Legal Risks for Tunisian Crypto Users and Traders in 2025
David Wallace 27 October 2025 14

Tunisian Crypto Legal Risk Assessment Tool

Crypto Activity Assessment

This tool assesses your legal risk level for cryptocurrency activities in Tunisia based on your current actions. Remember: All crypto activities are illegal under Tunisian law.

Important Information

Under Tunisian law (Central Bank of Tunisia Directive 2018), all cryptocurrency activities are illegal. The penalties include up to 5 years in prison, asset seizure, and criminal charges.

Warning: There are no legal loopholes. Even holding cryptocurrency can lead to legal consequences.

The safest option is to completely avoid cryptocurrency activities in Tunisia.

Legal Risk Assessment Results

Important: The Tunisian government enforces crypto laws aggressively. Authorities can seize digital assets, freeze bank accounts, and prosecute individuals for up to five years.

Recommended Action: If you're currently involved with cryptocurrency in Tunisia, the only safe option is to immediately disengage from all crypto activities and transfer assets abroad if possible.

If you're in Tunisia and holding or trading cryptocurrency, you're breaking the law. Not just breaking rules-breaking a criminal statute that can land you in jail for up to five years. There’s no gray area. No exceptions. No legal loopholes. The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) banned all cryptocurrency activity in 2018, and since then, the rules have only gotten stricter.

What’s Actually Illegal?

It’s not just buying Bitcoin or selling Ethereum. Every single action involving crypto is prohibited under Tunisian law. That includes:

  • Buying, selling, or trading any cryptocurrency on any exchange-even offshore ones
  • Mining Bitcoin or any other coin using ASIC rigs or GPUs
  • Accepting crypto as payment for goods or services
  • Operating or promoting an exchange, wallet service, or token sale
  • Converting crypto to Tunisian dinars through peer-to-peer trades
  • Even holding crypto in a wallet, if discovered, can trigger legal action

The law doesn’t care if you bought it on Binance, Kraken, or a friend’s phone. It doesn’t matter if you mined it yourself or got it as a gift. If it’s crypto, and you’re in Tunisia, you’re violating the 2018 directive.

Who Enforces This?

Three government bodies work together to shut down crypto activity:

  • Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT): The main enforcer. They issued the original ban and still control all monetary policy. They also run the only legal pathway for blockchain tech-through a tightly controlled sandbox.
  • Financial Market Council (CMF): Watches capital markets. They’d regulate security tokens-if Tunisia ever allowed them. Right now, they’re just watching for violations.
  • National Anti-Money-Laundering Commission (CTAF): Monitors banks and financial institutions. If a bank sees a transaction that looks like crypto-related activity, they’re legally required to report it.

Customs officers at Tunisian ports actively scan for imported mining hardware. If they find an ASIC miner in your luggage, they seize it. Banks freeze accounts that receive transfers from known crypto exchanges. And if you’re caught trading crypto, your profits? Gone. The state seizes them immediately.

Penalties Are Severe

The punishment isn’t a fine. It’s jail time. Under Tunisia’s currency control code, anyone convicted of crypto-related offenses can face up to five years in prison. That’s the same penalty as for smuggling foreign currency or running an illegal exchange.

There’s no “first offense” leniency. No warning. No probation. If you’re caught trading, mining, or even promoting crypto, you could be arrested, charged, and imprisoned. Companies aren’t safe either. Businesses can’t list crypto assets on their balance sheets. If auditors find Bitcoin on your books, you could face criminal charges.

And it’s not just about the money. Your digital wallet, your phone, your computer-all can be seized and examined. Authorities don’t need a warrant to investigate financial crimes under this law.

How Do People Still Trade Crypto?

Despite the risks, crypto use hasn’t disappeared. It’s gone underground.

Many Tunisians use VPNs to access foreign exchanges like Binance or Bybit. They deposit Tunisian dinars through third-party intermediaries-friends, family, or informal brokers-who convert cash to crypto on their behalf. Some trade in person, meeting in cafes or parking lots to swap cash for Bitcoin. Others use encrypted apps like Signal or Telegram to coordinate trades.

But these aren’t safe. There are documented cases of people losing access to their bank accounts after suspicious transfers. Some have been questioned by police after their bank flagged activity linked to crypto. A few have even been arrested.

Reddit threads and local forums are full of warnings: “Don’t use your real name.” “Don’t link your phone number.” “Never tell anyone.”

Three government enforcers seize crypto assets atop a crumbling digital ledger.

What About Blockchain?

Here’s the twist: blockchain isn’t banned-just crypto.

The government allows permissioned blockchain systems for things like supply chain tracking, land registries, and public records. The BCT even built its own digital currency prototype called E-Dinar, but it’s not available to the public. It’s a government-controlled ledger, not a decentralized network.

Startups like VFunder and Hydro E-Blocks are allowed to test blockchain applications in the BCT’s sandbox-but only if they host their servers outside Tunisia and don’t issue tokens. They’re playing by rules that don’t allow them to use crypto at all.

