Egypt's Central Bank bans all cryptocurrency trading under Law No. 194/2020, backed by religious and economic concerns. Enforcement is inconsistent, but the ban remains strong. Blockchain tech, however, is being adopted for government use.
Central Bank of Egypt and Crypto Regulations: What You Need to Know
When it comes to Central Bank of Egypt, the official monetary authority responsible for issuing currency and controlling financial policy in Egypt. It is also known as CBE, and it has been one of the most aggressive central banks in the region when it comes to blocking cryptocurrency. Unlike countries that experiment with digital currencies, the Central Bank of Egypt has outright banned Bitcoin, Ethereum, and all other decentralized tokens since 2020. Its reasoning? Protecting the Egyptian pound, preventing money laundering, and maintaining control over financial flows. But here’s the twist—while the bank says crypto is illegal, millions of Egyptians still use it to receive remittances, buy food, and survive.
The crypto regulation Egypt, the legal framework that prohibits financial institutions from processing cryptocurrency transactions is strict: banks can’t open accounts for crypto exchanges, and fintech apps can’t integrate wallets. Yet, peer-to-peer trading thrives on Telegram and WhatsApp. People use cash deposits, mobile money, and even informal networks to trade crypto. This isn’t just about speculation—it’s about access. With inflation hitting 30% and the pound losing value, crypto became a lifeline. The Central Bank of Egypt doesn’t just dislike crypto—it fears what happens when people bypass its control entirely.
Compare this to Bangladesh, where the central bank also bans crypto but sees record remittances through legal apps like bKash. Or Qatar, which bans Bitcoin but allows tokenized real estate under tight rules. The digital currency Egypt, the government’s own proposed electronic version of the Egyptian pound is still in pilot mode, with no clear timeline for rollout. Meanwhile, crypto users in Egypt are already using it—quietly, safely, and often illegally. The bank’s crackdowns have led to arrests and account freezes, but they haven’t stopped the flow. Why? Because when your salary is worth less every month, you don’t wait for permission to protect your money.
What you’ll find in this collection aren’t just news stories—they’re real cases. From how traders evade detection using VPNs and burner wallets, to why airdrops like CHY and Looping Collective thrive in markets where traditional finance has failed. You’ll see how crypto enforcement in Afghanistan mirrors Egypt’s struggle, and how DeFi tools like liquidity calculators and impermanent loss tools help users make smarter moves under pressure. This isn’t theoretical. It’s survival. And the Central Bank of Egypt can’t stop it—not because it’s weak, but because the need is too real.