🇦🇱Albania

Detailed overview

Albania at a glance

Albania (population approximately 2.7 million — figure not separately primary-verified) is an EU-candidate Western Balkan economy with a still-significant cash/informal sector, an early-mover crypto statute, a PSD2-aligned payments framework, and a gambling policy that reversed from prohibition to a narrow, capped re-opening. MONEYVAL/EU-accession dynamics have shaped both the crypto and gambling reforms.

Crypto regime — dedicated DLT law:

• Law No. 66/2020 "On Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology" — adopted 21 May 2020; Official Gazette No. 136 (published 21 July 2020); in force 1 September 2020; 107 articles; regulates issuance of digital tokens/virtual currencies and licensing/supervision of distribution, trading and custody, plus DT agents, innovative-service providers and collective-investment schemes
• Five licence types issued by AFSA (financial/regulatory assessment) with NAIS/AKSHI (innovative-technology certification): Digital Token Agent, DLT Exchange, Third-Party (Custodian) Wallet Provider, issuer/STO-ICO authorisation, Innovative Service Provider
• Implementing by-laws approved from November 2021 (capital adequacy/own funds; DT-agent licensing) and a DLT-exchange licensing regime from June 2022 (three exchange categories: digital assets/tokens; fiat-and-virtual-currency; digital securities)
• AML Law No. 9917 of 19 May 2008 — amended to reflect FATF recommendations and bring Virtual Assets/VASPs into scope (enhanced due diligence)
• Tax: crypto treated as taxable property — reported flat 15% capital-gains tax on trading profits; mining/staking income taxed as ordinary income (reported 0–23%) under the income-tax law effective 1 January 2024
• Market reality: framework is comprehensive but the domestic market is undeveloped with few/no locally licensed providers; ~50,000 investment portfolios reported (Chainalysis-cited, not primary-verified)
• Earlier Bank of Albania risk warnings on virtual currency (2017) preceded the law

Payments and e-money regime:

• Law No. 55/2020 "On Payment Services" — dated 30 April 2020; transposes EU PSD2 (Directive 2015/2366); licensing by the Bank of Albania; introduces payment institutions, PISPs and AISPs (open banking / third-party providers)
• EMI regulation — Decision No. 57 of 21 December 2022 "On the exercise of activity and supervision of electronic money institutions"; PI/EMI licensing regulation references articles of Law No. 55/2020
• Open banking — Bank of Albania a regional pioneer; first open-banking licence granted to the electronic money institution Easypay (November 2024), with further operators following
• Banking framework: Law "On banks" and Regulation No. 14/2009; AML under Law No. 9917/2008 and Bank of Albania AML Regulation No. 44/2009
• Currency: lek (ALL), free-floating; Bank of Albania calculates a single official reference rate

Gambling regime — prohibition then capped re-opening:

• Law No. 155/2015 "On gambling in the Republic of Albania" — primary gambling statute
• 2018 amendment — banned most gambling from 1 January 2019: in-person and online sports betting, betting shops, slot parlors and casinos in residential areas prohibited; exceptions retained for casinos in 5-star hotels/tourist-resort zones, televised bingo and the national lottery (concession-based); Gambling Supervision Authority restructured/suspended
• Law No. 18/2024 — parliamentary vote 15 February 2024 (72 of 140 seats); amended Law No. 155/2015 to reintroduce regulated online sports betting: maximum ten licences; applicant or a shareholder must have ≥3 years' gambling experience in ≥3 EU/OECD countries; joint-stock company registered/HQ'd in Albania with clean-record shareholders; mandatory payment into a special fund for sport, culture, innovation and technology; new advertising restrictions; player/identity/transaction records kept ≥3 years
• Minimum gambling age 21; land-based casinos remain limited to 5-star hotels/resort zones

Last verified: May 2026. Reference rate: USD 1 = ALL 82 (1 ALL ≈ USD 0.0122). The lek is free-floating; the Bank of Albania publishes a single official reference rate. EUR figures converted at approximately EUR 1 = USD 1.16.

