Is Cryptocurrency Legal in Your Country? 2025 Update

Cryptocurrency is sweeping the world, with many individuals across the globe wondering whether or not they should invest. But is investing in cryptocurrency legal in your country?

The legality of cryptocurrency varies widely both by the country you live in, and sometimes the state you reside in within that country. This article is meant as a general overview, but always check local laws before making a purchase as we cannot possibly keep up to date with all the legalities across the globe in terms of cryptocurrency.

Read on to learn if cryptocurrency is legal in your country, starting with the most populous countries and descending to the least.

1. India

Cryptocurrency is widely legal in India, though the government works to prevent illegal use. Cryptocurrency is not considered legal tender, but blockchain technology is encouraged by governments, especially for use in payment processors, due to widespread financial crime in general.

2. China

Cryptocurrency has been banned in China since 2017. No cryptocurrency platforms, businesses, or exchanges are allowed to operate in China or to serve its inhabitants. Bitcoin mining in China was additionally made illegal in 2018.

3. United States

Cryptocurrency is legal in the United States, though some financial firms desiring to work with cryptocurrency must file for special permits, especially in states like New York and California. Cryptocurrency is on its way to becoming part of the United States Federal Reserve in 2025 if President Trump gets his way—though there is no guarantee.

4. Indonesia

Cryptocurrency legality is a complicated question in Indonesia. While you can hold and trade cryptocurrency without much issue, it is illegal to use it as a payment tool. This is mostly due to the Islamic government, which states that cryptocurrency does not meet Islamic money laws.

5. Pakistan

You can legally hold and trade cryptocurrency in Pakistan, and as far as we are aware, there are no formal regulations about running a cryptocurrency exchange or business out of the country. This opens the door to more issues than it solves, however, as scams run rampant and there are many fake cryptocurrency businesses operating in the country. As such, the country made it illegal to transfer cryptocurrency outside of Pakistan, though we aren’t sure whether the regulation is working.

6. Nigeria

Almost no unbanked country needs cryptocurrency as much as Nigeria—so it’s a good thing its legal. Nigeria does have a complicated relationship with cryptocurrency however, with laws changing frequently. Though last we heard, they were trying to introduce cryptocurrency into their tax system, but we are unsure if this ever happened.

7. Brazil

Cryptocurrency is legal in Brazil, but like in many other countries, it cannot be used as legal tender. Brazil is an up-and-coming world power, however, and we strongly suspect it will become more important in the blockchain and tech world as they continue to grow and innovate.

8. Bangladesh

Like China, cryptocurrency is entirely illegal in Bangladesh. In fact, anyone caught using cryptocurrency in any form may face fines or imprisonment.

9. Russia

There is a common theme that the more authoritarian a country is, the more likely cryptocurrency is banned. This is due to the fact that many countries with this type of government don’t like the idea of money they can’t control. Russia is no different, with widespread bans on cryptocurrency use in terms of money, though mining crypto is somehow still legal. They can use blockchain to settle international debts, though—something which came about during the SWIFT bans after the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

10. Ethiopia

Ethiopia originally had a passive opinion on cryptocurrency, but then, cryptocurrency transactions in all their forms were banned in the summer of 2025. The Ethiopian government did so as the value of their native currency began to crash, desperate to maintain control.

11. Mexico

Cryptocurrency transactions and businesses are legal in Mexico, with the government working to regulate the future of this technology. Depending on the state where you reside, you may need a license in order to operate a blockchain business, similar to the United States.

12. Japan

Always on the technological forefront, blockchain technology is no different in the country of Japan. Cryptocurrencies are legal to hold and trade, though they are not considered legal tender. Additionally, if you want to open a crypto business, you need a specific permit and must be a registered financial institution.

13. Egypt

Cryptocurrency is completely banned in Egypt, with both individuals and financial institutions prohibited from making cryptocurrency transactions of any type.

14. Philippines

Cryptocurrency is legal in the Philippines, though the government has taken many measures to try to crack down on cryptocurrency crime by requiring companies to register and apply for a specific permit. However, due to frequent government changes, regulations change frequently, and many malicious actors are able to bribe their way into a permit for their business.

15. DR Congo

In the DR Congo, it is reportedly legal to both trade and mine cryptocurrency. However, like many other countries on this list, there has been much unrest and governmental changes in preceding years—indicating laws regarding cryptocurrency could change in the future.

16. Vietnam

In Vietnam, it is legal to hold and trade cryptocurrency with friends, but it is banned to use Bitcoin as a form of payment. A new law is coming into effect in January 2026, which will establish an official framework for blockchain technology. It is unclear what this law means for businesses working in blockchain.

17. European Union

We know the European Union is not a country, but rather a collection of countries. Regardless, in the EU, cryptocurrency is generally legal for personal use and mining, though business use (such as establishing an exchange) will vary depending on the country you are located in. There is also talk of closing certain loopholes that exist that allow a business to cross a border within the EU and operate legally. As of the writing of this article, the EU contains the following countries:

·      Sweden

·      Finland

·      Ireland

·      Denmark

·      Estonia

·      Latvia

·      Lithuania

·      Poland

·      Germany

·      Netherlands

·      Belgium

·      Luxembourg

·      Czech Republic

·      Slovakia

·      France

·      Austria

·      Hungary

·      Romania

·      Bulgaria

·      Croatia

·      Slovenia

·      Italy

·      Spain

·      Portugal

·      Greece

·      Malta

·      Cyprus