Lebanon: fintech & payments regulation

Regulated

BDL licenses EPSPs under Decision 13790; CMA regulates securities; no open banking framework

Lead regulator: Banque du Liban (BDL)
Also involved: CMA (securities) · NFIU (AML)
Core law: Basic Decision No. 13790 (2026)
Entry capital: LBP 50 billion (EPSP)
Approval timeline: —
Customer assets: Segregated funds required
Data protection: No specific law
Sandbox: No

Lebanon's fintech landscape is dominated by the Central Bank (BDL), which regulates electronic payments and money dealers. The 2026 Basic Decision 13790 established a specific licensing regime for Electronic Payment Services Providers (EPSPs), requiring significant capital. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) oversees securities and investment activities. Open banking and crypto-assets lack a dedicated statutory framework.

Which licence do you need?

Your activity	Requirement	Capital	Timeline	Authority
Payment processing / gateway	LicenceEPSP License^[1] Mandatory for non-bank payment processing	LBP 50 billion	—	Banque du Liban
E-money & wallet issuance	LicenceEPSP License^[1] Wallet issuance falls under EPSP framework	LBP 50 billion	—	Banque du Liban
Domestic money transfer	LicenceEPSP License^[1] Domestic transfers require EPSP license	LBP 50 billion	—	Banque du Liban
Cross-border remittance	LicenceEPSP License^[1] Cross-border remittance requires EPSP license	LBP 50 billion	—	Banque du Liban
Agent network	LicenceEPSP License^[1] Agent networks must be licensed under EPSP	LBP 50 billion	—	Banque du Liban
Open banking / account information	Uncertainverify with regulator No open banking framework exists	—	—	—
Foreign-exchange services	LicenceMoney Dealer License^[2] Category A exchange house license	LBP 10 billion	—	Banque du Liban

New — what changed recently

2026-01-09Basic Decision No. 13790 — Established licensing framework for Electronic Payment Services Providers (EPSPs)^[1]
2025-05-23Central Decision No. 13718 — Amended wallet operator requirements for segregation and transaction caps^[3]
2024-02-06CMA Announcement No. 97 — Updated fee schedules for licensing and registration^[4]

Market-entry checklist

1Secure BDL EPSP LicenseObtain license under Decision 13790 with LBP 50 billion capital
2Register with CMARegister securities activities with Capital Markets Authority
3Implement AML ComplianceEstablish AML/CFT framework compliant with BDL regulations
4Segregate Customer FundsSet up segregated accounts for customer assets as mandated

Sources

Electronic Payment Services Providers · 2026-01-09
Capital of Money Dealers · 2022-05-17
Electronic Banking and Financial Operations · 2025-05-23
Update of CMA Fees and Commissions and Cancellation of Announcement No. 95 (23 May 2023) · 2024-01-31

This guide is compiled automatically from 4 primary-source documents published by Lebanon'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.