Crypto-funded debit card in Jordan

Repeated warnings and clarifications of the prohibition.

Law enforcement action against individuals involved in fraud, scams, or money laundering where crypto is a component.

Directives to financial institutions to not deal with crypto.

Regulator Name: Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ)

December 2021: The CBJ re-emphasized its warning regarding dealing in cryptocurrencies.

Jordan Times (Dec 2021, referring to CBJ warning): https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/cbj-warns-against-dealing-cryptocurrencies-financial-transactions

Zawya (Reuters, March 2023, referring to ongoing stance): https://www.zawya.com/en/legal/regulation/crypto-regulation-in-jordan-what-you-need-to-know-mklb2q0a (This article provides context on the CBJ's ongoing prohibition).

Not Legal Tender: Virtual assets (like Bitcoin) are explicitly stated not to be legal tender in Jordan.

Prohibition for Regulated Entities: Financial institutions operating under CBJ supervision (banks, payment service providers, etc.) are generally prohibited from dealing with virtual assets, facilitating transactions involving them, or providing services related to them to customers. This effectively means that regulated financial entities cannot offer crypto services.

No Specific Licenses Exist: There are no prescribed licenses for these activities because the CBJ has not opened the market for them.

Implied Prohibition: Any entity seeking to operate these services within Jordan and deal with Jordanian residents or financial institutions would likely run afoul of CBJ directives.

Neither is in place for VASPs: Jordan currently operates neither a registration-only regime nor a comprehensive licensing regime specifically for virtual asset service providers. The approach is more restrictive.

Jordan Times: CBJ reiterates warning against cryptocurrencies (Note: This is a news report, not a direct CBJ policy document, but it reflects their publicly stated position).

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Law No. 20 of 2021: This is the most recent comprehensive law that aligns Jordan's framework more closely with international standards, including FATF recommendations. While it doesn't explicitly detail VASP licensing, it broadens the scope of entities subject to AML/CFT obligations and strengthens preventative measures. It aims to cover all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) that might be exposed to ML/TF risks.

Identification and Verification of Customers:

For Individuals: Obtaining and verifying the customer's full name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, permanent address, national identification number (e.g., national ID card, passport), and occupation. This often requires reliable, independent source documents (e.g., government-issued ID, utility bills).

Identification of Beneficial Ownership: For legal entities or arrangements, identifying and verifying the identity of the natural persons who ultimately own or control the customer, or the natural person on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted.

Understanding the Purpose and Intended Nature of the Business Relationship: Collecting information on the customer's typical transaction patterns, the nature of their virtual asset activities, and the source of funds/wealth.

Ongoing Monitoring: Continuously scrutinizing transactions undertaken by customers to ensure they are consistent with the VASP’s knowledge of the customer, their business, and risk profile, including (where necessary) the source of funds.

Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Applying stricter measures for higher-risk situations, such as:

Transactions involving high-risk jurisdictions.

Business relationships with Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

Complex, unusually large transactions, or unusual patterns of transactions that have no apparent economic or lawful purpose.

Report Suspicious Activities: Immediately report any suspicious transaction or activity (including attempted transactions) that they know, suspect, or have reasonable grounds to suspect involves money laundering or terrorist financing to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Jordan).

No Tipping-Off: Prohibit the disclosure to the customer or any third party that a suspicious transaction report has been or will be submitted.

Customer Identification Data: All documents obtained through CDD measures (copies of identification documents, beneficial ownership information).

Transaction Records: Details of all virtual asset transactions, including transaction amounts, types of virtual assets, addresses involved, timestamps, and any relevant metadata.

Retention Period: Records must typically be kept for a minimum period of five (5) years after the business relationship has ended or after the date of an occasional transaction.

Designated AML/CFT Compliance Officer: Appointing a senior-level compliance officer responsible for overseeing the AML/CFT program.

Internal Policies and Procedures: Developing and implementing comprehensive AML/CFT policies and procedures tailored to their specific risks and operations.

Employee Training: Providing ongoing training to all relevant employees on AML/CFT laws, regulations, internal policies, and how to recognize and report suspicious activities.

Independent Audit: Conducting regular independent audits of their AML/CFT programs to assess their effectiveness.

Entity Targeted: General public, financial institutions, and anyone contemplating dealing in cryptocurrencies. Violation Type: Dealing in, trading, or promoting cryptocurrencies within the Jordanian financial system is prohibited and deemed risky. The CBJ considers cryptocurrencies to carry high risks due to their volatile nature, lack of regulatory oversight, potential for money laundering and terrorist financing, and cyber risks. Penalty Amount: Not applicable to a general warning/prohibition. However, engaging in prohibited activities could lead to legal repercussions under existing financial and anti-money laundering laws, though specific penalties for crypto dealing outside of fraud aren't often publicized for individuals. Licensed financial institutions found violating CBJ directives could face regulatory penalties. Outcome: Maintenance of a strict prohibitory environment, discouraging financial institutions from engaging in crypto-related activities and warning the public against associated risks.

Outcome: Maintenance of a strict prohibitory environment, discouraging financial institutions from engaging in crypto-related activities and warning the public against associated risks.