---
type: supranational
domain: crypto-regulation
status: stable
tags: ["crypto-regulation", "supranational", "varies"]
aliases: ["WAEMU", "West African Economic and Monetary Union"]
created: 2026-04-13
updated: 2026-04-02
compile_into: ["[[country--waemu-west-african-economic-and-monetary-union]]"]
sources:
  - name: "UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union)"
    url: "https://www.uemoa.int"
    type: "official"
---

# 🏛️ WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union) (WAEMU) — Crypto Regulation

> WAEMU has no member-state-overriding crypto law. BCEAO issued a 2023 framework acknowledging crypto assets. Member states (Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Benin, Guinea-Bissau) each implement with variation. See member states.

## Overview

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Status | varies |
| Risk Score | 55/100 (High Risk) |
| Enforcement Level | Moderate |
| Region | [[domain--supranational|supranational]] |
| Currency | [[entity--xof|XOF]] |

## Tax

| Type | Rate |
|------|------|
| Capital Gains (Personal) | No specific guidance |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | No specific guidance |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Mining Tax | No specific guidance |
| Staking Tax | No specific guidance |
| Airdrop Tax | No specific guidance |

No crypto-specific tax guidance available.

## Licensing

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Required | No |
| Regulator | [[entity--bceao|BCEAO]] |
| Framework | No crypto framework |
| Ease | N/A |
| Cost | N/A |
| Timeline | N/A months |

BCEAO (Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) governs monetary and payment policy across WAEMU member states (SN, TG, CI, ML, BF, BJ, NE, GW). No unified VASP licensing framework yet; member states individually apply BCEAO guidance.

## AML / KYC

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | No |
| FATF Status | fsrb_only |

## DeFi

**Status:** Restricted

DeFi activities may face restrictions under existing financial regulations

## Stablecoins

**Status:** no_rules

No specific stablecoin framework; general financial regulations may apply

## NFTs

**Status:** no_rules

No specific NFT regulation; may be subject to existing financial rules

## Mining

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Legal | No |
| Electricity Cost | $0.15/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 20% |
| Climate | tropical |
| Infrastructure | fair |

Mining is restricted in WAEMU countries due to regulatory uncertainty and high electricity costs. Infrastructure is developing but limited compared to global standards.

## Geopolitics

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Stability | moderate |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 35/100 |
| Ease of Business | difficult |
| Internet Freedom | partly_free |
| Banking Access | restricted |

## Enforcement

Enforcement focused on unlicensed operators and AML/KYC violations

## CBDC Status: unknown

---

*Data source: [Soken Crypto Legal Map](https://soken.io/crypto-map/). Last reviewed: 2026-04-13.*

**Sources:**
- [UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union)](https://www.uemoa.int)