Bolivia

Legal

Virtual Asset (Activo Virtual) · Partial · ↻ under consideration

BanksFinancial Institutions

Comprehensive framework Proposed CASP / VASP regime In progress · 2025 Licensing Unregulated AML / CFT In progress · 2025 Stablecoins Unregulated · Unregulated CBDC Proposed Consumer protection Unregulated Travel rule No Advertising rules No Taxation Unclear

Summary

Bolivia banned cryptocurrency for roughly a decade (the Banco Central de Bolivia first prohibited it in 2014, reinforced by Resolution 144/2020), but lifted the ban in June 2024 via BCB Board Resolution N.082/2024, authorizing financial institutions to conduct crypto transactions through authorized electronic channels. Crypto is still not legal tender and there is no comprehensive market framework, but an AML obligated-subject registry for virtual asset service providers (UIF Resolución Administrativa 019/2025) and a fintech/virtual-asset firm regime (ASFI Circular 885/25) are now being implemented. The 2024 change was driven partly by GAFILAT recommendations and dollar-shortage pressures; crypto and stablecoin usage surged afterward.

Timeline

2014: BCB first bans cryptocurrencies. 2020: Resolution 144/2020 reaffirms the prohibition. Jun 2024: BCB Board Resolution N.082/2024 lifts the ban, permitting crypto transactions via authorized electronic means. Jul-Sep 2024: virtual asset trading volumes roughly double versus the prior 18-month average.

AML / CFT

UIF Resolución Administrativa 019/2025 (16 Apr 2025) designates PSAV as obligated subjects and creates the PSAV registry, replacing the suspended Resolution 58/2024. Decreto Supremo 4904 (2023) is the general UIF regulation that underpins it. ASFI Circular 885/25 (3 Jul 2025) regulates fintech/virtual-asset firms (ETF) with a sandbox and cybersecurity rules, adaptation deadline in 2026.