Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama announced at the Nine Lessons, Carols and Thanksgiving Service in Accra that cryptocurrency trading is now legal in Ghana following the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025. He said the new law provides a clear regulatory framework for virtual assets, ending the regulatory uncertainty that had surrounded crypto activities. He emphasized that the framework is not a free-for-all; the central bank will license and supervise digital asset operators to protect consumers and safeguard financial stability.
The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill establishes a licensing regime for businesses operating in the cryptocurrency and digital asset space. Service providers must obtain authorization from the Bank of Ghana before offering virtual asset services to Ghanaian customers and must meet anti-money laundering and customer due diligence standards, with capital adequacy provisions to be observed. Regulators anticipate that the framework will cover cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers, and other entities facilitating virtual asset transactions, and that the BoG will strengthen oversight to prevent abuse and protect users.
Implementation is expected to unfold in phases during 2026, with detailed guidelines and licensing procedures to be published by the Bank of Ghana and existing operators required to regularize their status under the new regime. The central bank’s amended act enhances its supervisory powers, enabling enforcement actions as the digital asset space expands. Ghana’s move places it among African nations choosing regulation over outright bans in order to attract legitimate investment while reducing consumer risk.
Ghana has moved to regulate cryptocurrency trading after the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025, as announced by Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama. He emphasized that the new law establishes a clear regulatory framework for virtual assets, ending the previous uncertainty surrounding crypto activities. The framework is not a free-for-all; the central bank will license and supervise digital asset operators to protect consumers and safeguard financial stability.
The bill creates a licensing regime for entities operating in the cryptocurrency and digital asset space. Service providers must obtain authorization from the Bank of Ghana before offering virtual asset services to Ghanaian customers and must meet anti-money laundering and customer due diligence standards, with capital adequacy provisions to be observed. Regulators expect the regime to cover cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers, and other entities facilitating virtual asset transactions, with enhanced oversight to prevent abuse and protect users.
Implementation is planned in phases during 2026, with detailed guidelines and licensing procedures to be published by the Bank of Ghana. Existing operators will be required to regularize their status under the new regime. The central bank’s amended act expands its supervisory powers, enabling enforcement actions as the digital asset space grows. Ghana’s approach aligns with other African nations choosing regulation over outright bans to attract legitimate investment while reducing consumer risk.
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