Is crypto legal in Morocco?

Crypto is not legal to use in Morocco under current rules. Since 2017, the authorities have said that crypto transactions break the country's foreign exchange regulations. A draft law that would license and supervise crypto businesses has been written, but as of October 2026 it had not been passed.

What was Morocco's crypto ban of 2017?

In November 2017 the Office des Changes, Morocco's foreign exchange authority, said crypto transactions in the country are an infringement of exchange regulations. It reminded the public that international payments must go through authorized intermediaries and use only currencies listed by Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank. It said violations are punishable under existing laws, CoinDesk reported.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance and Bank Al-Maghrib joined the warning. According to Hespress, the statement described crypto transactions as illegal and pointed to risks of fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing.

Is bitcoin legal in Morocco today?

The 2017 position has not been replaced. Morocco World News, reporting on Bank Al-Maghrib's banking supervision report in July 2026, described the 2017 measures as a ban on owning and trading crypto, enforced by the central bank, the capital markets authority (AMMC), the Office des Changes and the finance ministry.

Use continued anyway. The same report cited an industry estimate, not an official count, of about six million Moroccan crypto holders. Hespress reports that in early 2025 authorities investigated people who had used crypto to get around rules on buying property abroad. Informal trading carries extra risk, because buyers have little protection if a platform fails or turns out to be fake, as described in how to spot a fake crypto exchange.

What is Morocco's crypto law, Bill 42.25?

In November 2024 the central bank's governor said a draft crypto law had been prepared with World Bank support. The Ministry of Economy and Finance published the draft, Bill 42.25, in late 2025. Morocco World News says it closely resembles the EU's MiCA regulation. Its main points:

• Licensing. Crypto service providers would need prior approval and must meet capital, risk-control and governance standards.
• Shared oversight. The AMMC and Bank Al-Maghrib would supervise the sector, with the central bank covering stablecoins tied to an official currency.
• No payment role. The bill does not make crypto a legal means of payment, and it aims to stop crypto from replacing the dirham.
• Exclusions. Central bank digital currencies, NFTs and mining fall outside it.

What is the status of the Morocco crypto law?

In April 2026 the government said the draft was under review by its general secretariat. In July 2026 Bank Al-Maghrib said it had been working since 2025 to finalize the text but gave no date for submission to parliament. Until a law is adopted and in force, the 2017 rules apply. For how other countries handle the same choice between a ban and a license, see how crypto is regulated around the world.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check Bank Al-Maghrib, the Office des Changes or a qualified professional for your own situation.