Is crypto legal in Angola? Regulation & rules (2026)

Lei n.º 3/24 (in force 10 April 2024) prohibits mining of cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets across the national territory. Mining is punishable by 3–12 years' imprisonment; mere possession of mining hardware/infrastructure carries 1–5 years.

Issuance and circulation of currency, physical or digital, is the exclusive competence of the Banco Nacional de Angola; cryptocurrencies are not recognized as legal tender.

The prohibition was justified by protection of the national electrical system from mining's intensive power consumption and by anti-money-laundering / counter-terrorism-financing objectives and legal certainty.

Beyond the mining ban, Angola has not implemented a dedicated licensing framework for exchanges, brokers, or custodians. Activities amounting to payment services, e-money, or financial intermediation could require BNA authorization, and securities-like token offerings could fall under CMC supervision.

The BNA has publicly indicated it is working on legal/regulatory instruments for virtual assets and virtual-asset service providers, and has discussed studying a central-bank digital currency (CBDC).

Following the ban, INTERPOL coordinated with Angolan authorities to dismantle illegal mining centers and seize equipment, signaling that the prohibition is being enforced rather than dormant.