Central Bank of Jordan Crypto Policy: What You Need to Know in 2025

Dec, 20 2025
22 Comments
Cryptocurrency,

Before September 2025, owning or trading cryptocurrency in Jordan was a legal gray zone. You could buy Bitcoin on international exchanges, trade peer-to-peer in Amman cafes, or use crypto to send money home - but banks wouldn’t touch it. The Central Bank of Jordan had banned financial institutions from dealing with crypto since 2014. No accounts. No transfers. No services. It wasn’t illegal to hold crypto - just risky, unregulated, and cut off from the formal economy.

The Big Shift: Law No. 14 of 2025

Everything changed on September 14, 2025, when Law No. 14 of 2025 - the Virtual Assets Transactions Regulation Law - took effect. This wasn’t just a tweak. It was a full overhaul. The Central Bank of Jordan handed over primary regulatory power to the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC). Now, if you want to run a crypto exchange, wallet service, or even a crypto ATM in Jordan, you need a license. No exceptions.

The law makes it clear: any virtual asset activity that targets Jordanian customers, operates from within Jordan, or has a local business presence is now under strict oversight. That includes DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and token sales - if they’re accessible to people in Jordan.

What’s Allowed? What’s Not?

You can still buy and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other crypto. The law doesn’t ban ownership. What it bans is unlicensed activity. No more shadow exchanges. No more unregistered brokers. No more anonymous P2P trading platforms operating out of apartments in Zarqa.

The only legal way to offer crypto services in Jordan is through a licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP). These include exchanges, custodians, and payment processors. And they’re held to the same standards as banks when it comes to anti-money laundering.

Here’s what licensed VASPs must do:

Verify every customer’s identity (Customer Due Diligence)
Run enhanced checks on high-risk users like politicians or foreign officials (Enhanced Due Diligence)
Monitor all transactions for suspicious patterns
Report any transaction over 10,000 Jordanian Dinars (about $14,100) to the Anti-Money Laundering Unit
Follow the Travel Rule - sending and receiving transaction details with other VASPs
Appoint a dedicated AML officer and keep records for five years

Violating these rules? You could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 JOD ($141,000). That’s not a warning. That’s a deterrent.

Why Now? FATF Pressure and National Strategy

Jordan wasn’t making this move because crypto was popular. It was making it because it had to. In 2023, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Jordan on its grey list. Why? Because the country had no rules to stop criminals from using crypto to launder money. No oversight. No reporting. No accountability.

The 2025 law was Jordan’s answer. It’s designed to meet FATF’s global standards. And it worked. By June 2025, FATF acknowledged Jordan’s progress. Delisting is expected in 2026 if implementation stays on track.

But this isn’t just about avoiding punishment. Jordan has a broader plan. Its National Blockchain Strategy, approved in late 2024, aims to use digital assets to modernize government services - from land registries to healthcare records. The crypto law is the first step in turning that vision into reality.

A giant fine crushes an illegal crypto operation while a licensed exchange operates legally nearby.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Licensed?

Getting a license isn’t cheap. The JSC charges three fees just to apply:

Preliminary application: 5,000 JOD ($7,050)
Compliance documentation review: 15,000 JOD ($21,150)
Operational readiness assessment: 10,000 JOD ($14,100)

That’s 30,000 JOD - over $42,000 - before you even open your doors. And that doesn’t include the cost of building compliant systems, hiring AML experts, or upgrading security. For a small startup, that’s a mountain.

According to a September 2025 survey by the Jordan Fintech Association, 73% of new crypto businesses said setting up transaction monitoring tools was their biggest technical hurdle. And there’s a talent shortage. The National Employment Council reports a 40% gap in professionals with blockchain and AML skills.

How Are People Reacting?

Jordan has about 1.2 million crypto users - over 10% of the population. Most of them have been trading through informal P2P networks. Now, they’re watching to see if licensed platforms will come online.

On Reddit, users are split. Some are relieved. "After years of P2P trading in the shadows, finally having a legal framework is reassuring," wrote one user. Others worry the rules are too strict. "The $141,000 fine seems excessive for small operators," another said.

Local exchange operators are stuck in limbo. One CEO told CoinTelegraph Middle East: "The licensing requirements are reasonable, but the capital requirements haven’t been published yet. We’re flying blind."

Social media sentiment shows 62% of users support the clarity, but 78% fear it will crush small businesses. The Jordan Digital Economy Monitor found that most people believe the law will benefit big players - not everyday traders.

