Morocco Crypto Cost Calculator
Transfer Cost Comparison
Compare costs of sending money to Morocco using traditional banks versus crypto platforms. Based on 2025 data: 6.8% inflation, 10% bank fees, and proposed 15% crypto tax.
Enter an amount and click Calculate
Key Insights
Source data: Based on Morocco's 2025 economic conditions: 6.8% inflation, 22% dirham devaluation since 2020, and 10% average banking transfer fees. Crypto fees are estimated at 0.1%.
Despite being officially banned since 2017, cryptocurrency use in Morocco is growing - not despite the law, but because of it. The government says digital currencies are illegal. Yet millions of Moroccans are using them anyway. Why? Because the traditional financial system isn’t working for them.
The Ban That Didn’t Work
In November 2017, Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal. Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank, backed the move, calling crypto a threat to foreign exchange controls and financial stability. Mining, trading, exchanging, even holding Bitcoin or Ethereum became technically criminal under Moroccan law. But the ban never stopped people. Instead, it pushed crypto into the shadows. Today, Morocco ranks as the 21st country in the world for cryptocurrency adoption, according to TRM Labs’ 2025 report. That’s higher than many countries that have fully legalized crypto. Egypt, just ahead at #20, banned crypto too - but for religious reasons. Morocco’s ban is purely economic: they fear losing control over money flows.Why Are People Still Using Crypto?
The answer lies in the economy. Inflation hit 6.8% in 2025. The Moroccan dirham has lost 22% of its value against the US dollar since 2020. Salaries haven’t kept up. Savings are eroding. Banks are slow, expensive, and often unresponsive to young people. For Moroccans under 35 - who make up 83% of crypto users - digital assets offer something traditional finance doesn’t: control. They can send money to family abroad without paying 10% in fees. They can buy Bitcoin as a hedge against currency collapse. They can trade peer-to-peer without needing a bank account. A 2025 survey by the Casablanca Digital Institute found that 68% of crypto users aged 18-35 see it as essential for wealth preservation. Nearly half have had their bank accounts frozen because the bank suspected crypto activity. That’s not a bug - it’s a feature of the system. Banks are forced to report anything suspicious, and crypto transactions look suspicious by default.How Do People Even Use Crypto in Morocco?
You won’t find a Coinbase or Binance office in Casablanca. But you’ll find people trading on Telegram groups, WhatsApp networks, and local OTC (over-the-counter) dealers. Reddit’s r/CryptoMorocco has over 12,500 members sharing tips on how to buy Bitcoin without getting caught. One popular thread, “How to safely trade crypto in Morocco 2025,” has 347 comments - many detailing how to use fake IDs, cash pickups, and encrypted wallets to avoid detection. Most transactions happen offline. Someone buys crypto on a foreign exchange using a friend’s passport abroad, then meets a local trader in a café to exchange cash for digital assets. The trader deposits the cash into their own bank account, and the buyer gets the crypto. It’s risky - 31% of users report being scammed at least once - but it’s the only way. Trustpilot reviews from exchanges used by Moroccans show a pattern: users praise “anonymous account creation” but complain bitterly about “withdrawal restrictions to Moroccan banks.” Banks routinely block transfers from platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins, labeling them as high-risk.The Underground Market Is Huge
Estimates suggest 1.2 million Moroccans are actively using crypto - about 3.2% of the adult population. The market is projected to hit $278.7 million in 2025 and $292.4 million in 2026. Nearly 80% of those transactions happen through informal, unregulated channels. The users? Mostly young, male, university-educated. They’re tech-savvy, frustrated with bureaucracy, and tired of inflation. Many are students, freelancers, or small business owners who need to receive payments from clients overseas. Traditional wire transfers take days and cost too much. Crypto is faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
The Government Is Changing Its Mind
Here’s the twist: Morocco’s ban might be ending. In November 2024, Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri announced a draft law to regulate cryptocurrency - not ban it. The plan is to create a legal, supervised market by the end of 2025. The proposed framework includes:- Mandatory licensing for crypto exchanges operating in Morocco
- Strict KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering / Countering Terrorist Financing) rules
- A 15% capital gains tax on crypto profits
- Registration of all digital asset wallets with the central bank
The CBDC Alternative
While drafting crypto rules, Morocco’s central bank is also racing to launch its own digital currency - a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Unlike Bitcoin, this won’t be decentralized. It will be fully controlled by Bank Al-Maghrib. The goal? Replace cash and reduce reliance on foreign payment systems. The CBDC will allow instant, low-cost domestic transfers and enable cross-border payments with Egypt and other African nations. Morocco is working with the IMF, World Bank, and Egypt’s central bank to design it. This dual strategy is smart: regulate crypto to bring it into the light, and replace it with a government-controlled version. The CBDC won’t offer anonymity. It won’t let you bypass the system. But it will offer speed, security, and state backing - things many Moroccans crave.What This Means for Users
If you’re using crypto in Morocco today, you’re playing a high-stakes game. You’re risking bank freezes, legal trouble, and scams. But you’re also protecting your money from inflation and isolation. The coming regulatory shift changes everything. Once the new law passes, you’ll be able to use licensed exchanges legally. You’ll pay taxes, but you’ll also get protection. Your funds won’t be frozen. Your wallet won’t be flagged. You won’t have to meet strangers in cafés to buy Bitcoin. The underground market will shrink - possibly by 60% - as users migrate to regulated platforms. Experts predict Morocco’s formal crypto market could grow to 2.5 million users by 2027. That’s more than half the current underground user base.
