Is Crypto Legal In Cote d'Ivoire?

Cryptocurrency operates in an unregulated environment in Côte d'Ivoire without specific domestic legislation governing digital assets. The country's regulatory framework follows directives from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), which serves as the monetary authority for the West African Economic and Monetary Union member states including Côte d'Ivoire (1). While no explicit regulations address cryptocurrencies, they fall under BCEAO Instruction N°008-05-2015 regarding electronic money issuers, primarily to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing activities (1).

The BCEAO has maintained a negative stance toward Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies throughout the WAEMU region, significantly impacting cryptocurrency trading in Côte d'Ivoire. The central bank governor previously stated that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are not welcome in WAEMU because they lack counterparts and value guarantees required of legitimate currencies (2). This position creates uncertainty for cryptocurrency users in Côte d'Ivoire, as the regional monetary authority does not recognize digital assets as legal tender or provide regulatory protection for transactions (2).

"We are not aware of any domestic regulation of cryptocurrencies. However, cryptocurrencies are subject to the rules of the BCEAO Instruction N°008-05-2015, which determines the conditions and modalities for the exercise of electronic money issuers."

Financial institutions in Côte d'Ivoire operate under strict exchange control regulations governed by Regulation 06/2024/CM/WAEMU of December 20, 2024, which addresses external financial relations of WAEMU member states but does not explicitly prohibit cryptocurrency transactions. The BCEAO oversees payment systems and electronic money institutions through its 2015 instruction that authorizes non-bank providers to offer payment services backed exclusively by electronic money (1). Despite the absence of formal cryptocurrency bans, users engage with digital assets at their own risk without regulatory protections or clear legal guidelines regarding taxation, consumer protection, or dispute resolution (1).

Source:
https://wts.com/global/publishing-article/20250404-cote-d-ivore-exchange-control-insights~publishing-article
https://chaintum.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Priority-Areas-in-Ivory-Coast.pdf

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