Morocco Prepares Regulators for Crypto Oversight as Legal Framework Takes Shape
In a clear signal of policy shift, the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) has begun equipping financial and enforcement agencies with the technical skills required to supervise crypto-asset activity even before a formal legal framework is enacted. The move reflects growing recognition that digital assets are already part of the financial landscape and that regulatory readiness will define the next chapter of Morocco’s crypto policy.
From December 8 to 11, 2025, Rabat played host to a four-day seminar focused on crypto-asset regulation and blockchain supervision. Organized by the AMMC in partnership with Chainalysis, the initiative brought together officials from Morocco’s key financial and security institutions, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Interior, Bank Al-Maghrib (the central bank), and the National Financial Intelligence Authority.
AMMC President Tarik Senhaji underscored the need for regulators to move beyond theoretical understanding, emphasizing that technical fluency in blockchain and digital asset markets is now essential for modern financial oversight. In his view, equipping authorities with practical tools to monitor risks, enforce compliance, and detect financial crime lays the groundwork for effective supervision once new laws come into effect.
The training blended foundational concepts about distributed ledger technology with exercises in on-chain investigation and fund tracing, offering participants a firsthand look at the tools now widely used to follow crypto transactions and uncover illicit activities.
Morocco’s investment in capacity building is widely seen as part of a broader transition in policy. For years, the country maintained a restrictive approach to cryptocurrencies due to concerns about financial stability and capital controls. However, grassroots adoption has continued to grow despite regulatory ambiguity, driven largely by increased interest among younger investors and informal peer-to-peer activity.
Read Also: Morocco Introduces Draft Law to Regulate Digital Assets
In response, authorities are advancing a draft law intended to regulate crypto-assets. The details of this legislation reflect an effort to balance innovation with oversight, setting out licensing requirements for digital asset service providers, compliance expectations, and anti-money-laundering (AML) safeguards.
The training effort aligns with global best practices, particularly the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendation 15, which urges jurisdictions to assess and manage risks associated with emerging technologies while supervising virtual asset service providers. Moreover, the AMMC’s leadership role in regional bodies like the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), where it holds the presidency of the Africa–Middle East Regional Committee, amplifies Morocco’s commitment to harmonizing its approach with global regulatory trends
