Overview

• The amendment passed on July 24 criminalizes issuance, sale, purchase, possession, trading, mining and promotion of all crypto assets by classifying them as financial assets.
• Violators face prison terms from two months up to one year paired with fines ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 Algerian dinars.
• Enforcement will rely on expanded digital surveillance and on-site inspections by the Bank of Algeria, the Banking Commission and security agencies.
• Officials said the ban is necessary to curb money laundering, terrorism financing, tax evasion and fraud risks tied to unregulated crypto activity.
• The prohibition halts growth in a previously fast-growing MENA crypto market and disrupts local users’ access to major international exchanges.