Is Crypto Legal in Tunisia?

Cryptocurrencies are not recognized as legal tender in Tunisia. The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) has repeatedly warned that digital coins carry significant risks—price volatility, fraud and money-laundering concerns—and holds that they have no status under Tunisian law (1).

There is no specific legislation governing the issuance, trading or custody of cryptocurrencies in Tunisia, leaving their legal status in a regulatory “grey zone.” Individuals and businesses may buy or sell digital assets, but do so without any formal protections or clear compliance framework (2).

“Selon un communiqué de la BCT du 9 novembre 2017, ‘les cryptomonnaies ne sont pas reconnues comme des devises officielles ; ce sont des jetons virtuels sans valeur légale,’ exposant ainsi toute transaction à des poursuites pour blanchiment ou atteinte à la sécurité économique.” (1)

Tunisia’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority and its FATF-style regional body (MENAFATF) have urged the government to adopt clear rules for virtual assets. As of 2025, draft amendments to the Code of Foreign Exchange propose allowing Tunisians to hold and exchange cryptocurrencies under strict BCT authorization, but such measures await parliamentary approval (2).

Source:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cryptomonnaie-en-tunisie-entre-r%C3%A9pression-et-aziz-khayat-y2b0e
https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/detail/Tunisia.html

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