Rwanda Reaffirms Crypto Ban After Bybit Adds Franc Support

Rwanda Reaffirms Ban on Crypto Transactions Involving Franc – Central Bank Responds to Bybit P2P Integration

Key Takeaways

• The National Bank of Rwanda has reiterated that cryptocurrencies are not authorized for payments, conversions, or peer-to-peer trading involving the Rwandan franc.
• The statement followed Bybit’s introduction of Rwandan franc support on its peer-to-peer trading platform.
• Financial institutions under central bank supervision remain prohibited from facilitating conversions between the franc and crypto-assets.
• Rwanda continues to pursue a state-backed digital currency project, the e-franc, currently in proof-of-concept stage.
• A draft regulatory framework proposes licensing for virtual asset service providers while maintaining strict limitations on crypto use.

Central Bank Reiterates Prohibition After Bybit Adds Franc Support

Rwanda’s central bank has restated its prohibition on cryptocurrency activity involving the national currency after crypto exchange Bybit enabled support for the Rwandan franc on its peer-to-peer marketplace.

In a statement published on Sunday, the National Bank of Rwanda clarified that crypto-assets are not authorized for payments, conversions involving the franc, or peer-to-peer trading under the country’s current legal and regulatory framework. The announcement came shortly after Bybit disclosed that users could buy and sell digital assets using the Rwandan franc through its P2P platform.

The central bank warned residents against engaging in such services, citing financial risks and the absence of legal protection in cases of loss. It emphasized that the Rwandan franc remains the country’s only legal tender.

Bybit has not indicated whether it obtained local regulatory approval before introducing franc-denominated trading pairs on its peer-to-peer marketplace. As of the central bank’s statement, the exchange had not issued a public response.

Restrictions on Financial Institutions and Domestic Exposure

The National Bank of Rwanda reaffirmed that financial institutions under its supervision are prohibited from facilitating conversions between the Rwandan franc and crypto-assets. This restriction is designed to limit direct exposure between the domestic financial system and digital asset markets.

By reiterating these limits, regulators signaled that foreign crypto platforms integrating the franc into trading services do not alter the existing legal framework. The central bank’s clarification also underlined its position that informal or peer-to-peer channels do not fall outside regulatory scrutiny.

Authorities have previously framed these measures as part of a broader strategy to safeguard financial stability and preserve confidence in the national currency. Policymakers have expressed concern that enabling local currency support on global crypto platforms could create pathways for transactions that operate beyond domestic oversight.

Rwanda’s Restrictive Stance on Cryptocurrency Since 2018

Rwanda has maintained a restrictive approach to cryptocurrencies since 2018, when authorities first moved to curb their use in domestic transactions. Since then, crypto-assets have not been recognized as legal tender in the country.

The central bank’s latest statement confirms that this position remains unchanged. Under the current framework, cryptocurrencies cannot be used for payments, and conversions involving the franc are not authorized.

According to data from Chainalysis cited in the source material, Rwanda ranks among lower-adoption markets for cryptocurrency activity across 2024 and 2025. Transaction volumes trail regional peers such as Nigeria and South Africa. Limited usage has so far reduced the scale of potential systemic risks, though regulators appear intent on maintaining strict oversight as global crypto platforms expand their services.

Draft Framework Proposes Licensing With Strict Limitations

While Rwanda maintains its prohibition on the use of crypto-assets involving the franc, regulatory efforts are evolving beyond outright restrictions.

In March, the Rwanda Capital Market Authority released a draft framework aimed at establishing rules for virtual asset service providers. The proposal outlines a licensing regime that would permit regulated activity under defined conditions.

Under the draft legislation, crypto-assets would not be recognized as legal tender. The framework also proposes prohibitions on certain activities, including mining operations, mixer services, and tokens linked to the Rwandan franc. In addition, the draft introduces oversight measures intended to bring service providers under formal regulatory supervision.

This approach reflects an attempt to create structured oversight while preserving strict limits on how cryptocurrencies can interact with the domestic monetary system.

Parallel Development of the e-Franc

At the same time, Rwanda is pursuing a state-backed digital currency project known as the e-franc. The initiative remains in a proof-of-concept phase.

Authorities view the project as a way to modernize the country’s payments infrastructure while maintaining control over monetary policy and currency issuance. A pilot phase is expected to follow as the project progresses.

The development of a central bank digital currency alongside restrictions on decentralized crypto-assets illustrates the distinction Rwandan authorities draw between privately issued digital tokens and state-backed digital money.

Implications for Crypto Platforms and Users

For international crypto exchanges and peer-to-peer marketplaces, the central bank’s statement signals that enabling trading support for the Rwandan franc does not equate to regulatory authorization within the country.

For users, the warning highlights that participation in crypto transactions involving the franc may occur without legal protection under domestic law. The central bank has made clear that losses resulting from such activities would not be covered by existing safeguards.

The clarification also reinforces that financial institutions supervised by the central bank cannot facilitate crypto-fiat conversions involving the franc, limiting formal on- and off-ramps within Rwanda’s regulated banking sector.

Our Assessment

The National Bank of Rwanda has reaffirmed that cryptocurrencies remain unauthorized for payments, conversions, and peer-to-peer trading involving the Rwandan franc, following Bybit’s addition of franc support on its P2P platform. Financial institutions are still barred from facilitating crypto conversions, and the franc remains the sole legal tender.

At the same time, Rwanda is developing a draft licensing framework for virtual asset service providers and advancing its e-franc project. Together, these measures indicate that while authorities are exploring structured oversight and state-backed digital currency solutions, the current prohibition on crypto transactions involving the national currency remains firmly in place.