Recently, I’ve been pondering a question: How many countries in the world are outright against cryptocurrencies? I looked up some data, and I was quite shocked.

Currently, there are 51 countries and regions that have implemented varying degrees of bans. Among them, the strictest are nine countries that have enforced a complete ban, prohibiting the production, holding, trading, and use of cryptocurrencies entirely. This list includes Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, and Tunisia.

Speaking of Tunisia, many people might ask: Can you buy cryptocurrencies in Tunisia? The answer is a definitive no. As one of the countries with an absolute ban, Tunisia’s stance is very firm—trading is prohibited, and even holding cryptocurrencies is not allowed.

Apart from these nine countries with outright bans, there are 42 countries that have adopted de facto restrictions. They do not explicitly ban individuals from holding cryptocurrencies, but they strictly prohibit banks and financial institutions from engaging in crypto-related activities, and they do not allow exchanges to operate domestically. These countries include Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Cameroon, Turkey, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Bolivia, Nigeria, and others.

Why are so many countries banning cryptocurrencies? Mainly for a few reasons. First, to protect financial stability and monetary sovereignty—these countries worry that crypto assets could disrupt their financial systems. Second, for capital controls and anti-money laundering efforts—cryptocurrencies’ cross-border flow makes regulation difficult. There’s also the angle of counter-terrorism financing; some countries believe they need to cut off channels for illegal funds.

Some countries also worry that cryptocurrencies could put pressure on their fiat currencies or cause social issues and resource wastage. So, these nations have taken quite strict measures to limit or eliminate the influence of cryptocurrencies.

This global wave of bans actually reflects different national attitudes toward digital assets. In this context, understanding each country’s specific policies is becoming increasingly important.