Is crypto legal in Tunisia?

Crypto is not legal in a practical sense in Tunisia. As of October 2026, no Tunisian law authorizes buying, holding or trading crypto, and the country still relies on foreign exchange legislation dating from 1976. That gap has been used to prosecute crypto users, although no specific statute bans crypto by name.

Is there a crypto ban in Tunisia?

There is no dedicated crypto ban, but there is no permission either. In May 2021 a young engineering student was arrested for holding and using cryptocurrency and charged under the foreign exchange code. Business News reported that a Tunis court dismissed the case in December 2021. The outlet described crypto use as not explicitly prohibited, yet unauthorized because the law does not address it. Because buying crypto usually involves moving money abroad, it runs into the strict currency rules. For how other North African countries handle this, see is crypto legal in Algeria and is crypto legal in Morocco.

What has the Central Bank of Tunisia said about crypto?

In May 2021, central bank governor Marouane Abassi acknowledged that Tunisia had no crypto law. He pointed to the central bank's regulatory sandbox for fintech startups and warned of a major money laundering risk from cryptocurrencies. The central bank has not issued a framework that licenses crypto exchanges or lets residents hold crypto.

Will Tunisia legalize crypto?

Reform has been discussed for years. In March 2024 the finance minister described a draft foreign exchange code that would let Tunisians hold and trade crypto, subject to prior authorization from the Central Bank of Tunisia and a financial threshold to be set later. That draft did not become law, and in February 2026 the head of parliament's finance committee said Tunisia still applies its 1976 exchange legislation.

In parliament, a bill for a new foreign exchange code was filed in October 2025. La Presse reported that the Assembly's finance committee began examining it on February 23, 2026, and that the bill touches on digital platforms and virtual currencies, without published detail. Business News reported further committee hearings on June 1, 2026. As of October 2026, the bill was still pending at committee stage, and Cryptoweek could not confirm a plenary vote. For the wider picture, see crypto regulation around the world.

Is bitcoin legal tender in Tunisia?

No. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no official status in Tunisia, and the 2024 draft would only have allowed crypto to be held under central bank authorization, not used as legal money.

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