Is Bitcoin Legal in Cameroon?
Partly. No law bans individuals from owning crypto in Cameroon, but regional rules bar banks, microfinance and payment firms from handling it, and no exchange is licensed.
Restricted · facts checked November 2026 · some details from secondary sources · bitcoin is $76,800 today
| Status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Bank of Central African States (BEAC); Central African Banking Commission (COBAC); COSUMAF (regional market regulator) |
| Main law | No national crypto law; COBAC directive (May 2022) barring financial institutions from crypto; COSUMAF general regulation (May 2023) with no crypto provider yet approved |
| Exchanges | No crypto service provider has been licensed in the CEMAC zone. |
| Paying with bitcoin | Not legal tender; the CFA franc is the only currency allowed in CEMAC. |
| Banks | No. Banks, microfinance and payment providers are barred from facilitating crypto transactions. |
| Tax | There is no crypto-specific tax legislation. |
| Mining | Not regulated |
| Recent change | June 2025: CEMAC still had no operational framework for digital-asset service providers, despite about 900,000 crypto users in Cameroon. |
Bitcoin in Cameroon: FAQ
Is bitcoin legal in Cameroon?
Partly: no law bans individuals from owning crypto in Cameroon, but regional rules bar banks, microfinance and payment firms from handling it, and no exchange is licensed.
Is bitcoin legal tender in Cameroon?
Not legal tender; the CFA franc is the only currency allowed in CEMAC.
How is bitcoin taxed in Cameroon?
There is no crypto-specific tax legislation.
Who regulates crypto in Cameroon?
Bank of Central African States (BEAC); Central African Banking Commission (COBAC); COSUMAF (regional market regulator). No crypto service provider has been licensed in the CEMAC zone.
Is bitcoin mining legal in Cameroon?
Not regulated.
Other Countries Where Bitcoin Is Restricted
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