In a highly controversial move that has sparked a wave of questions and criticism, the Algerian government has officially criminalized all activities related to cryptocurrencies, including trading, mining, holding, or even promoting them. This decision, enacted under Finance Law No. 25‑10 of July 24, 2025, effectively shuts the door on any form of crypto activity within the country.
🚨 Crypto: “A Threat to Financial Stability” or to the System Itself?
According to the law’s wording, cryptocurrency activity is labeled “illegal” and deemed a “threat to the stability of the national financial system.” Authorities claim these measures are necessary to protect the economy.
But critics argue this justification is a smokescreen — a way to suppress innovation and control a tech-savvy younger generation seeking financial freedom beyond the limits of outdated bureaucracy.
> “In most countries, programmers and investors are rewarded. In Algeria, they’re punished for having ambition.”
– A viral social media comment after the law passed.
⚖️ The Penalties: From Jail Time to Million-Dinar Fines:
The new law imposes penalties of 2 to 12 months in prison, and fines ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 Algerian dinars (~$1,500 to $7,700 USD), targeting anyone involved in:
Buying or selling crypto
Holding or using digital assets
Mining or operating wallets
Promoting crypto online
Using platforms like Binance, OKX, or any peer-to-peer crypto service
For large-scale or organized crypto operations, penalties may be doubled.
📉 A Digital Freeze in the Age of the Digital Revolution
Ironically, this legal crackdown comes at a time when cryptocurrencies are being regulated and embraced around the world — from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to the U.S. and Nigeria. Some countries are even launching central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
But in Algeria, lawmakers have opted for prohibition over regulation, control over innovation. Rather than protecting users through a legal framework, they’ve chosen to treat all crypto-related activity as criminal.
🤐 The Black Market Thrives in Silence
Despite the official ban, Algeria’s crypto black market remains active, especially via P2P platforms and anonymous payment methods like postal transfers.
Some users have become more cautious, using fake reasons for transfers to avoid scrutiny, but the law has not stopped crypto — it has merely pushed it further underground, outside any form of protection or oversight.
🧠 Are We Fighting Technology, or Just Ignorance?
While the government proudly promotes digital transformation and entrepreneurship, it’s simultaneously fighting one of the core pillars of the digital economy.
Crypto is no longer a "trend" or a "cyber threat" — it’s a global financial reality. And with every law that bans instead of regulates, Algeria distances itself further from the future.
> “Nations don’t rise by criminalizing technology... but by educating and regulating it.”
– Algerian digital economist
❗️The Bottom Line: A Law That Sparks More Questions Than It Answers
At a time when thousands of young Algerians are hungry for financial and technological progress, this law feels like a step backward — a move that cuts off one of the few lifelines left for innovation and self-reliance.
Is Algeria truly protecting its economy?
Or is it criminalizing what it doesn’t understand?
Will this law bring financial safety?
Or digital isolation?
The questions are multiplying… and the answers remain elusive.
