Is crypto legal in Congo? Rules & regulation (2026)

Legal framework

Democratic Republic of Congo: Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC); Ordonnance-Loi No. 23/010 of 13 March 2023 (Digital Code); draft Digital-Asset Law (2025, under inter-ministerial review). Republic of Congo (Brazzaville): CEMAC zone, COBAC Decision D-2022/071 of 6 May 2022; BEAC monetary authority.

Status by sub-area

• Stablecoins

  Proposed

  No stablecoin-specific rules are in force in either Congo. The DRC government engaged in preliminary discussions about a CDF-pegged stablecoin on the TON blockchain. BEAC (CEMAC) has expressed preference for a 1:1 CFA-pegged stablecoin but has issued no enabling regulation.

  Still pending: BEAC enabling regulation for CFA-pegged stablecoin still pending

• Exchanges / VASP

  Partial

  In the DRC, no exchange or VASP has been licensed; the BCC tolerates personal trading at user's risk and bans only unauthorized/fraudulent operators. In Congo-Brazzaville, COBAC Decision D-2022/071 prohibits regulated financial institutions from facilitating any crypto exchange.

  Still pending: DRC formal VASP/exchange licensing framework not yet established

• Token Offerings

  None

  Neither the DRC nor the Republic of Congo has enacted any framework governing ICOs, STOs, or token sales. No prospectus, disclosure, or licensing requirement for token issuers exists; the draft DRC Digital-Asset Law would introduce the first such regime.

  Still pending: DRC Digital-Asset Law (draft) to establish ICO/STO/token-offering framework

• Custody

  None

  No qualified-custodian, asset-segregation, proof-of-reserves, or insurance requirements for crypto custody exist in either Congo. This area is entirely unlegislated.

  Still pending: Custody framework (asset-segregation, proof-of-reserves, insurance) unlegislated

• DeFi

  Unclear

  No regulator in either Congo has issued guidance on DeFi protocols, DAOs, or decentralized exchanges. No public enforcement actions against DeFi have been reported.

  Still pending: DeFi/DAO regulatory guidance and protocol treatment not addressed

• Tax

  Partial

  The DRC announced a 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 in 2025; broader crypto capital-gains and reporting legislation is being drafted by the Ministry of Finance. The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) has no specific crypto tax rules; general income-tax principles apply.

  Still pending: DRC broader crypto capital-gains and reporting rules in draft phase

Key points: crypto & digital assets in Congo

1. 01BCC official warning and unauthorized-operator ban (DRC)

   The Banque Centrale du Congo has issued official public notices (Avis au Public) banning specific unauthorized crypto schemes and warning of cybercrime and money-laundering risks. Personal acquisition and trading are tolerated at the user's own risk, but no local exchange has been licensed.

   bcc.cd bcc.cd

2. 02Digital Code 2023 (DRC)

   Ordonnance-Loi No. 23/010 of 13 March 2023 established a legal framework for digital services, cybersecurity, electronic transactions, and data protection, but does not specifically regulate crypto-assets, exchanges, or token offerings.

   refworld.org dig.watch

3. 03Draft Digital-Asset Law (DRC, 2025)

   A draft Digital-Asset Law was placed under inter-ministerial review in 2025, proposing a DASP (Digital-Asset Service Provider) licensing regime for exchanges and token issuers, a regulatory sandbox administered by the Ministry of Digital Economy, and on-shore custody requirements.

   coinfomania.com cryptopolitan.com

4. 04COBAC Decision D-2022/071, banking prohibition (Republic of Congo, Brazzaville)

   On 6 May 2022, COBAC issued Decision D-2022/071 prohibiting all COBAC-supervised institutions (banks, microfinance institutions, payment service providers) in the six CEMAC states, including Congo-Brazzaville, from acquiring, holding, exchanging, converting, or settling in any cryptocurrency on their own or clients' behalf.

   4mlegaltax.com legalnetworkinternational.com freemanlaw.com

5. 05Crypto withholding tax (DRC, 2025)

   The DRC announced a 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions of USD 5,000 or more. The Ministry of Finance is developing broader rules covering capital gains, staking income, and exchange-reporting obligations.

   ainvest.com coinfomania.com

6. 06CENAREF AML obligations and monthly COBAC reporting

   In the DRC, CENAREF (the Financial Intelligence Unit) requires suspicious transaction reports for crypto-linked activity above CDF 5 million. In Congo-Brazzaville, COBAC Decision D-2022/071 mandates monthly detailed reports on any detected crypto transactions even where direct facilitation is banned.

   blog.voveid.com 4mlegaltax.com

Sources

1. 1.bcc.cd/sites/default/files/annonces/avis_public_11.pdf
2. 2.bcc.cd/media/annonces/avis-au-public
3. 3.refworld.org/legal/natleginstr/natlegbod/2023/fr/150225
4. 4.dig.watch/resource/democratic-republic-of-the-congos-digital-code
5. 5.4mlegaltax.com/regulation-of-cryptocurrency-in-the-cemac/
6. 6.legalnetworkinternational.com/regulating-virtual-asset-services-in-the-cemac-zone-a-look-at-the-upd
7. 7.freemanlaw.com/cryptocurrency/central-african-states/
8. 8.coinfomania.com/cryptocurrency-regulation-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc
9. 9.ainvest.com/news/drc-embraces-crypto-5-tax-gains-usd-5-000-2506/
10. 10.cryptopolitan.com/crypto-regulations-in-congo-is-pivotal/
11. 11.coinfomania.com/crypto-taxation-in-congo-drc/
12. 12.blog.voveid.com/aml-compliance-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-2025-guide-for-fin