Is crypto legal in Albania? Rules & regulation (2026)
Crypto is regulated in Albania.
Crypto is legal in Albania and operates under a dedicated, in-force licensing regime (Law 66/2020) that covers token issuance (ICO/STO), DLT exchanges, agents, custody wallet providers and collective investment schemes. Supervision is split between the AMF and AKSHI, with the Bank of Albania licensing custodian wallet services; tax treatment is set by the 2023 Income Tax Law (15% capital gains). In 2026 Albania approved a draft 'On Crypto-Asset Markets' law to fully align its regime with the EU's MiCA regulation, which would replace Law 66/2020 once enacted.
Legal framework
Law No. 66/2020 'On Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology' (in force since Sept 2020), supervised jointly by the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (AMF/AFSA) and the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), with custody wallet providers additionally licensed by the Bank of Albania; a MiCA-aligned draft law 'On Crypto-Asset Markets' was approved by the Council of Ministers in 2026 and is pending adoption.
Status by sub-area
Stablecoins
PartialLaw 66/2020 regulates 'digital payment tokens' and 'virtual currencies' broadly but does not implement a dedicated stablecoin regime (no MiCA-style ART/EMT distinction, reserve-backing or redemption-rights framework); dedicated stablecoin rules only appear in the pending 2026 MiCA-aligned draft law.
Still pending: MiCA-aligned draft law (2026) implementing ART/EMT distinction, reserve-backing, redemption rights
Exchanges / VASP
In forceCrypto exchanges and VASPs are licensed under Law 66/2020 by the AMF jointly with AKSHI, with three license categories, capital/conduct obligations and AML duties aligned with FATF standards.
Token Offerings
In forceLaw 66/2020 regulates Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) and Security Token Offerings (STO), classifying issuances into digital service, payment, asset, and security tokens, each with its own disclosure and licensing requirements under AMF supervision.
Custody
In forceThird-party custodial wallet providers are a regulated activity: they must obtain a limited license from the Bank of Albania and comply with safeguarding duties for client cryptographic keys and tokens, in addition to AMF/AKSHI oversight.
DeFi
UnclearAlbania has no DeFi-specific framework; Law 66/2020 regulates licensed service providers (exchanges, agents, custodians) but is silent on decentralized protocols, DAOs and front-ends, and the pending MiCA-aligned draft inherits MiCA's limited DeFi scope.
Still pending: DeFi regulatory framework pending; MiCA-aligned draft also has limited DeFi scope
Tax
In forceCrypto is taxable property under Law 29/2023 'On Income Tax' (effective 1 January 2024): capital gains are taxed at a flat 15%, mining and staking are taxed as ordinary income (0–23% progressive), and businesses pay 15% corporate income tax; crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable events reported in the annual DIVA return.
Key points: crypto & digital assets in Albania
Primary law in force (Law 66/2020)
Law 66/2020 'On Financial Markets Based on DLT' contains 107 articles governing issuance, trading, custody and supervision of digital tokens and virtual currencies; it entered into force on 1 September 2020 and made Albania one of the first European countries with a dedicated crypto statute.
Dual-regulator supervision (AMF + AKSHI, BoA for custody)
The AMF (Financial Supervisory Authority) and AKSHI (National Agency for Information Society) jointly license and supervise DLT activities; third-party custodial wallet providers must additionally hold a limited license from the Bank of Albania.
Multi-category DLT exchange licensing
DLT exchanges are licensed in three categories: Category A (service/payment/asset tokens), Category B (fiat and virtual currencies together with those tokens), and Category C (digital security tokens); applications must be processed within 60 days.
MiCA-aligned draft law approved (2026)
In 2026 the Council of Ministers approved a draft law 'On Crypto-Asset Markets' prepared by the AMF; it would fully align Albania with the EU's MiCA regulation (2023) and replace Law 66/2020, covering issuance, trading platforms, custody, service-provider authorization, governance, cybersecurity and market-abuse rules — but it is not yet enacted.
Taxation under Law 29/2023
Under Law 29/2023 'On Income Tax' (effective 1 January 2024), capital gains from crypto are taxed at a flat 15%, mining/staking income is taxed as ordinary personal income (progressive 0–23%), and crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable events declared in the annual DIVA return.
Central-bank consumer warning posture
The Bank of Albania continues to warn the public that it has not licensed any entity to deal in virtual currencies and has flagged volatility, cyber-security, AML/CFT, and personal-data risks; it steers consumers toward products supervised by the BoA or AMF.
Timeline of decisions
- LawDraft MiCA-Aligned Crypto-Assets Law Circulated, Replacing 2020 DLT Framework
Albania's government circulated a draft law on crypto-asset markets fully modelled on the EU's MiCA Regulation, extending supervisory jurisdiction jointly to the Financial Supervisory Authority (AMF) and the Bank of Albania and adding white-paper disclosure, authorisation of crypto-service providers, and market-manipulation prohibitions. The law is designed to replace Law 66/2020, which predated MiCA.
