Overview

• Law No. 25-10, enacted July 24, criminalizes issuance, sale, purchase, possession, use, promotion and mining of all crypto assets including Bitcoin and Tether
• Violators face two months to one year in prison and fines of 200,000 to 1,000,000 Algerian dinars
• Government officials argue the ban is essential to protect financial stability and national security and to close loopholes for tax evasion, fraud and illicit finance
• Judicial, financial and security authorities have signaled stepped-up digital and physical surveillance to identify and prosecute offenders
• Observers warn the crackdown could drive crypto trading and mining underground, with increased use of VPNs and off-grid operations