Why Does Tunisia Ban Crypto So Harshly?

Tunisia’s government fears losing control over its financial system. They worry about capital flight-Tunisians moving money out of the country. They fear money laundering. They don’t trust decentralized systems that can’t be tracked or taxed.

Unlike countries like Switzerland or Canada, which created clear rules for crypto, Tunisia chose total prohibition. There’s no licensing system. No investor protection. No legal framework. Just a blanket ban.

The result? A brain drain. Young developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs are leaving Tunisia for places where crypto is legal. They’re building startups in Portugal, Georgia, and the UAE-not in Tunis.

What Happens If You Get Caught?

If authorities find out you’re trading crypto:

  1. Your bank account will be frozen.
  2. Any crypto in your wallet may be seized.
  3. You’ll be summoned for questioning by CTAF or BCT investigators.
  4. If they find proof of trading or mining, you’ll be charged under the currency control code.
  5. You could face up to five years in prison and a fine.

There’s no public defender system for these cases. Most lawyers in Tunisia won’t touch them. The law is vague, enforcement is aggressive, and the courts side with the state.

Developer packs suitcase with E-Dinar prototype on screen, arrows point to global cities.

Is There Any Hope for Change?

There are whispers in parliament about reclassifying crypto as “virtual assets” and creating a licensing regime. Some lawmakers point to FATF guidelines and say Tunisia needs to catch up.

But right now? No changes are coming. The government hasn’t signaled any shift. The BCT’s sandbox is still closed to the public. The E-Dinar project is still just a prototype.

Until the law changes, the only legal option is to avoid crypto entirely.

What Should You Do?

If you’re in Tunisia and currently holding crypto:

  • Don’t trade it. Don’t sell it. Don’t even check its value.
  • Don’t use a VPN to access exchanges. That’s still illegal.
  • Don’t tell anyone you own crypto-not even close friends.
  • If you’re thinking of mining? Don’t import equipment. Don’t set up a rig.
  • If you’re running a business? Don’t accept crypto. Don’t even mention it.

The safest move is to get out. Transfer your crypto to someone abroad. Close your local accounts. Leave Tunisia if you can. The risks aren’t worth it.

There’s no legal path to owning crypto in Tunisia. Not now. Not next year. Not unless the government changes its mind-and there’s no sign it will.

What About Taxes?

There are no crypto taxes in Tunisia-because crypto isn’t recognized as property, income, or currency. The state doesn’t tax it because it doesn’t acknowledge it exists.

That doesn’t mean you’re safe. If you’re caught with crypto, the authorities won’t ask you to pay tax. They’ll ask you to go to jail.

Can I use a VPN to trade crypto in Tunisia?

No. Using a VPN to access foreign crypto exchanges is still illegal under Tunisian law. The BCT considers any crypto transaction-regardless of where it occurs-as a violation if you’re physically in Tunisia. VPNs don’t make you anonymous to banks or customs. If your bank detects unusual transfers, they’ll report you to CTAF.

Can I mine Bitcoin in Tunisia?

No. Importing mining equipment is illegal, and mining itself violates the 2018 directive. Customs regularly checks shipments and seizes ASIC rigs. Even running a GPU rig at home can lead to prosecution if discovered. Authorities can trace electricity usage patterns and investigate high-consumption households.

What happens if I’m caught trading crypto?

Your bank account will be frozen, your crypto may be seized, and you’ll be summoned by financial investigators. If there’s proof of trading, you can be charged under the currency control code, facing up to five years in prison and fines. Profits are confiscated immediately. There’s no leniency for first-time offenders.

Is holding crypto in a wallet illegal?

Yes. While the law focuses on transactions, simply holding crypto can trigger investigation. Authorities don’t need proof of trading to act. If your wallet is found during a digital search or bank audit, it’s considered evidence of illegal activity. Possession alone can lead to legal consequences.

Can I legally use blockchain technology in Tunisia?

Only in very limited cases. The government allows permissioned blockchain systems for supply chain tracking, public records, and internal government use-but only if they’re controlled by state entities. You can’t use public blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin. Any decentralized system is still banned. Startups can test blockchain in the BCT sandbox, but only if they don’t use crypto tokens.

Are there any legal crypto exchanges in Tunisia?

No. Tunisia has not issued a single license to any crypto exchange, wallet provider, or token issuer. All exchanges operating in or targeting Tunisian users are illegal. Even if an exchange claims to be “Tunisian-friendly,” it’s still violating local law. No bank in Tunisia will process crypto deposits or withdrawals.

Can I convert crypto to Tunisian dinars without getting caught?

No. Any attempt to convert crypto to Tunisian dinars triggers automatic reporting by banks to CTAF. Peer-to-peer cash trades are risky and monitored. There are documented cases of people being arrested after cash deposits matched crypto transaction patterns. There is no safe or legal way to cash out crypto in Tunisia.