Politiko.al
- LawAlbania Drafts MiCA-Aligned Crypto-Assets Law
Albania introduced a new draft law on crypto-assets modelled closely on the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), requiring AFSA and Bank of Albania co-supervision, white-paper disclosure obligations, and categorisation of asset-referenced and e-money tokens. The move signals Albania's intent to harmonise with EU financial standards ahead of potential accession.
OCNAL / Financial News Albania
- LawNew Income Tax Law Subjects Crypto Gains to 15% Capital Gains Tax
Albania's revised income tax law entered into force, making capital gains from virtual-asset disposals taxable at a flat 15% for individuals; mining and staking income is treated as business or personal income (0-23%). This was the first explicit tax treatment of crypto in Albanian law.
KPMG Albania
- DecisionAFSA Approves Full DLT Exchange Licensing Regime
The Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority approved a comprehensive licensing framework for DLT exchanges, the first such regime in the Western Balkans, establishing three licence categories covering digital-token-only exchanges, fiat/virtual-currency exchanges, and digital-securities exchanges. Five distinct licence types in total were formalised (DLT Exchange, Digital Token Agent, Third-Party Custodian Wallet, Innovative Service Provider, Automated Collective Investment).
Exit.al
- GuidanceAFSA Adopts First Two Implementing Bylaws Under Law 66/2020
The AFSA Board approved two subordinate regulations: one on capital adequacy and own funds for DLT-market entities, and one establishing detailed licensing rules and procedures for digital token agents. These were the first operative bylaws giving practical effect to the 2020 framework.
Invest in Albania (ABIA)
- Law · officialLaw No. 66/2020 on Financial Markets Based on DLT Enters into Force
Albania's landmark DLT law became operative, creating binding licensing obligations for crypto exchanges, custodian wallets, and token issuers, supervised by AFSA and the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI). It made Albania one of the first three European countries (after Malta and France) with a comprehensive crypto-legal framework.
AFSA (Autoriteti i Mbikëqyrjes Financiare)
- LawParliament Passes Law No. 66/2020 on Financial Markets Based on DLT
Albania's parliament approved the 'On Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology' law by 88 votes to 16, legalising cryptocurrency activities and establishing a licensing-and-supervision regime. Introduced by the Minister of Finance and Economy, it was hailed as one of the most comprehensive crypto laws in Europe at the time.
CoinTelegraph
- Decision · officialFATF Places Albania on Grey List for AML/CFT Deficiencies
FATF added Albania to its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, citing strategic weaknesses in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime, including inadequate oversight of virtual-asset service providers. This increased international scrutiny on Albania's nascent crypto sector.
FATF
- LawDLT Financial Markets Draft Law Submitted to Economy Committee
The Ministry of Finance and Economy submitted the draft 'On Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology' law to the parliamentary Committee of Economy for review, formally beginning the legislative process that would culminate in the May 2020 vote.
Kalo & Associates (Law Firm)
- GuidanceAlbania Signals Intent to Develop Crypto Regulatory Framework
Reversing its earlier purely cautionary stance, Albanian authorities announced plans to explore a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with the government acknowledging the sector's economic potential and signalling a shift toward supervised legalisation rather than restriction.
NewsBTC
- GuidanceBank of Albania Issues First Official Warning on Virtual Currency Risks
In a notice titled 'On the Risks Associated with the Use of Virtual Currency', the Bank of Albania warned citizens that digital currencies like Bitcoin operated outside the supervision of Albanian banking authorities, that no entities were licensed to offer crypto services, and that participants bore full individual risk. This established the pre-legislation baseline: crypto was unregulated, not banned.
CCN (citing Bank of Albania notice)
Sources
- amf.gov.al/pdf/ligje/LawNo_66_2020ONFINANCIALMARKETSBASEDONDISTRIBUTEDLEDGERTECH
- ocnal.com/2026/10/albania-crypto-assets-law-eu-mica-rules.html
- ocnal.com/2026/03/albania-crypto-law-2026-mica-regulation-impact-albanians.html
- mondaq.com/commoditiesderivativesstock-exchanges/1111442/legal-and-regulatory-fr
- mondaq.com/commoditiesderivativesstock-exchanges/1111014/the-dlt-stock-exchange
- kalo-attorneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/newsletter-15-New-Law-on-Financial-Markets
- shuftipro.com/news/albanian-financial-supervision-authority-approves-crypto-licensi
- bankofalbania.org/Press/On_the_risks_associated_with_the_use_of_virtual_currency.html
- sherbimekontabiliteti.al/en/cryptocurrency-tax-albania/
- taxatlas.io/country/albania
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