Is crypto legal in Iraq?

Crypto is effectively illegal to trade in Iraq. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) treats crypto trading through unauthorized platforms as prohibited, has licensed no crypto business, and blocks the payment routes people would use to buy it. As of October 2026 there is still no law that regulates or protects crypto users.

Is bitcoin legal in Iraq?

No. On November 11, 2021 the CBI warned against using cryptocurrencies, saying Iraq has no legislation or regulatory framework for them, that it does not guarantee them, and that it has licensed none. On March 30, 2022 it went further and banned the use of electronic cards and e-wallets to speculate in or trade any digital currency. It tied this to the customer checks required by Iraq's anti-money-laundering law, Law No. 39 of 2015. Bitcoin is not legal tender.

Is crypto illegal in Iraq in 2026?

Yes, and nothing has changed in its favour. In November 2021 a Library of Congress survey listed Iraq among nine jurisdictions with an absolute ban on crypto, alongside China, Egypt and others, Decrypt reported. Recent statements keep that line. In August 2026 the CBI said forex and crypto trading through unauthorized platforms is prohibited, Channel8 reported.

The Kurdistan Region follows the same approach. In 2025 the regional government set up a committee to close crypto and foreign exchange companies after a scam in Duhok, AGBI reported. In May 2026 the KRG Interior Ministry called crypto trading illegal and said offices posing as crypto companies would be closed and referred to the courts.

Can I buy bitcoin in Iraq?

Not through any licensed channel, because none exists. The CBI says it does not license companies that trade crypto and warns about fake firms claiming its approval. Some people still trade peer to peer or on foreign platforms, but they have little legal protection if funds are lost or stolen.

Is crypto mining legal in Iraq?

Iraq has no law that permits mining, and the authorities treat it as part of the crackdown. Shafaq News reported a National Security Agency operation in five provinces, including Baghdad, that seized more than 300 bitcoin mining devices from networks linked to money laundering. For how mining rules differ elsewhere, see is crypto mining legal.

To compare Iraq 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.