Algeria Criminalizes All Crypto Activities

Algeria has imposed a sweeping ban criminalizing all cryptocurrency activities, including use, possession, buying selling, mining, promotion, operating exchanges, and offering wallet services.

This ban was enacted through a legislative amendment passed on July 24, 2025, and is one of the harshest crypto crackdowns in Africa. Individuals engaging in crypto-related activities face prison sentences ranging from two months to one year and fines between 200,000 and 1 million Algerian dinars (approximately $1,540 to $7,700), with possible combined penalties for severe cases.

The rationale behind this sweeping ban is to strengthen Algeria’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) framework. Lawmakers expressed concerns that cryptocurrencies pose significant risks to the country's financial stability and national security by enabling tax evasion, fraud, and illicit transactions. Algeria aims to close regulatory loopholes and protect consumers, especially inexperienced investors, from predatory schemes.

This strict ban is grounded in Article 117 of Algeria's 2018 Financial Law, which declares cryptocurrencies illegal financial instruments and prohibits any crypto-related activity without exception.

Banks actively block crypto-related transactions, and there are no licensed exchanges or regulatory frameworks for digital assets in Algeria. Despite the ban, many Algerians engage in peer-to-peer buying selling on foreign or underground platforms, but these activities are illegal and expose users to severe state penalties.

The Algerian government's position is highly conservative, emphasizing control over innovation and monetary sovereignty, contrasting with regional neighbors like Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, which are moving towards regulated crypto adoption.

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