- The Bank of Ghana will present a crypto licensing framework by September to regulate growing digital asset use among individuals and businesses.
- Around 3 million Ghanaians actively use cryptocurrencies, accounting for $3 billion in transactions between July 2023 and June 2024.
- Governor Asiama says unregulated crypto use is missing from financial records, making oversight vital for currency management and inflation control.
Ghana’s central bank is preparing to license Bitcoin and cryptocurrency platforms under a new regulatory framework scheduled for parliamentary submission by September 2025. The move aims to capture growing crypto transactions in national financial reporting as adoption continues to rise.
Bank of Ghana Seeks Oversight on Expanding Crypto Use
Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that licensing digital asset platforms is now a priority for the central bank. He explained, “We are actually late in the game,” acknowledging that a significant portion of economic activity involving cryptocurrencies is happening outside the reach of regulators.
He further noted, “Many of the country’s economic agents make and receive payments in cryptocurrencies but they are not being captured in the nation’s financial accounts because of the absence of regulatory oversight.” The central bank intends to address this by introducing clear policies that allow for better monitoring and control of crypto-related financial flows.
The framework will focus on bringing crypto use into formal structures to improve financial data collection, increase transparency, and strengthen the central bank’s ability to manage the cedi and overall monetary policy.
Surge in Crypto Transactions Highlights Urgency
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency transactions in Ghana totaled $3 billion. According to Bloomberg, nearly 3 million Ghanaians—or 17% of the adult population—are actively using digital assets. Despite this growing volume, the sector remains largely unregulated.
Commenting on the need for regulation, Del Titus Bawuah, CEO of Web3 Africa Group, told Bloomberg, “It is in the interest of African authorities to mainstream cryptocurrency into their financial system for better oversight.” He added, “Clearly data supports that companies and citizens heavily use virtual currencies.”
Across sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria led the region with $59 billion in crypto transactions during the same period, contributing to a regional total of $125 billion. Ghana’s move to license platforms reflects a broader shift toward formalizing crypto activity across the continent.
The regulatory push comes amid economic challenges. The cedi appreciated 48% over the past year following a 25% drop the year before. Inflation stood at 13.7% in June 2025, with a policy interest rate of 28%—the highest real interest rate Ghana has seen in two decades. Regulators believe including crypto in formal records could improve monetary planning and economic stability.
