Is crypto legal in Serbia?

Crypto is legal in Serbia as of October 2026. Serbia was one of the first European countries to pass a dedicated law, the Law on Digital Assets, which lets people own, buy and sell crypto while requiring the businesses that serve them to hold a licence. The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) is clear, though, that crypto is not legal tender.

Is bitcoin legal in Serbia?

Yes. The Law on Digital Assets was published in Official Gazette No. 153/2020, came into force on December 29, 2020 and has applied since June 2021. It covers virtual currencies such as bitcoin, digital tokens and stable digital assets.

Supervision is split. The NBS handles virtual currencies, while the Securities Commission handles digital tokens, according to a summary by Scorechain. Where an asset has features of both, both authorities can be involved.

The NBS says virtual currency is not issued or guaranteed by a central bank and does not have the legal status of money or currency. In March 2024 it told N1 that crypto was not accepted as payment for goods and services in Serbia, partly because no licensed provider then held the separate permit needed to offer payment services. The NBS has also repeatedly warned about the risk of losses and fraud.

Is crypto mining legal in Serbia?

Mining is permitted, but the Law on Digital Assets does not regulate it. The law firm Karanovic & Partners explains that mining itself falls outside the law, while selling or otherwise disposing of mined coins is covered. CoinDesk similarly reported that miners acquiring assets through mining were excluded from the law's scope. Mining income can still have tax consequences, which are a separate question from legality. See is crypto mining legal for how other countries treat it.

How to buy bitcoin in Serbia?

The law requires any company providing digital asset services, such as exchange or custody, to be licensed. Offering virtual currency services without an NBS licence is prohibited and is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, the NBS says.

The NBS keeps a public register of licensed virtual currency service providers. When checked in October 2026, it listed one licensed firm, authorised to buy and sell virtual currencies for cash or money, to exchange them and to provide custody. People can check the register before using a service, and the NBS accepts reports of suspected unlicensed providers.

Legal entities and entrepreneurs that acquire crypto without going through an NBS-licensed provider must record their holdings in the NBS register of virtual currency holders. Banks and other NBS-supervised financial institutions remain barred from most digital asset activities, CoinDesk reported.

For how exchanges work generally, see what is a crypto exchange. To compare Serbia with its neighbours, read crypto regulation around the world.

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