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Jordan

From a central bank ban to a licensing law: Jordan's 2025 virtual assets law puts crypto under the JSC, but no licences are out yet.

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JOD 3mMinimum paid-up capital for a virtual asset platform (Regulation No. 94 of 2025)
JOD 100,000Maximum fine for unlicensed virtual asset activity, plus at least one year in prison
127Articles in the JSC's draft executive instructions for virtual asset activities

For a decade Jordan's answer to crypto was no. The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) warned in 2014 that Bitcoin was not legal tender, and in 2018 it told banks, exchange houses, finance companies and payment firms not to deal in virtual currencies at all.

Jordanians who wanted crypto used offshore exchanges and peer-to-peer trades, outside any local oversight.

Read the full story

The rethink started with money laundering risk.

A February 2023 national assessment, led by the CBJ with the financial intelligence unit and law enforcement, rated the residual ML/TF risk of unregulated virtual asset exchanges as high because controls were largely ineffective.

Parliament answered with Law No. 14 of 2025 Regulating Dealing in Virtual Assets, published on 16 June 2025 and in force on 14 September 2025, which made the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC) the licensing authority.

The rulebook followed in stages.

After two public consultations, Regulation No. 94 of 2025 on licensing virtual asset service providers was published on 16 December 2025 and took effect on 15 January 2026.

The JSC then consulted on 127 articles of executive instructions covering platforms, custodians, brokers, offerings, investor protection and cybersecurity, and opened preliminary approval applications.

That consultation closed on 28 January 2026, but final instructions and any licensed provider had not been announced by early October 2026.

For builders, Jordan is now a legal market with a high entry price.

Only a company whose sole purpose is virtual asset business can apply, with paid-up capital of at least JOD 3 million for a platform, JOD 2 million for custody, JOD 1 million for brokerage and JOD 500,000 for offering services, and licence fees of up to JOD 100,000.

Anyone operating without a licence faces at least a year in prison and a fine of JOD 50,000 to 100,000.

Banks need separate CBJ approval, and crypto payments stay off-limits unless the CBJ authorises them.

Who regulates

  • JSCJordan Securities Commission

    In charge of

    Jordan's capital markets regulator: it oversees securities issuance, the stock exchange, brokers, investment funds and disclosure by listed companies.

    On crypto

    The licensing authority under Law No. 14 of 2025. Regulation No. 94 of 2025, in force since 15 January 2026, admits only sole-purpose companies, with capital of JOD 3 million for a platform down to JOD 500,000 for offerings. No licence had been announced by early October 2026.

    JSC website
  • CBJCentral Bank of Jordan

    In charge of

    Jordan's central bank: it sets monetary policy, manages the dinar, and licenses and supervises banks, exchange houses, finance companies and payment firms.

    On crypto

    Warned in 2014 that Bitcoin was not legal tender and in 2018 barred banks, exchange houses and payment firms from dealing in virtual currencies. Under Law No. 14 of 2025 banks need its prior approval for crypto exchange or custody, and crypto payments need its authorisation.

    CBJ website
  • AMLUAnti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Unit

    In charge of

    Jordan's financial intelligence unit: it receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports from banks and other reporting entities and refers suspected money laundering and terror financing.

    On crypto

    Took part in the February 2023 national risk assessment that rated the residual money laundering risk of virtual asset exchanges as high. Virtual asset service providers are now reporting entities that must file suspicious transaction reports with it.

    AMLU website

What to watch

  • Final JSC executive instructions for virtual asset activities, consulted on in January 2026, and the first preliminary approvals and licences.
  • Which virtual assets the JSC allows to trade, after it said trading would not be opened on every asset.
  • Whether the CBJ uses its power under Law No. 14 to approve banks for crypto exchange and custody, or to authorise any crypto payments.
  • Tax guidance on crypto gains, which Jordan's tax authority has not yet issued.

Quick answers

Who regulates crypto in Jordan?

