Overview
- Decree No. 19, signed on January 16, establishes a legal framework for cryptobanks defined as joint‑stock companies that can combine token operations with traditional banking and payments.
- Firms must hold residency in Belarus’s state‑run Hi‑Tech Park and be listed in a dedicated cryptobank register maintained by the National Bank before entering the market.
- Cryptobanks will operate under dual oversight from the Hi‑Tech Park supervisory board and the National Bank and must follow rules for non‑bank credit and financial organizations.
- The president’s office says the framework is intended to deliver greater efficiency, speed, and convenience for token transactions within licensed institutions.
- The move follows December 2025 restrictions on access to major foreign exchanges such as Bybit, OKX, and Bitget, signaling a push to keep digital asset activity within state‑supervised channels.