Is Crypto Legal In Congo?

Cryptocurrency is not recognized as legal tender in the Republic of Congo, though crypto possession and trading remain technically legal without specific national regulations. As a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), Congo operates under regional monetary oversight by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), which has expressed strong concerns about cryptocurrencies (1). The International Monetary Fund reported that six countries including the Republic of Congo have banned crypto, though this primarily refers to financial institutions being prohibited from facilitating cryptocurrency transactions rather than outright citizen bans (2).

The BEAC Banking Commission issued regulations in May 2022 prohibiting banks, microfinance institutions, and payment service providers from holding, exchanging, converting, or settling cryptocurrency transactions. Reporting institutions must identify and track cryptocurrency-related transactions, providing detailed monthly reports to regulatory authorities including client information, transaction amounts, currencies involved, and purposes (1). This prohibition extends to technical partners involved in payment services, who cannot subscribe to or hold cryptocurrencies for their own accounts or on behalf of third parties (1).

"Only one-quarter of countries in sub-Saharan Africa formally regulate crypto. However, two-thirds have implemented some restrictions and six countries including the Republic of Congo have banned crypto."

The regional stance reflects concerns that cryptocurrencies could drain foreign currency reserves and threaten financial stability within CEMAC member states including Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Congo Brazzaville. BEAC reaffirmed at a January 2024 fintech forum that purchasing cryptocurrencies abroad transforms CFA francs into foreign currencies, weakening common foreign exchange stocks (2). Despite these restrictions, global platforms like Binance and other exchanges allow Congolese traders to access cryptocurrency markets through peer-to-peer trading and mobile money services, operating in an unregulated environment without government protection or clear legal guidelines (2).

Source:
https://4mlegaltax.com/regulation-of-cryptocurrency-in-the-cemac/
https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2022/11/22/africas-growing-crypto-market-needs-better-regulations

Last updated: 18-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.