Three authorities shape crypto rules in Jordan. JSC (Jordan Securities Commission): licenses and supervises virtual asset service providers under Law No. 14 of 2025 and issues the implementing instructions. CBJ (Central Bank of Jordan): approves any virtual asset activity by banks and other CBJ-regulated institutions and decides whether crypto may be used for payments. AMLU (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Unit): jordan's financial intelligence unit, which receives suspicious transaction reports from virtual asset service providers as reporting entities.

Do crypto exchanges need a licence in Jordan?

Not fully yet: the regime is being built. Law No. 14 and Regulation No. 94 in force; JSC instructions not yet final and no licences announced. The main licences are Virtual asset service provider (VASP) licence from JSC; and CBJ prior approval for banks' virtual asset activities from CBJ. Four Pillars rates exchange licensing in Jordan as developing (reviewed 5 Oct 2026).

Are stablecoins regulated in Jordan?

Only in narrow cases. No stablecoin regime; using virtual assets for payments requires CBJ authorisation under Law No. 14. Four Pillars rates its stablecoin regime in Jordan as restricted (reviewed 5 Oct 2026).

How is crypto taxed in Jordan?

No crypto-specific tax rules or guidance yet from Jordan's Income and Sales Tax Department. Four Pillars rates tax clarity in Jordan as developing (reviewed 5 Oct 2026).

Can real-world assets be tokenised in Jordan?

Not fully yet: the regime is being built. Law covers virtual asset offerings via licensed offer providers; detailed rules are still draft. Four Pillars rates tokenisation and real-world assets in Jordan as developing (reviewed 5 Oct 2026).

What changed most recently in Jordan's crypto rules?

15 Jan 2026: JSC consults on executive instructions. The 127-article draft covers platforms, custodians, brokers, offer providers, investor protection and cybersecurity. 16 Dec 2025: Regulation No. 94 of 2025 published. The VASP licensing regulation appeared in the Official Gazette and took effect 30 days later, setting capital of JOD 500,000 to JOD 3 million per activity.

What should companies watch next in Jordan?

Final JSC executive instructions for virtual asset activities, consulted on in January 2026, and the first preliminary approvals and licences. Which virtual assets the JSC allows to trade, after it said trading would not be opened on every asset. Whether the CBJ uses its power under Law No. 14 to approve banks for crypto exchange and custody, or to authorise any crypto payments.

Timeline

  1. JSC consults on executive instructions

    The 127-article draft covers platforms, custodians, brokers, offer providers, investor protection and cybersecurity.

  2. Regulation No. 94 of 2025 published

    The VASP licensing regulation appeared in the Official Gazette and took effect 30 days later, setting capital of JOD 500,000 to JOD 3 million per activity.

  3. Revised licensing regulation published for comment

    The Legislation and Opinion Bureau's draft set capital and licence fees for each activity.

  4. Virtual assets law takes effect

    Virtual asset activities in or from Jordan now require a JSC licence, with criminal penalties for unlicensed firms.

  5. JSC consults on a draft licensing regulation

    The draft VASP licensing regulation was posted on the government's Tawasal consultation portal until 19 August.

  6. Law No. 14 of 2025 published

    The Law Regulating Dealing in Virtual Assets appeared in Official Gazette issue 5996.

  7. National risk assessment rates crypto ML/TF risk as high

    A CBJ-led team found residual money laundering risk from virtual asset exchanges was high because controls were ineffective.

  8. Central Bank bars financial firms from crypto

    A CBJ circular told banks, exchange houses, finance companies and payment firms not to deal in virtual currencies.

  9. Central Bank warns against Bitcoin

    The CBJ said virtual currencies were not legal tender and warned of fraud, hacking and price swings.

Cite this page: Four Pillars Asia Digital Asset Policy Center, “Jordan crypto regulation”, reviewed 5 Oct 2026, https://policy.4pillars.io/jordan. Free to reuse with attribution; also as markdown and JSON.

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