Algeria's 2018 Financial Law began a crypto ban that evolved into a total criminal prohibition by 2025. Now, owning, trading, or even discussing cryptocurrency can lead to jail time and heavy fines.
Algeria Crypto Law: What’s Legal, What’s Blocked, and How It Affects You
When it comes to Algeria crypto law, the official stance from the Algerian government is a total ban on all cryptocurrency transactions, mining, and exchanges. Also known as crypto prohibition in Algeria, this rule has been in place since 2017 and remains strictly enforced today. Unlike countries that regulate crypto, Algeria treats it like illegal currency—no licenses, no exceptions, no gray area.
The central bank, Banque d’Algerie, made it clear: digital assets aren’t money. You can’t buy Bitcoin on local exchanges, you can’t pay for goods with Ethereum, and you can’t mine crypto using Algerian electricity. Violations can lead to fines, asset seizures, or even jail time under the country’s anti-money laundering laws. But here’s the twist: people still trade. Thousands use P2P platforms like LocalBitcoins and Paxful, paying in cash or mobile money to avoid detection. They don’t do it because it’s easy—they do it because inflation is high, the dinar is weak, and remittances from abroad are hard to receive through traditional banks.
This isn’t just about personal freedom—it’s about survival. Crypto trading Algeria, despite being illegal, has become a shadow economy supported by VPNs, encrypted apps, and trusted local networks. Also known as underground crypto markets, these networks move billions in value every year, quietly bypassing state controls. Meanwhile, crypto tax Algeria, doesn’t exist as a formal system because the government doesn’t recognize crypto as taxable income. Also known as unregulated crypto earnings, this means no one reports gains—but also no one gets legal protection if they get scammed. And while other countries like Thailand and India are building clear rules, Algeria doubles down on silence. No official guidance. No public debate. Just a law that says ‘no’ and hopes people obey.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories from Algerians who trade crypto anyway, comparisons with China’s similar ban, and how P2P networks stay alive under pressure. You’ll also see how people avoid detection, what tools they use, and why this underground system isn’t going away anytime soon. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s happening right now, behind closed doors, in a country that refuses to acknowledge its own digital economy.