Crypto & Digital Assets · Ghana
Is crypto legal in Ghana? Rules & regulation (2026)
Ghana shaded by its crypto & digital assets status
Crypto is developing in Ghana, primarily under Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154); dual regulators, Bank of Ghana (primary VASP licensor, Virtual Assets Regulatory Office) and Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana (exchanges, token issuance, investment-related services); Financial Intelligence Centre (AML/CFT).
Ghana enacted the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), signed by President John Dramani Mahama on 29 December 2025, formally legalising and licensing crypto trading. The law establishes a dual-regulator framework under the Bank of Ghana and SEC Ghana, mandates FATF-aligned AML/CFT controls including the Travel Rule, and confirms virtual assets are not legal tender. Full licensing directives are being phased in throughout 2026, with a 12-month regulatory sandbox of 11 firms underway since March 2026.
Key points
Parliament passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill on 19 December 2025; President Mahama signed it as Act 1154 on 29 December 2025, formally legalising crypto trading and creating a licensing regime for all virtual asset service providers.
The Bank of Ghana (via its newly established Virtual Assets Regulatory Office, VARO) is the primary licensing authority for most VASPs; SEC Ghana oversees exchanges, custodial wallets, token issuance, and investment-related virtual asset services.
SEC Ghana admitted 11 firms into a 12-month regulatory sandbox to pilot virtual asset trading under live supervision; firms demonstrating full compliance may transition to an activity-based licence after six months.
The Act requires all VASPs to implement FATF-aligned anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls, including application of the Travel Rule for digital asset transfers, coordinated through the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Bank of Ghana Governor Asiama announced targeted exploration of gold-backed digital settlement instruments, leveraging Ghana's domestic gold reserves (65+ tonnes accumulated since 2021) and existing blockchain gold-tracking infrastructure; no draft legislation has been issued.
The VASP Act extends licensing/registration requirements to public figures and online promoters of virtual assets; SEC Ghana has formally warned that unlicensed celebrities and influencers promoting crypto will face strict sanctions.
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