Mozambique

## Report on Retail Cryptocurrency Trading Status in Mozambique

**Date:** 2025-06-26
**Topic:** Retail_Trading_Status
**Description:** Assess whether individual citizens and residents in the country are legally permitted to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies. Detail the regulatory environment surrounding this activity.

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### Retail_Trading_Status

**Identified Status:** Allowed-Unregulated

**Detailed Narrative Explanation:**

As of December 2025, retail cryptocurrency trading in Mozambique operates in an environment best described as "Allowed-Unregulated." No specific laws explicitly prohibit or regulate the buying, selling, or holding of cryptocurrencies by individual citizens and residents.

The Bank of Mozambique (Banco de Moçambique) has demonstrated awareness and concern through multiple communications. In November 2021, it issued a public alert (Comunicado) highlighting the risks of virtual assets, stating they are not legal tender, are not backed by the central bank, and are highly volatile and susceptible to fraud. This was a warning, not a regulatory prohibition.

Subsequent regulatory developments have not altered this fundamental status for retail traders. In 2023, the Bank of Mozambique enacted Law No. 14/2023 and Notice No. 4/GBM/2023, establishing a mandatory registration framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and bringing them under AML/CFT obligations. However, as of mid-2025, no VASPs have been publicly registered. This means the framework is not operational, and there is no licensed, regulated channel for crypto exchange services in Mozambique.

Furthermore, the Bank of Mozambique has enforced strict foreign exchange controls (Notice No. 9/GBM/2025) and penalized commercial banks for AML breaches. This has led banks to block crypto-related transactions, creating significant practical barriers to accessing international exchanges. Nevertheless, these measures target financial intermediaries and cross-border flows, not the act of retail trading itself.

Therefore, individuals in Mozambique can legally trade cryptocurrencies but do so entirely at their own risk. They have no access to locally regulated platforms, no specific consumer protections, and face banking and FX restrictions. The absence of a functioning regulatory regime, despite one being drafted, confirms the unregulated nature of the activity. The central bank's stance remains cautious, monitoring the sector while allowing individual participation.

**Specific, Relevant Text Excerpts and Sources:**

*   **Source:** Bank of Mozambique - Comunicado (November 2021)
    *   **Excerpt Summary:** The Bank warned the public that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender, are not backed by the central bank, and are highly risky.
*   **Source:** Law No. 14/2023 (2023-08-28)
    *   **Excerpt Summary:** Designates virtual asset service providers as financial institutions for AML/CFT purposes.
*   **Source:** Notice No. 4/GBM/2023 (2023-09-14)
    *   **Excerpt Summary:** Establishes mandatory prior registration for entities wishing to carry out virtual asset activities.
*   **Source:** Notice No. 9/GBM/2025 (2025-12-09)
    *   **Excerpt Summary:** Establishes strict limits on payments made abroad using bank cards.
*   **Source:** Bank of Mozambique Annual Report 2023 (2024-05-17)
    *   **Excerpt Summary:** Confirms the legal framework for VASP registration was established.

**Direct, Accessible URL Links to Sources:**
*   Bank of Mozambique: https://www.bancomoc.mz/
*   Law No. 14/2023: https://www.bancomoc.mz/fm/rules/2023/08/28/Lei-14-2023.pdf
*   Notice No. 4/GBM/2023: https://www.bancomoc.mz/fm/rules/2023/09/14/Aviso-4-GBM-2023.pdf
*   Secondary Analysis: https://www.mdradvogados.com/en/media/legal-alert/registration-of-virtual-asset-service-providers-before-the-mozambique-central-bank/
*   News on Bank Fines: https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-central-bank-fines-nine-financial-institutions-for-breaches-of-regulations-276185/

**Note:** The regulatory situation is dynamic, and the Bank of Mozambique may activate its VASP framework in the future, which would change the status. Continuous monitoring is advised.