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.
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.
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.