Crypto & Digital Assets · Belarus
Is crypto legal in Belarus? Rules & regulation (2026)
Belarus shaded by its crypto & digital assets status
Crypto is developing in Belarus, primarily under Presidential Decree No. 8 'On Development of Digital Economy' (2017, in force 28 Mar 2018) as the foundational regime, now supplemented by Decree No. 19 'On Crypto Banks and Some Issues of Regulation of Digital Tokens' (signed 16 Jan 2026); supervised by the High-Technology Park (HTP) and the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus..
Crypto and digital tokens are explicitly legal in Belarus and have been regulated since Decree No. 8 (2017), which legalized token issuance, mining, exchange and ownership while channeling commercial activity through residents of the High-Technology Park (HTP). In January 2026 Decree No. 19 created a new 'crypto bank' regime, joint-stock companies that combine token services with banking under dual HTP/National Bank supervision, and in April 2026 authorities published an initial list of 26 permitted assets (incl. BTC, ETH, SOL, TON and stablecoins). The first crypto banks are expected to be licensed by summer 2026.
Key points
Decree No. 8 legalized token creation, placement, mining, exchange and disposal; commercial token activity is reserved to residents of the High-Technology Park, while individuals may hold, mine and exchange crypto.
A crypto bank is a joint-stock company authorized to combine digital-token activity with banking, payment and related financial operations; it must be an HTP resident and entered in the National Bank's register of crypto banks.
Crypto banks are overseen by both the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the HTP's governing/supervisory bodies, and must comply with rules applicable to non-bank credit and financial institutions.
In April 2026 authorities approved an initial list of 26 cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Toncoin and stablecoins), selected by market cap/liquidity and described as a 'living document' that will expand over time.
The blanket personal income-tax exemption on crypto ended 1 Jan 2025: individuals must now declare crypto income annually and pay 13% on transactions via foreign platforms, while transactions with HTP-resident companies remain tax-free; HTP corporate tax benefits run to 2049.
President Lukashenko in Sept 2025 ordered 'clear and transparent rules' for the crypto market alongside state control; the National Bank expects to process the first crypto-bank applications by summer 2026.
Timeline - major decisions & events
President Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19 'On crypto banks and some issues of regulation in digital tokens,' creating a formal class of joint-stock companies authorised to combine token services with conventional banking and payments. Cryptobanks must hold HTP resident status and be registered in the National Bank's dedicated register, completing a years-long effort to channel all crypto activity through licensed domestic institutions.
BelTA (Official Belarusian State News Agency) ↗At a government meeting, Lukashenko instructed officials to finalise 'clear and transparent rules of the game' for the crypto sector within one month, criticising delays since 2023 directives and citing State Control Committee findings of violations at crypto platforms. The directive directly triggered the drafting of Decree No. 19 four months later.
CoinDesk ↗National Bank Board Chair Roman Golovchenko announced the digital Belarusian ruble, built on Hyperledger Fabric, is targeted for full circulation in the second half of 2026, with businesses onboarding first and government agencies and individuals following in 2027. Cross-border interoperability with Russia's digital ruble is a core design goal.
The Daily Hodl (citing National Bank Chairman Golovchenko) ↗The personal income-tax and VAT exemption on cryptocurrency transactions, in place since Decree No. 8 (2018) and extended to end-2024 by Decree No. 80, expired. From 2025, HTP-resident companies pay a 9% profits tax on crypto; non-HTP entities pay 20-25%, marking the end of the near-zero tax era for individuals.
EOR.by (Belarus Legal & HR Portal) ↗Belarusian authorities blocked access to major offshore cryptocurrency exchanges, citing advertising rule violations in the first instance and subsequently illicit fund flows, in a broad crackdown on the unlicensed grey market. The move signalled a firm policy of forcing all retail crypto activity through HTP-registered domestic platforms.
CCN ↗The National Bank formally approved the concept for a digital Belarusian ruble (CBDC) and initiated development of the DBR platform on Hyperledger Fabric, including plans to test cross-border payments via a demo cross-chain bridge. The initiative is closely coordinated with Russia's digital ruble to reduce reliance on Western payment infrastructure under sanctions pressure.
Digital Pound Foundation ↗A presidential decree extended the zero-rate personal income-tax and VAT exemptions on cryptocurrency transactions, originally due to expire in 2023, for a further two years to 1 January 2025, maintaining Belarus's crypto-friendly tax environment and keeping individual miners and traders effectively tax-free.
CryptoRank ↗The landmark Decree No. 8 took legal effect, activating Belarus's comprehensive crypto framework: statutory definitions for tokens, smart contracts, and crypto exchanges; the High-Tech Park (HTP) as the licencing and supervisory body for all crypto operators; and broad tax exemptions on mining, trading, and ICO proceeds guaranteed through 2049.
Library of Congress Global Legal Monitor ↗Belarus - other topics
Crypto & Digital Assets in other countries
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