A golden falcon-shaped digital currency rises above citizens as Islamic blockchain icons appear in the desert.

How Does Jordan Compare to Neighbors?

Jordan isn’t the first in the region to regulate crypto. The UAE has been a hub for years, with over 500,000 daily crypto traders and a mature legal system. Bahrain is also ahead, processing $450 million in regulated crypto transactions in Q3 2025.

But Jordan’s neighbors are still locked down. Kuwait, Egypt, and Iraq still ban crypto entirely. Jordan’s new law puts it in the middle - not as open as the UAE, but far more progressive than its neighbors.

The upside? Jordan can learn from others’ mistakes. The downside? It’s late to the party. Big investors are watching Dubai and Singapore. Will they come to Amman? Not yet. The market is still too new, too uncertain.

What’s Next?

The JSC has set up a 24/7 help desk for licensed operators. But user satisfaction is only at 68%. The system is new. People are still learning.

By Q1 2026, regulators plan to release rules for DeFi platforms. That’s a big question mark. How do you regulate a decentralized network with no company behind it?

Even bigger: the Central Bank of Jordan is preparing to launch its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Q3 2026. This won’t be Bitcoin. It won’t be Ethereum. It’ll be a digital version of the Jordanian Dinar - fully controlled, traceable, and backed by the state.

And there’s talk of Sharia-compliant crypto products. With 42 Islamic financial institutions in the country, Jordan could become a hub for halal blockchain finance - a niche few other countries are targeting.

What Should You Do If You’re in Jordan?

If you’re a regular user: keep holding your crypto. The law doesn’t touch personal ownership. But if you’re trading on unlicensed platforms, you’re at risk - not because it’s illegal to own crypto, but because those platforms could be shut down overnight.

If you’re a business owner: start preparing now. The licensing window is open, but the requirements are strict. Get your AML systems in place. Hire someone with crypto compliance experience. Don’t wait until the JSC comes knocking.

If you’re an investor: the market is still early. But with a population of 11.1 million and a projected $750 million in crypto transaction volume by 2027, Jordan’s potential is real. The risk? Regulatory delays, talent shortages, and slow adoption. The reward? Being one of the first to build in a market that’s finally opening up.

One thing’s clear: Jordan’s crypto era has begun. The rules are written. The penalties are real. The question now is whether the country can build the systems - and the trust - to make them work.

22 Comments

Tyler Porter
December 21, 2025 AT 01:22

This is huge. Finally, some clarity. No more sketchy P2P deals in Amman cafes. Licensed exchanges = safer for everyone. Just need them to move fast now.

People are scared, but this is the right move. Trust takes time, but it starts here.
Megan O'Brien
December 22, 2025 AT 22:28

The FATF grey list pressure was the real driver, not some visionary blockchain policy. Classic regulatory capture disguised as innovation. The licensing fees are a de facto barrier to entry for any non-corporate entity. This isn’t regulation-it’s rent-seeking under the guise of compliance.
Ashley Lewis
December 24, 2025 AT 15:31

The notion that this constitutes 'progress' is laughable. A state-controlled digital currency is the logical endpoint of such heavy-handed oversight. The JSC is not fostering innovation; it is institutionalizing surveillance under the banner of financial stability.
Jacob Lawrenson
December 26, 2025 AT 07:31

YES!!! FINALLY!!! 🎉 This is the kind of bold move that puts Jordan on the map! 🇯🇴🚀 Licensed VASPs = real legitimacy. Yes, it’s expensive-but so is being stuck on the FATF grey list forever. Let’s goooo!
Zavier McGuire
December 27, 2025 AT 21:14

They banned crypto for a decade then slapped a 42k price tag on legality. Meanwhile the average guy who traded 500 jod a month gets punished because he used a telegram bot. This is not regulation its extortion
Luke Steven
December 28, 2025 AT 13:39

There’s a quiet irony here. The same institutions that spent years ignoring crypto now want to own its infrastructure. The real question isn’t whether the law works-it’s whether the people still trust the institutions enough to play by its rules. Trust doesn’t get legislated. It gets earned. And it’s been broken for a decade.
Ellen Sales
December 28, 2025 AT 23:59

so… they made crypto legal but only if you’re rich enough to afford the paperwork? classic. also why is everyone acting like this is some revolutionary move? we’ve seen this movie before. the ‘regulation’ always ends up being a corporate welfare program with extra steps 😒
Sheila Ayu
December 29, 2025 AT 00:46

