Is Crypto Legal in Guatemala?

Cryptocurrency adoption in Guatemala has increased in recent years, driven by global trends and remittance needs. Despite growing interest, the country’s legal framework does not explicitly address digital assets, leaving their use in a regulatory gray area (1).

Under the Monetary Law (Decreto 17-2002), only the Quetzal is recognized as legal tender, and all other forms of money—including cryptocurrencies—are not authorized for issuance or circulation by the central bank (2).

"Actualmente el uso de monedas criptográficas en Guatemala no puede percibirse como una actividad ilícita porque no hay una disposición normativa que lo prohíba. Sin embargo, los particulares podrían exponerse a acusaciones injustificadas por desconocimiento de la autoridad pública." (1)

In practice, this means Guatemalans may buy, hold, and transact in cryptocurrencies without facing specific criminal penalties, but they do so without consumer protections or official oversight. Financial institutions are not permitted to process crypto transactions, and future regulation may introduce licensing or tax requirements (1).

Source:
https://banguat.gob.gt/sites/default/files/banguat/Publica/Investigaciones_Ec/WorkingPaper_No137.pdf (1)
https://banguat.gob.gt/page/la-legislacion-sobre-billetes-y-monedas-1 (2)

Last updated: 16-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.