Ukraine Central Bank Outlines Crypto Legalization Limits, Excluding Legal Tender Role

Ukraine’s central bank remains committed to advancing crypto legalization while firmly ruling out virtual assets as legal tender, amidst heightened oversight of unlicensed exchanges and evolving legislative proposals.

BTC

Summary

On August 8, NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy reiterated that virtual assets cannot be used as a means of payment, setting a clear red line, even as the central bank prepares to legalize crypto under a controlled framework. The bank is stepping up scrutiny of unlicensed crypto exchanges and is working on a new draft virtual assets law expected by October 2025, alongside proposals that might allow holding cryptocurrencies in national reserves.

Terms & Concepts
  • Virtual Assets: Digital representations of value used in transactions, which in Ukraine are not permitted as legal tender despite their potential utility.