Jordan has adopted a law regulating virtual asset transactions that bars individuals and entities from conducting or promoting virtual asset activities in the kingdom without a licence from the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC), according to an official statement on the legislation reported on 17 June 2025. The law, which Parliament approved during its first ordinary session, will take effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Anyone who conducts or promotes virtual asset activities without a licence faces imprisonment of not less than one year and fines of between JD50,000 and JD100,000 (about $70,500 to $141,000). The law also empowers the Jordanian authorities to shut down unlicensed entities.
SECURITIES COMMISSION TAKES THE LEAD
Under the new framework, the JSC will be responsible for licensing, monitoring and supervising virtual asset service providers, and for ensuring their compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements. Only entities licensed by the commission will be permitted to operate in the kingdom. Activities are considered to take place within Jordan if the service provider is established or has a business presence in the country, or markets its services to Jordanian clients.
The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) will be able to authorise the use of virtual assets for payment purposes, subject to specific regulations. It will also oversee financial institutions involved in certain virtual asset activities, which will require its prior approval.
SCOPE OF THE LAW
The law does not cover digital securities and financial assets regulated by the JSC, or digital currency issued by the CBJ. The JSC's Board of Commissioners has the power to subject other digital representations of value to the law's provisions and to consider them investment instruments.
The legislation follows a Cabinet decision in January 2025 that tasked the JSC with creating a legal and regulatory framework for virtual assets within one year.
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