Algeria has passed one of the world’s most comprehensive anti-crypto laws, officially criminalizing all cryptocurrency-related activities. Enacted on July 24, 2025, Law No. 25 - 10 prohibits the issuance, possession, purchase, sale, storage, mining, promotion, or use of digital assets. It also outlaws any services facilitating such activities, including crypto wallets and exchanges.
This landmark legislation places Algeria among a small group of nations, including China, that have implemented a full-scale ban on digital assets. Authorities have framed the move as part of a broader initiative to strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) enforcement. By targeting the entire crypto ecosystem, Algeria aims to close all potential legal and technological loopholes previously exploited by illicit actors.
Under the new law, individuals convicted of crypto-related offenses face prison sentences ranging from two months to one year, and fines between 200,000 and 1,000,000 Algerian dinars (approximately $1,540 to $7,700 USD). The law applies not only to active participants but also to passive holders and individuals who promote or disseminate information about cryptocurrencies. This includes influencers, advertisers, and content creators who may not be directly involved in trading or transacting.
Legal analysts note that the unprecedented scope of the law sets a new global benchmark in crypto regulation. Unlike previous restrictions under Algeria’s 2018 Financial Law, which banned crypto usage without clearly defining penalties or enforcement, Law No. 25 - 10 codifies specific criminal liabilities and grants authorities broad enforcement powers. The lack of transition periods or licensing frameworks signals a hardline, zero-tolerance stance.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the primary motivation behind the ban is the need to protect the national economy from unregulated financial flows. Officials emphasized that cryptocurrencies are often used for fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and terrorist financing, and pose a threat to financial stability and monetary sovereignty. The law also aligns Algeria with international AML/CTF obligations, particularly the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Supporters of the law argue it will safeguard consumers from the volatility and speculative nature of digital assets, which have caused substantial losses for retail investors globally. The government has expressed interest in exploring regulated fintech alternatives, but no timeline has been provided for potential frameworks.
Algeria’s decision comes at a time when many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are adopting more balanced approaches to crypto regulation. While the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have embraced regulated crypto markets, Algeria has taken the opposite route by fully criminalizing all digital asset activity.
The move is especially significant given Algeria’s growing grassroots crypto adoption. A 2024 report by Chainalysis ranked Algeria among the top five fastest-growing crypto markets in MENA, driven largely by peer-to-peer trading and remittance use cases. Critics argue that the ban may push activity underground, inhibit blockchain innovation, and prompt a brain drain of local developers and entrepreneurs.
With Law No. 25 - 10 now in effect, Algeria firmly establishes itself as one of the most crypto-restrictive nations globally. The full impact of the law will likely unfold in the coming months, as regulators begin enforcement and digital asset users grapple with the consequences.
