Is crypto legal in Cambodia?

Crypto is legal in Cambodia when it goes through licensed providers, as of October 2026. For years a 2018 joint statement by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the securities regulator and the national police barred unlicensed crypto activity. Since late 2024 regulators have replaced that stance with a permission-based system.

What is Cambodia's crypto regulation?

Three pieces now make up Cambodia crypto regulation:

1. NBC Prakas, December 26, 2024. This central bank regulation lets supervised banks and payment institutions offer crypto services with prior NBC approval, according to law firm DFDL. It splits crypto into Group 1, meaning tokenized securities and asset-backed stablecoins, and Group 2, unbacked assets such as bitcoin. Banks may deal only in Group 1, with exposure caps of 5% of core capital for tokenized securities and 3% for stablecoins.
2. Prakas 093, December 30, 2025. Issued by the Non-Bank Financial Services Authority, it treats digital assets as a type of security for investment purposes. Firms must hold a license from the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC).
3. Joint statement, September 23, 2026. The NBC and SERC set out a shared framework for virtual asset service providers, BowerGroupAsia reported. It covers firms operating from Cambodia and those offering services to people in Cambodia from abroad.

Is crypto trading legal in Cambodia?

Trading is permitted through SERC-licensed digital asset service providers. DFDL says licensable activities include running trading platforms, brokerage, custody wallets, lending and asset management. Requirements include:

• a company incorporated in Cambodia, with tax registration
• passing tests in the SERC's Digital Securities Sandbox
• minimum capital of about $10 million for trading, or about $1 million for wallet services
• an initial license of two years, renewable for three

Licensed firms become reporting entities under anti-money-laundering rules. The September 2026 statement says pure infrastructure, such as hosting or transaction validation, is outside its scope unless the provider also serves customers directly.

Is bitcoin legal in Cambodia?

Bitcoin falls within the definition of digital assets in Prakas 093, according to Rajah & Tann. The NBC's bank rules place unbacked assets like bitcoin in Group 2, which banks may not deal in. The rules are aimed at businesses. The sources reviewed do not describe a ban on individuals holding bitcoin, though unlicensed providers are not allowed to operate.

Crypto is not legal tender, and the 2026 joint statement says it is not guaranteed by the government or central bank. Prakas 093 also excludes using digital assets as a means of payment in Cambodia.

What comes next?

Prime Minister Hun Manet set up a working group on July 8, 2026 to draft a Law on the Management of Virtual Assets and Digital Assets, Disruption Banking reported, with approval targeted by the end of 2026. Neighboring approaches are covered in is crypto legal in Vietnam? and crypto regulation around the world.

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