What’s Next?
Morocco is at a crossroads. It can keep clinging to a failed ban, or it can embrace digital finance in a way that protects its economy and its people. The signs point to the latter. The central bank is no longer fighting crypto - it’s trying to own it. The draft law isn’t a threat. It’s an invitation. For Moroccans, the choice isn’t whether to use crypto anymore. It’s whether to use it legally - or risk everything to keep using it illegally.What You Should Do Now
If you’re a Moroccan citizen using crypto:- Start learning about the upcoming regulatory framework. Watch for official announcements from Bank Al-Maghrib.
- Don’t wait until the law passes to get compliant. Begin documenting your transactions now.
- Consider switching to a licensed exchange as soon as one launches in Morocco.
- Avoid OTC trades with strangers. The risk of fraud is real.
- Use hardware wallets to secure your assets. Never leave crypto on an exchange you don’t control.
- Don’t use traditional wire services. They’re slow and expensive.
- Encourage recipients to use regulated crypto platforms once they’re available.
- Consider using stablecoins like USDT or USDC for faster, lower-cost transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cryptocurrency completely illegal in Morocco?
As of 2025, cryptocurrency is still officially banned under Moroccan law. All transactions, mining, and exchanges are prohibited by Bank Al-Maghrib. However, a draft law to legalize and regulate crypto is expected to pass by the end of 2025, which will replace the ban with a supervised framework.
Can I mine Bitcoin in Morocco?
No. Cryptocurrency mining has been illegal in Morocco since 2017. The government considers it a violation of foreign exchange rules and a threat to energy stability. Any mining equipment found may be confiscated, and participants could face legal penalties.
Why is Morocco’s crypto adoption so high despite the ban?
High inflation, currency devaluation, and poor access to international banking have pushed Moroccans - especially youth - toward crypto as a survival tool. With 6.8% inflation and a 22% drop in the dirham’s value since 2020, people see Bitcoin and stablecoins as a way to preserve wealth. The ban hasn’t stopped demand - it’s just made it riskier.
How do Moroccans buy and sell crypto if it’s banned?
Most use peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins, or trade directly through Telegram and WhatsApp groups. They meet in person to exchange cash for crypto, often using fake IDs or third-party accounts to avoid bank detection. These methods are risky and unregulated, but they’re the only option available.
Will Morocco’s new crypto law allow foreign exchanges to operate there?
Yes. The draft law requires all crypto exchanges operating in Morocco to obtain a license from Bank Al-Maghrib. Foreign platforms like Binance or Kraken could apply, but they’d need to comply with strict KYC, AML/CFT rules, and pay a 15% capital gains tax on user profits. Local exchanges are also expected to emerge.
What is Morocco’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?
Morocco’s CBDC is a digital version of the Moroccan dirham, issued and controlled entirely by Bank Al-Maghrib. Unlike Bitcoin, it’s not decentralized. It’s designed for fast, secure domestic and cross-border payments, especially with Egypt. It will replace cash over time and reduce reliance on foreign payment systems, but it won’t offer anonymity or freedom from government oversight.
What happens if my bank account is frozen for crypto activity?
If your bank suspects crypto activity - even if you didn’t break the law - they can freeze your account without warning. You’ll need to prove your funds are legitimate, which is difficult without official records. Once crypto is legalized, banks will be required to follow clear guidelines, and false flags should drop significantly.
Is there a tax on crypto in Morocco?
Currently, there’s no official tax on crypto because it’s illegal. But the upcoming regulatory law will introduce a 15% capital gains tax on profits from crypto sales. This is standard in many regulated markets and will apply once the law takes effect.
Adrian Bailey
November 11, 2025 AT 05:05man i just read this and i’m sitting here thinking how wild it is that a country can ban something so hard and yet it just grows like weeds. morocco’s whole crypto scene feels like a secret society where everyone knows the code but no one talks about it out loud. i’ve seen pics of guys in casablanca cafés hunched over laptops with burner phones, trading btc for cash like it’s 1999. and the best part? the banks are the ones panicking, not the users. they’re freezing accounts left and right, but people just switch wallets. it’s not rebellion-it’s survival. inflation’s at 6.8%, the dirham’s crumbling, and the youth aren’t waiting for permission to build a better system. they’re just building it.
Ashley Mona
November 11, 2025 AT 10:11sooo true. i used to send money to my cousin in rabat via western union and it cost me $45 and took 3 days. now? i send him usdt via telegram, he cashes out with a local guy near the medina, and he gets it in 20 minutes. no paperwork, no bank fees, no ‘suspicious activity’ flags. yeah, it’s sketchy-but so is paying 10% just to send your sister money for her kid’s school. the system failed them. crypto didn’t break the rules, the rules broke the people.