Morocco has one of the most active crypto communities in Africa and one of its strictest legal positions. If you live in Morocco and want to know whether bitcoin is legal in Morocco, here is where the law stands as of October 2026, what is about to change and how to protect yourself in the meantime.
This guide explains the legal landscape. It is not legal advice and does not encourage anyone to break the law.
Is bitcoin legal in Morocco? The short answer
Crypto is not authorized in Morocco today. In November 2017, Moroccan authorities, including the Office des Changes (the foreign-exchange office), Bank Al-Maghrib and the capital market authority, warned that transactions in virtual currencies breach the country’s foreign-exchange rules and carry legal risk. That remains the official position.
>Bank Al-Maghrib’s own page on virtual currencies still describes crypto as unregulated and lists the risks: no consumer protection, no legal recourse if a platform fails, extreme volatility, potential use in money laundering, and “non-compliance with the regulations in force, in particular those relating to capital markets and foreign exchange legislation.”
What is changing: Draft Bill 42.25
Morocco is moving from prohibition toward regulation. Draft Bill No. 42.25 on crypto-assets was published in November 2025, prepared jointly by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Bank Al-Maghrib and the AMMC (the capital markets authority), according to >Morocco World News.
Key points of the draft:
- Licensing: crypto firms would need prior approval and must meet capital, risk-control and governance standards.
- Supervision: shared between the AMMC and Bank Al-Maghrib. Bank Al-Maghrib would oversee stablecoins, checking that reserves are robust and redemption is transparent.
- Scope: covers crypto-assets including tokenized securities and stablecoins. It excludes central bank digital currencies, NFTs and crypto mining.
- Model: closely follows the EU’s MiCA regulation and recommendations from the IMF, the BIS and the FATF.
Regulators are also preparing to enforce it. In December 2025, the AMMC held a training seminar with the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis on on-chain monitoring.
What is still unclear
Timing. In July 2026, Bank Al-Maghrib’s annual banking supervision report confirmed that work on the law continues, but gave no date for submission to parliament. Other reporting, including >Industrie du Maroc, describes the bill as still under inter-institutional review. Until it is passed and providers are licensed, the 2017 position applies.
How many Moroccans use crypto?
Industry estimates put the number at around six million, roughly 16% of the population. Morocco World News points out that this comes from private-sector analysis rather than an official count, so treat it as indicative. Either way, much of this activity happens through peer-to-peer channels with no legal protection.
How to protect yourself today
Whatever you decide, these steps reduce risk:
- Learn before you act. Understand what bitcoin is, how wallets work and how volatile prices are. Bitcoin traded at $82,872 at 15:25 UTC on Oct. 9, per CoinGecko, down about 4% in a week.
- Watch for scams. In an unregulated market, fake “investment platforms,” Telegram “signals” groups and P2P fraud are common. Read our guide to spotting crypto scams.
- Understand self-custody. If you hold crypto, the safest model is usually a wallet where you control the keys. See our self-custody wallet setup guide.
- Keep records. When regulation arrives, past activity may need to be explained, as Greece’s new draft tax law with its amnesty window shows (our report).
- Wait for licensed providers if you want legal protection. Once Bill 42.25 is in force, licensed firms should offer an approved route.
CryptoVank’s take
On whether bitcoin is legal in Morocco, the country is following a familiar path: prohibition, a large unofficial market, then regulation modeled on MiCA. The draft bill is a serious piece of work, and supervising stablecoins through the central bank is a sensible design. The main gap is the lack of a timetable. For Moroccan readers, the honest advice is that the law hasn’t caught up with reality yet, so caution and good records matter more than speed.
We will update this guide when Bill 42.25 goes to parliament.
Bitcoin legal in Morocco FAQ
Is it illegal to own bitcoin in Morocco?
Moroccan authorities have treated crypto transactions as a breach of foreign-exchange rules since 2017. No licensed framework exists yet, so there is no legal protection.
What is Bill 42.25?
Morocco’s draft crypto-assets law, published in November 2025. It would create licensing and supervision by the AMMC and Bank Al-Maghrib.
When will crypto be legal in Morocco?
No date has been announced. As of mid-2026, the bill was still under review and had not been sent to parliament.
Does the draft law cover mining or NFTs?
No. It excludes crypto mining, NFTs and central bank digital currencies.
Sources
- >Bank Al-Maghrib: Virtual currency
- >Morocco World News: BAM Confirms Progress on Crypto Law (July 22, 2026)
- >Industrie du Maroc: Cryptocurrencies in Morocco
- >CoinGecko market data, Oct. 9, 2026, 15:25 UTC
This article is for information only and is not legal or financial advice.
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