payments, or virtual assets.

    Low confidence — verify with the regulator before relying on this.

Direction of travel

  • The source documents do not provide information on the future regulatory direction for fintech or payments in Algeria.

    Low confidence — verify with the regulator before relying on this.

Sources

  1. COSOB Instruction No. 25-08 of November 30, 2025, Setting the Procedures for Authorization to Exercise the Activity of Title Safekeeping Account Management · 2025-11-30
  2. Instruction COSOB No. 25-07 of November 30, 2025 Defining the Conditions and Procedures for the Registration of Stock Market Promoters · 2025-11-30
  3. Instruction COSOB No. 25-03 of June 25, 2025 Fixing the Conditions and Procedures for the Registration of External Evaluators of Collective Investment Undertakings · 2025-06-25
  4. COSOB Instruction No. 25-02 of June 25, 2025 Fixing the Elements Constituting the File Attached to the Approval Application for Venture Capital Collective Investment Undertakings · 2025-06-25
  5. COSOB Instruction No. 25-04 of June 25, 2025, Fixing the Conditions and Procedures for the Registration of Statutory Auditors of Venture Capital Collective Investment Undertakings · 2025-06-25
  6. Order of 11 Dhou El Kaada 1445 (May 19, 2024) fixing the rates and collection procedures for fees collected by the COSOB · 2024-07-01
  7. Instruction COSOB No. 24-05 of May 29, 2024 Defining Conditions and Procedures for Registration of Valuation Experts for Companies Seeking Admission to the Main or Growth Market · 2024-05-29
  8. Instruction COSOB No. 24-04 of May 29, 2024 Fixing the Model of the Sponsorship Agreement by the Stock Exchange Promoter for Companies Seeking Admission to the Growth or Emergent Market · 2024-05-29
  9. Instruction COSOB No. 24-02 of March 27, 2024, on the Procedures for Submitting Applications for Registration of Listed Securities Negotiators · 2024-03-27
  10. COSOB Regulation No. 24-02 of October 23, 2024, on Venture Capital Collective Investment Undertakings · 2024-01-01
  11. Instruction COSOB No. 23-01 of November 7, 2023 Fixing the Elements Constituting the File Attached to the Application for Approval of the Participative Investment Advisor · 2023-11-07
  12. Executive Decree No. 16-205 of July 25, 2016, on the Establishment, Management, and Exercise of Investment Fund Management Company Activities · 2016-07-25
  13. COSOB Instruction No. 16-03 of April 18, 2016 Fixing the Elements Constituting the File Attached to the Application for Approval as a Stock Exchange Intermediary · 2016-04-18
  14. Decree of March 14, 2009 defining the information required to support the authorization application for investment capital activities · 2009-03-14
  15. Executive Decree No. 08-56 of February 11, 2008, on the conditions for exercising the activity of investment capital companies · 2008-02-11
  16. Law No. 06-11 of June 24, 2006, Relating to Venture Capital Companies · 2006-06-24
  17. Instruction COSOB No. 99-03 of June 16, 1999, Regarding the Issuance of the Professional Card · 1999-03-30
  18. Decree of August 13, 1998 implementing Article 36 of Ordinance No. 96-08 regarding Collective Investment Schemes · 1998-08-13
  19. Executive Decree No. 94-176 of June 13, 1994, implementing Article 61 of Legislative Decree No. 93-10 on the securities exchange · 1994-01-01

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This guide is compiled automatically from 19 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.