Albania is an early-mover, structured jurisdiction: a comprehensive (if still thinly-used) DLT crypto-licensing regime under AFSA, a PSD2-aligned Bank of Albania payments/e-money framework, and a gambling market that is open only narrowly — capped online sports betting (max 10 licences) plus 5-star-hotel casinos.

Is there a crypto licence in Albania?

Yes. Albania has a dedicated, comprehensive crypto framework — Law No. 66/2020 on Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology (in force 1 September 2020) — with five licence types issued by AFSA together with NAIS/AKSHI for technology certification. The legal framework is well-developed though the domestic market remains undeveloped, with few/no locally licensed providers to date.

The legal foundation:

• Law No. 66/2020 "On Financial Markets Based on Distributed Ledger Technology" — 21 May 2020; Official Gazette No. 136; in force 1 September 2020; 107 articles
• AFSA — competent for financial/regulatory assessment and licensing; NAIS/AKSHI — innovative-technology certification (smart contracts/software)
• Implementing by-laws (capital adequacy/own funds; DT-agent licensing) from November 2021; DLT-exchange licensing regime from June 2022
• AML Law No. 9917 of 19 May 2008 — FATF-aligned; amended to capture Virtual Assets/VASPs
• Income-tax law effective 1 January 2024 — taxes crypto (property treatment)

Structure:

• Five licence types: Digital Token Agent (DT Agent — legal representative submitting/monitoring obligations); DLT Exchange (three categories: digital assets/tokens; fiat-and-virtual; digital securities); Third-Party (Custodian) Wallet Provider; Issuer/STO-ICO authorisation; Innovative Service Provider (NAIS-certified)
• Several licences require application through a licensed DT Agent (e.g. exchange or third-party custodian)
• Statutory review term of 60 days (suspended while AFSA awaits requested clarifications/documentation); NAIS reviews technology agreements within 1 working day of forwarding
• Applicant must be a joint-stock company registered in Albania, with board/governance, cyber-resilience, risk-management and customer-recourse measures

Tax:

• Crypto treated as taxable property; reported flat 15% capital-gains tax on trading profits; mining/staking as ordinary income (reported 0–23%) — confirm against the 2024 income-tax law

Operational reality:

• Framework is among the most developed in the region but practical uptake is low (few/no locally licensed providers; banking relationships cautious) — a legal-vs-implementation gap
• MONEYVAL/EU-accession context has driven both the law and pressure for faster by-laws
• Independent verification with AFSA on current licensing practice and fees is essential before relying on the regime

Crypto — DLT Licences (AFSA + NAIS)

Best for token issuers, exchanges and custodians prepared to license under a comprehensive but thinly-tested DLT regime via a licensed DT Agent.

What it is: Authorisation under Law No. 66/2020 across five licence types (DT Agent, DLT Exchange, Third-Party Custodian Wallet Provider, Issuer/STO-ICO, Innovative Service Provider), issued by AFSA with NAIS technology certification.

Who it suits: Token issuers (STO/ICO), DLT exchanges (digital-asset, fiat-and-virtual, or digital-securities) and custodian wallet providers willing to operate as/through an Albanian joint-stock company and DT Agent.

Covers: Issuance/distribution, trading and custody of digital tokens/virtual currencies; STO/ICO with approved whitepaper/prospectus; innovative-technology services (smart-contract audit/administration).

Operational requirement: Albanian joint-stock company; application (often via a licensed DT Agent); approved prospectus/whitepaper for STO/ICO; capital-adequacy/own-funds compliance; cyber-resilience and customer-recourse measures; AML/CFT under Law No. 9917/2008; NAIS certification of innovative-technology agreements.

Headline figures

• Primary law: Law No. 66/2020 (in force 1 September 2020; 107 articles)
• Licence types: five (DT Agent; DLT Exchange ×3 categories; Custodian Wallet; Issuer/STO-ICO; Innovative Service Provider)
• Review term: 60 days (suspendable for clarifications)
• Tax (reported): 15% capital gains on trading; mining/staking 0–23% as income (2024 income-tax law)
• Application/capital fees: set by AFSA/NAIS by-laws — not primary-verified here
• Market: comprehensive law, low domestic uptake (few/no locally licensed providers)

Is there a payments or e-money licence in Albania?

