Crypto & Digital Assets · DR Congo
Is crypto legal in DR Congo? Regulation & rules (2026)
DR Congo shaded by its crypto & digital assets status
The DRC has no enacted crypto-specific legislation; the BCC has issued public notices declaring that bitcoin and virtual currencies are not recognised as a medium of exchange and warning consumers of associated risks, but no criminal statute explicitly prohibiting mere possession has been identified. The government was actively drafting a DASP licensing framework in 2025, and a 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 was reported as a proposed fiscal measure. The DRC remained on the FATF increased-monitoring (grey) list as of October 2025, reflecting strategic AML/CFT deficiencies.
Key points
The Banque Centrale du Congo issued an official public notice (avis au public) stating that bitcoin and virtual currencies are not recognised as a medium of exchange in the DRC and warning the public of significant financial and cybercrime risks; crypto is not officially sanctioned but no enacted statute criminalises possession.
Ordonnance-Loi No. 23/010 of 13 March 2023 established a Digital Code governing electronic transactions, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and data protection, but does not create a crypto-asset licensing or classification regime.
A draft law to create a DASP licensing regime was reported to be under inter-ministerial review in 2025; it would introduce BCC-issued licences for exchanges and token issuers, on-shore custody requirements, and a transaction levy; enactment had not been confirmed as of mid-2026.
The DRC is under FATF increased monitoring (grey list) as of October 2025, reflecting strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing; the country works through its FATF-style regional body GABAC to address action-plan items.
Law No. 22/068 of December 2022 broadened AML/CFT obligations to include fintechs and other designated non-financial businesses, banning anonymous accounts and strengthening PEP checks, with compliance overseen by CENAREF.
Secondary sources report a proposed 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 as part of 2025 fiscal measures; this measure could not be independently confirmed against an official gazette or Ministry of Finance publication and should be treated as unverified.
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