Cryptocurrency Policy in Tunisia

When it comes to cryptocurrency policy in Tunisia, the legal framework around digital assets is strict, unclear, and often enforced inconsistently. Also known as Tunisian crypto regulation, it bans financial institutions from handling crypto transactions while leaving individuals in a legal gray zone—technically illegal to use, but rarely prosecuted for personal holdings. Unlike countries that outright ban Bitcoin or fully embrace it, Tunisia sits in the middle: no official recognition, no licensed exchanges, and no tax guidance—just silence from regulators that leaves users on their own.

This ambiguity affects everything from daily trading to cross-border transfers. People in Tunisia use crypto not for speculation, but to protect savings from inflation and bypass banking restrictions. Many rely on peer-to-peer platforms like LocalBitcoins or P2P sections of global exchanges to buy USDT with cash or mobile money. Yet, because the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) explicitly forbids banks from processing crypto-related payments, users face real risks: frozen accounts, denied services, or even harassment from authorities if flagged. The lack of clear rules means there’s no legal recourse if you get scammed, and no official way to report fraud.

Related to this are crypto taxes in Tunisia, a topic with no official stance. There’s no law requiring you to report crypto gains, but there’s also no law saying you don’t have to. This creates a dangerous blind spot: if you earn income from trading or mining, you could be taxed under general income rules—but no one knows how, or if, the tax agency tracks it. Meanwhile, Tunisian blockchain laws, mostly focused on preventing money laundering, are vague enough to be used selectively. The government has cracked down on crypto-related websites and apps, but rarely targets individual users unless they’re involved in large-scale transfers or linked to sanctioned entities. The absence of clear rules also means no licensed exchanges operate in Tunisia, and local businesses that accept crypto do so at their own risk.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of official guidelines—because there aren’t any. Instead, you’ll see real stories from Tunisians using crypto under pressure, reviews of platforms that work (or don’t) in the region, and breakdowns of how global crypto trends like P2P trading and privacy coins are shaping underground activity. You’ll also learn how scams exploit this regulatory vacuum, and why some exchanges that claim to serve Tunisia are nothing more than traps. This isn’t about theory. It’s about survival, strategy, and the quiet ways people are building financial freedom where the system won’t let them.

Nov, 9 2025

Central Bank of Tunisia Crypto Policy: Complete Ban and Controlled Blockchain Experiments

Tunisia's Central Bank bans all cryptocurrency use since 2018, with prison terms for violations. Yet it allows controlled blockchain experiments through a regulatory sandbox. Learn how the country balances financial control with digital innovation.