Ghana has officially legalised Bitcoin and cryptocurrency trading following the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025, marking a decisive shift in the country’s approach to digital assets. The new law ends years of legal uncertainty and brings the fast-growing crypto sector under formal regulatory oversight for the first time.
With parliamentary approval secured, virtual asset activities are now recognised as lawful in Ghana. Individuals and businesses engaging in cryptocurrency trading, custody, or related services will no longer face the risk of arrest simply for participating in the digital asset economy. Instead, the sector will operate within a structured legal framework designed to promote innovation while safeguarding financial stability.
Regulatory supervision of the industry will be jointly handled by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Both institutions have been mandated to license, regulate, and monitor all Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers, custodians, and other intermediaries offering digital asset services in or from Ghana.
A central pillar of the new law is mandatory licensing. Any entity seeking to provide virtual asset services must obtain approval from the relevant regulator and comply with ongoing reporting, disclosure, and supervisory requirements. Operators that fail to meet these standards will not be permitted to operate legally within the country. This move is expected to weed out unregulated actors while encouraging credible, well-capitalised firms to enter the market.
Consumer protection and financial integrity sit at the heart of the legislation. The framework introduces strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT) obligations, aimed at reducing risks such as fraud, illicit financial flows, and abuse of digital assets for criminal purposes. Regulators are also expected to enforce risk management standards to protect users and maintain confidence in the financial system.
While the law has been passed, its full implementation will occur in stages. The effective date of the Act is yet to be announced, with the Bank of Ghana and the SEC expected to issue detailed directives and regulatory instruments in the coming months. These guidelines will clarify licensing procedures, compliance obligations, and supervisory expectations for market participants. Existing crypto operators will be required to register and align with the new rules during a phased transition period expected to run through 2026.
The legalisation of cryptocurrency trading represents a significant milestone for Ghana’s digital economy. Policymakers see the move as a way to balance technological innovation with regulatory discipline, positioning the country as a credible destination for responsible digital asset investment in Africa. As implementation unfolds, attention will turn to how effectively regulators enforce the framework and how the market adapts to a new era of legitimacy and oversight.
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