Crypto Laws in Algeria: What You Need to Know About Bitcoin and Digital Assets

When it comes to crypto laws in Algeria, a strict legal framework that prohibits all cryptocurrency transactions and services within the country. Also known as Algerian crypto ban, it’s one of the toughest in North Africa — no exchanges, no mining, no peer-to-peer trading are legally allowed. The ban isn’t just a suggestion; it’s backed by the Central Bank of Algeria and enforced with fines and jail time for violations.

This isn’t about fear of technology. It’s about control. Algeria’s government sees crypto as a threat to its state-controlled financial system and foreign currency reserves. Unlike countries that regulate crypto to protect users, Algeria wants to eliminate it entirely. But the ban hasn’t stopped people. Thousands still use P2P platforms, VPNs, and cash-based trades to buy Bitcoin and stablecoins. Some even use crypto to send money to family abroad, bypassing slow, expensive traditional remittances. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency Algeria, the informal market that thrives despite the ban. Also known as black market crypto, it operates in Telegram groups, local markets, and unregulated apps — with little to no oversight. The result? A parallel economy where digital assets move quietly but constantly.

There’s also a growing gap between official policy and real-world behavior. While the government warns that crypto is a scam, young Algerians with internet access are learning how to use wallets, track prices, and trade on decentralized platforms. Some even mine crypto using solar panels and cheap electricity — not because it’s profitable, but because it’s one of the few ways to store value outside the collapsing dinar. This tension between law and practice makes Algeria a unique case: a country that bans crypto but can’t stop its adoption. And as global trends shift toward digital money, the pressure on Algeria’s stance will only grow.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t guides on how to trade crypto in Algeria — because that’s illegal. Instead, you’ll see how similar bans in other countries have played out, what tools people use to get around restrictions, and why crypto keeps finding a way — even where it’s forbidden.