Wait, so you’re saying it’s illegal to trade crypto unless you pay $42,000? But owning it is fine? So if I buy BTC on Binance and hold it, I’m good? But if I trade it locally? Criminal? That’s not a law, that’s a paradox. And who’s going to enforce this? The police? They can’t even get the electricity right.
Janet Combs
December 29, 2025 AT 22:54

i just wanna know if my 200 jod in btc is gonna get frozen? like… i dont even know what a vasp is. is this gonna mess with my remittances? my cousin sends me money every month through p2p. now what? 😅
Radha Reddy
December 31, 2025 AT 22:08

This is a balanced step forward. Many developing nations fear innovation, but Jordan is choosing to regulate rather than ban. The challenges are real-talent gap, capital costs-but the intent is commendable. With proper execution, this could become a regional model.
chris yusunas
January 2, 2026 AT 10:31

Man, this is wild. They out here trying to tame the wild west with a velvet glove and a 100k fine. But the truth? The crypto kids in Zarqa ain’t gonna stop. They just gonna move to the darknet or use ghost wallets. You can’t police what people already trust.
Naman Modi
January 4, 2026 AT 01:10

Oh wow. So now the state gets to spy on every crypto transaction? And you think this stops money laundering? LOL. Criminals don’t use licensed exchanges. They use mixers. Or Monero. Or Telegram bots. This law just makes honest people pay for the crimes of the few.
Rebecca F
January 4, 2026 AT 22:00

This isn’t innovation. It’s surrender. You hand over control to a bureaucratic body that can’t even manage its own payroll, and you call it progress? The CBDC is the real goal here. This crypto law? Just the Trojan horse.
SHEFFIN ANTONY
January 6, 2026 AT 01:35

You call this regulation? This is a corporate giveaway disguised as financial reform. The 30k application fee? That’s a bribe to the JSC. The only ones who benefit are the big banks and foreign VASPs with deep pockets. The little guy? He’s still in the shadows. And proud of it.
Jordan Renaud
January 6, 2026 AT 08:15

I see fear. I see confusion. But I also see opportunity. This isn’t the end of crypto in Jordan-it’s the beginning of a more mature phase. The pain points? Real. But the path forward? Clearer than ever. Let’s build the systems. Let’s train the talent. Let’s not panic.
Collin Crawford
January 6, 2026 AT 17:52

The Central Bank of Jordan has no authority to delegate regulatory power to the JSC under existing constitutional frameworks. This law is procedurally invalid. The licensing regime is ultra vires. Any enforcement action taken under this statute is legally suspect. This is not governance-it is administrative overreach.
Helen Pieracacos
January 6, 2026 AT 20:12

Oh wow, so now you need a lawyer just to hold Bitcoin? And the state gets to track every transaction? Sounds like the US IRS met a dystopian sci-fi novel and had a baby. Congrats, Jordan. You’ve achieved surveillance capitalism with a side of bureaucracy.
Mmathapelo Ndlovu
January 6, 2026 AT 21:19

I’m from South Africa, and I’ve seen how regulation can crush innovation… or make it thrive. This feels like the latter. The talent gap? Fixable. The trust gap? Harder. But if they get the CBDC right, this could be Africa’s first real bridge between traditional finance and blockchain. 🌍❤️
Brian Martitsch
January 7, 2026 AT 18:19

The $141k fine is theatrical. Real criminals don’t care. Real innovators can’t afford it. This law doesn’t protect users-it protects the status quo. And the CBDC? That’s the real agenda. You don’t need a crypto law to launch a state coin. You need a dictatorship.
Jake Mepham
January 8, 2026 AT 09:00

Let me break this down for the folks panicking: You can still hold crypto. No one’s coming to take your coins. The law targets businesses-not individuals. So if you’re just holding, you’re fine. If you’re running a P2P bot? Yeah, that’s the target. Focus on the real issue: access to licensed platforms. That’s what matters now.
Craig Fraser
January 9, 2026 AT 18:27

The irony is thick. Jordan spends years banning crypto, then imposes a regulatory regime so complex it would make a Swiss banker cry. And you expect startups to thrive under this? The only thing this law will create is a new class of compliance consultants-and a graveyard of small businesses.
Cathy Bounchareune
January 10, 2026 AT 15:34

I love how they’re calling this ‘modernization.’ But modernization isn’t about more forms. It’s about less friction. They’re building a Ferrari with a manual transmission and no gas pedal. The tech is there. The will? Not so much.