Egypt: fintech & payments regulation

Regulated

Egypt fintech & payments: CBE-regulated payments; FRA-regulated non-banking fintech

Lead regulator:: Central Bank of Egypt (CBE)
Key law:: Central Bank and Banking System Law No. 194 of 2020
Last updated:: 2026-07-12

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is the primary regulator for payment systems and payment service providers, operating under the Central Bank and Banking System Law No. 194 of 2020. Entities providing payment services, including mobile payments and real-time networks, must obtain CBE licensing and adhere to strict governance and internal control instructions.

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) regulates non-banking financial activities, including fintech outsourcing, microfinance, and consumer financing. The FRA mandates specific technology infrastructure standards and maintains a dedicated registry for fintech service providers conducting non-banking financial activities.

Recent regulatory developments include the CBE's expansion of the definition of financial companies to explicitly include fintech startups, allowing banks to invest in them without maximum limits. The CBE has also established specific licensing rules for digital banks, requiring a minimum paid-up capital of EGP 2 billion.

Who regulates

Central Bank of Egypt (CBE)
Primary supervisor for payment systems, payment service providers, digital banks, and banking fintech investments.
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Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA)
Supervisor for non-banking financial activities, including fintech outsourcing, microfinance, and consumer financing.

Core laws & rules

Central Bank and Banking System Law No. 194 of 2020 (2020)
The core legislation governing the CBE's authority over payment systems and banking activities, mandating transactions in Egyptian pounds and providing the legal basis for payment service licensing.
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CBE Regulation Book 12 (Payment Systems) (2022-2023)
A comprehensive set of regulations covering payment systems, mobile payments, real-time payments, and card coding services, establishing operational and compliance frameworks.
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Licensing & registration

Payment Service Providers
Entities operating payment systems or providing payment services must be licensed and registered by the CBE, adhering to governance and internal control instructions.
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Digital Banks
Digital banks require CBE licensing, must have a minimum paid-up capital of EGP 2 billion, and must have a financial institution shareholder holding at least 30% of the capital. Capital: 2,000,000,000 EGP
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Fintech Outsourcing (Non-Banking)
Fintech service providers conducting non-banking financial activities must register with the FRA's dedicated Outsourcing Registry, meeting specific capital, governance, and technological standards.

Restrictions & warnings

Transactions within Egypt must be conducted in Egyptian pounds unless otherwise stipulated by law or international agreement.
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Licensed practitioners of specialized professions in non-Egyptian financial activities are prohibited from delegating or authorizing their work to other persons.
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Direction of travel

The CBE is actively promoting digital payments and financial inclusion, evidenced by increased transaction limits for financial inclusion accounts and the expansion of banking services to underserved communities.
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Regulatory frameworks are evolving to support fintech innovation, with the CBE explicitly including fintech startups in the definition of financial companies to facilitate bank investments.
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Sources

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This guide is compiled automatically from 9 primary-source documents published by Egypt'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.