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

Section 22(2) of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Act 1983, activated via the Budget Amendment Act 2025, prohibits any person from holding out as, or conducting business as, a virtual asset service provider in or targeting Fiji. The RBF published formal notice in Press Release No. 15 (September 2025).

The ban covers exchange, transfer, safekeeping, sale, and marketing of all virtual assets — explicitly including Bitcoin, NFTs, stablecoins, utility tokens, and security tokens. It applies to domestic and foreign entities targeting Fiji residents.

Violations carry a fine of up to FJD $1 million or imprisonment of up to 14 years upon conviction, representing among the stiffest criminal penalties for crypto activity in the Pacific region.

The NAMLC justified the prohibition citing FATF Recommendation 15, which permits outright prohibition where a jurisdiction lacks sufficient supervisory and enforcement capacity to regulate VASPs. Fiji's small financial system and limited regulatory resources were identified as key factors.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji also clarified (December 2025) that cryptocurrencies do not constitute legal tender and that no digital representation of a fiat currency issued by the RBF exists, ruling out any CBDC equivalence arguments.

The NAMLC stated the prohibition will be reviewed as regulatory and technological frameworks improve globally, leaving open the possibility of future regulated access, but with no timeline announced as of May 2026.