Addis Ababa – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a public notice reaffirming that peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency trading involving the Ethiopian Birr is illegal under the country’s existing regulatory framework.
In a statement released today, the central bank clarified that any platform, exchange, or service facilitating Birr-paired P2P crypto transactions is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorized by the NBE. The directive applies to all forms of informal digital asset trading conducted outside the supervision of the national financial regulator.
The NBE emphasized that Ethiopia’s national payment system does not recognize or accommodate such unofficial financial channels. According to the notice, unauthorized crypto transactions operate beyond the regulated financial ecosystem and do not meet the compliance standards, consumer protection safeguards, and anti–money laundering controls required of licensed financial institutions.
The central bank further cautioned the public against engaging in digital asset transactions conducted through unapproved platforms, warning that participants may be exposed to financial, legal, and security risks.
The statement forms part of the NBE’s broader efforts to safeguard financial stability, maintain the integrity of the national payment system, and ensure that all financial activities remain within the ambit of Ethiopian law.
The bank reiterated that only financial services explicitly licensed and supervised by the National Bank of Ethiopia are permitted to operate within the country.
