Is crypto legal in DR Congo? Rules & regulation (2026)
Crypto is developing in DR Congo.
The DRC has no enacted crypto-specific legislation; the BCC has issued public notices declaring that bitcoin and virtual currencies are not recognised as a medium of exchange and warning consumers of associated risks, but no criminal statute explicitly prohibiting mere possession has been identified. The government was actively drafting a DASP licensing framework in 2025, and a 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 was reported as a proposed fiscal measure. The DRC remained on the FATF increased-monitoring (grey) list as of October 2025, reflecting strategic AML/CFT deficiencies.
Legal framework
No enacted crypto-specific law; Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) is primary monetary regulator; Code du Numérique (Ordonnance-Loi No. 23/010, 13 March 2023) covers digital transactions broadly; draft Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) law under inter-ministerial review as of 2025; AML/CFT overseen by CENAREF under Law No. 22/068 (December 2022)
Status by sub-area
Stablecoins
NoneNo stablecoin-specific legal framework exists. Government discussion of a CDF-pegged stablecoin on the TON blockchain has been reported, but the BCC has not published any regulatory text on stablecoin issuance, reserve backing, or redemption.
Still pending: Stablecoin regulatory framework (issuance, reserve backing, redemption) not established
Exchanges / VASP
ProposedNo VASP or crypto-exchange licensing regime is currently in force. The draft 2025 Digital Asset Law would introduce BCC-issued DASP licences covering capital, conduct, and local-presence requirements, but the law had not been enacted as of mid-2026.
Still pending: Draft 2025 Digital Asset Law (DASP licensing) not yet enacted
Token Offerings
NoneThe DRC has no specific legal framework for ICOs, STOs, or token sales. No securities regulator has issued guidance classifying tokens as securities or imposing prospectus or investor-protection requirements on token issuers.
Still pending: ICO/STO regulatory framework and securities classification guidance needed
Custody
ProposedNo crypto custody rules are currently in force. The draft 2025 Digital Asset Law was reported to include on-shore custody requirements for client digital assets, but no enacted text, segregation rules, or proof-of-reserves obligations exist.
Still pending: Draft 2025 Digital Asset Law custody requirements (on-shore) not yet enacted
DeFi
NoneThe DRC has enacted no regulatory framework addressing decentralised finance. DeFi protocols, liquidity pools, and DAOs are not mentioned in any enacted legislation or official BCC guidance; enforcement posture is unknown.
Still pending: DeFi regulatory framework (protocols, liquidity pools, DAOs) not established
Tax
PartialNo comprehensive enacted crypto tax legislation exists. General corporate income tax (30%) and progressive personal income tax (up to 40%) apply in principle to crypto gains under existing law. A 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 was reported as a 2025 proposed measure but could not be verified against an official gazette. No VAT on crypto transactions has been identified.
Still pending: Comprehensive crypto tax legislation and verification of 5% withholding proposal
Key points: crypto & digital assets in DR Congo
BCC position, not legal tender
The Banque Centrale du Congo issued an official public notice (avis au public) stating that bitcoin and virtual currencies are not recognised as a medium of exchange in the DRC and warning the public of significant financial and cybercrime risks; crypto is not officially sanctioned but no enacted statute criminalises possession.
Code du Numérique (2023)
Ordonnance-Loi No. 23/010 of 13 March 2023 established a Digital Code governing electronic transactions, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and data protection, but does not create a crypto-asset licensing or classification regime.
Draft Digital Asset Law (2025)
A draft law to create a DASP licensing regime was reported to be under inter-ministerial review in 2025; it would introduce BCC-issued licences for exchanges and token issuers, on-shore custody requirements, and a transaction levy; enactment had not been confirmed as of mid-2026.
FATF grey-list status
The DRC is under FATF increased monitoring (grey list) as of October 2025, reflecting strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing; the country works through its FATF-style regional body GABAC to address action-plan items.
AML/CFT expansion to fintechs (2022)
Law No. 22/068 of December 2022 broadened AML/CFT obligations to include fintechs and other designated non-financial businesses, banning anonymous accounts and strengthening PEP checks, with compliance overseen by CENAREF.
Proposed 5% crypto withholding tax
Secondary sources report a proposed 5% withholding tax on crypto-to-fiat conversions at or above USD 5,000 as part of 2025 fiscal measures; this measure could not be independently confirmed against an official gazette or Ministry of Finance publication and should be treated as unverified.
Sources
- bcc.cd/sites/default/files/annonces/avis_public_11.pdf
- bcc.cd/
- dig.watch/resource/democratic-republic-of-the-congos-digital-code
- fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/detail/Democratic-Republic-of-Congo.html
- fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/High-risk-and-other-monitored-jurisdictions/increased
- fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/Mer-drc-2021.html
- fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/democratic-republic-of-congo-progre
- coinfomania.com/cryptocurrency-regulation-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc
- coinfomania.com/crypto-taxation-in-congo-drc/
- taxsummaries.pwc.com/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/corporate/income-determination
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026