Is crypto legal in Lebanon?

Crypto is not illegal for individuals in Lebanon, but it is unregulated and cut off from the formal financial system. The central bank and the markets regulator both bar the firms they license from touching it. Anyone who buys crypto in Lebanon does so without regulatory protection.

Is bitcoin legal in Lebanon?

Owning bitcoin is not a crime, but bitcoin has no status as money. Banque du Liban (BdL) defines virtual assets as digital representations of value that are not issued by a central bank or a public authority, which places them outside the Lebanese pound and the official payment system.

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has taken the same view for years. In Announcement 30, published in the Official Gazette on February 12, 2018, it prohibited licensed financial institutions from issuing, marketing or trading cryptocurrencies, and cautioned the public against buying them, Byblos Bank reported. The CMA repeated that warning in November 2021, saying crypto activity is not covered by any legislation.

Is crypto illegal in Lebanon for banks and payment apps?

Yes. On January 9, 2026 BdL issued Basic Decision 13790, a new framework for electronic payment services providers, which covers e-money, transfers and payment apps. Article 17 bars these providers from issuing, dealing in or facilitating dealings in virtual assets unless BdL regulations allow it, and lists trading in virtual assets as a prohibited activity. Providers must also check that their agents do not trade crypto.

The same day, BdL replaced Basic Circular No. 69 for banks and financial institutions. Its Article 10 prohibits them from issuing, dealing in or facilitating virtual assets in any way, unless BdL authorizes it.

Can you buy crypto in Lebanon?

You cannot buy it through a Lebanese bank or licensed payment provider. People can still use foreign platforms or trade peer to peer between wallets. OMFIF noted in July 2026 that BdL's circulars govern supervised institutions and do not generally ban individuals from holding or transferring stablecoins. It also noted that no stablecoin-specific authorization rules had been published. For how these tokens work, see what is a stablecoin.

What does Lebanon crypto regulation look like next?

There is no dedicated crypto law yet. Lebanon remained under increased FATF monitoring as of June 2026, OMFIF reported, which keeps anti-money-laundering pressure on any future framework. For comparison, 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.