Access Crypto in Algeria

When you ask how to access crypto in Algeria, the ability to buy, send, or use digital currencies despite government restrictions. Also known as crypto adoption under sanctions, it’s not about legality—it’s about survival, remittances, and keeping value safe. Algeria banned financial institutions from handling crypto in 2017, but that didn’t stop people. It just pushed them underground—and into creative solutions.

Most Algerians who use crypto rely on peer-to-peer platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins, where they trade cash for Bitcoin using mobile money or bank transfers. Some use stablecoins, digital currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar or euro to avoid volatility. Also known as digital cash, it helps people protect savings from inflation and send money to family abroad without going through slow, expensive banks. The Celo blockchain, a mobile-first network designed for unbanked users. Also known as phone-based crypto, it’s gaining traction because you don’t need a computer—just a phone number—to send mCEUR, a Euro-pegged token that works like digital cash. This matters because Algeria has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa, but one of the lowest banking access rates.

There’s no local exchange you can trust. The few that claim to serve Algerians are either scams or frozen accounts waiting to happen. Even global platforms like Binance or Kraken block Algerian IPs. That’s why real users rely on P2P, VPNs, and burner wallets. They don’t care about flashy apps or high-yield staking. They care about getting dollars out of the country without paying 30% in fees to money changers.

What you won’t find in Algeria are mining rigs, DeFi apps, or NFT marketplaces. But you will find people using crypto to pay for online courses, buy medicine from abroad, or send remittances from France or Canada. The crypto here isn’t for speculation—it’s for practical, daily survival. The posts below show you exactly how others are doing it: the tools that work, the traps to avoid, and the real stories from people who’ve figured it out without breaking the law—or their bank account.