Is crypto legal in Bolivia?

Crypto is legal in Bolivia as of October 2026. For several years it was not: the central bank blocked crypto transactions until mid 2024. Today you can buy and hold crypto, and banks may process payments for it, but the rules are still being built.

Is bitcoin banned in Bolivia?

Not anymore. On June 25, 2024, the Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB) issued Resolución de Directorio 082/2024. It revoked Resolution 144/2020, which had restricted virtual asset transactions, and allowed electronic payment instruments such as cards and transfers to be used to buy and sell crypto. The BCB acted together with the financial supervisor ASFI and the financial intelligence unit UIF.

This is a real change from the past. A 2021 Library of Congress survey listed Bolivia among countries with an implicit ban on crypto, Decrypt reported. That description no longer fits.

Is bitcoin allowed as money in Bolivia?

Bitcoin is allowed, but it is not legal tender. When it lifted the restriction, the BCB stated that the boliviano is the legal currency, that crypto operations are entirely the user's responsibility, and that nobody is obliged to accept crypto as payment.

Use has grown fast. In November 2024 the BCB said purchases and sales of virtual assets had risen 112% since the change and that more than 252,000 people in Bolivia held them. In June 2025 it said that crypto volume on Binance alone rose from US$46.5 million in the first half of 2024 to US$294 million in the first half of 2025.

Is crypto illegal in Bolivia for businesses?

Businesses face new licensing rules rather than a ban. Supreme Decree 5384 of May 7, 2025 defines virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (PSAVs) and puts ASFI in charge of licensing financial technology firms. ASFI Resolution 540/2025 then required fintech firms and PSAVs to apply for authorization by December 31, 2025, CriptoNoticias reported.

Policy is still moving. In November 2025 the new government's economy minister said stablecoins would be brought into the banking system, CriptoNoticias reported. In a September 2026 memorandum to the IMF, Bolivia committed to build a regulatory and supervisory framework for virtual assets, with no deadline set. For background on these tokens, see what is a stablecoin.

To compare Bolivia with other countries, read is cryptocurrency legal and crypto regulation around the world.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the regulator or a qualified professional for your own situation.