Yes. The Bank of Albania licenses payment institutions and electronic money institutions under Law No. 55/2020 "On Payment Services" (PSD2 transposition), including open-banking third-party providers (PISP/AISP). The first open-banking licence was granted in November 2024.

The legal foundation:

• Law No. 55/2020 "On Payment Services" — dated 30 April 2020; transposes EU PSD2 (Directive 2015/2366); Bank of Albania licensing
• EMI regulation — Decision No. 57 of 21 December 2022 "On the exercise of activity and supervision of electronic money institutions"; PI/EMI licensing regulation
• Banking framework: Law "On banks"; Regulation No. 14/2009; AML Law No. 9917/2008 + Bank of Albania AML Regulation No. 44/2009

Structure:

• Payment-service activity requires a Bank of Albania licence; scope includes cash placement/withdrawal, payment accounts, transfers, card transactions, PISP and AISP
• Open-banking third-party-provider roles defined (first licence: Easypay, an EMI, November 2024; further operators following)
• Application includes activity description, three-year forecast budget, minimum-capital evidence, governance and internal-control mechanisms

Payment Institution / Electronic Money Institution (Bank of Albania)

Best for payment and e-money firms targeting an EU-aligned, open-banking-enabled framework in a cash-heavy but modernising market.

What it is: Bank of Albania authorisation as a payment institution or electronic money institution under Law No. 55/2020 (PSD2), including open-banking PISP/AISP roles.

Who it suits: Payment institutions, e-money issuers and open-banking third-party providers building EU-aligned rails in Albania.

Covers: Payment accounts and cash operations, transfers, card transactions, payment initiation and account information services; e-money issuance.

Operational requirement: Albanian entity; Bank of Albania licence; three-year forecast budget; minimum-capital evidence; governance/internal-control description; AML/CFT under Law No. 9917/2008; strong-customer-authentication and security-standards compliance.

Headline figures

• Primary law: Law No. 55/2020 "On Payment Services" (PSD2; dated 30 April 2020)
• EMI regulation: Decision No. 57 of 21 December 2022
• Bank of Albania application fee: ~EUR 250 (≈ USD 290) (excludes translation/advisory costs)
• Payment-institution minimum capital: ~EUR 20,000–375,000 (≈ USD 23,200–435,000) by service type
• Open banking: first licence Easypay (EMI), November 2024

Is there a gambling licence in Albania?

Partly, and narrowly. Most gambling was banned from 1 January 2019 under amendments to Law No. 155/2015 (only 5-star-hotel casinos, TV bingo and the national lottery survived). Law No. 18/2024 (vote 15 February 2024) reintroduced regulated online sports betting with a hard cap of ten licences and strict eligibility; other forms remain prohibited.

The legal foundation:

• Law No. 155/2015 "On gambling in the Republic of Albania" — primary statute
• 2018 amendment — most gambling banned from 1 January 2019; exceptions: 5-star-hotel/resort-zone casinos, televised bingo, national lottery (concession); Gambling Supervision Authority restructured
• Law No. 18/2024 — parliamentary vote 15 February 2024; reintroduced regulated online sports betting; max ten licences; mandatory special-fund contribution; new advertising restrictions

Structure:

• Online sports-betting licence: maximum ten; applicant or a shareholder must have ≥3 years' gambling experience in ≥3 EU/OECD countries; joint-stock company registered/HQ'd in Albania; clean-record shareholders; ≥3-year record retention; new License Commission decides
• Land-based casinos: restricted to 5-star hotels/designated resort zones
• Televised bingo and national lottery: continue under concession
• Other gambling (retail betting shops, residential-area slot parlors/casinos) remains prohibited; minimum age 21

Gambling — Online Sports Betting (cap of 10) / 5-star-hotel Casinos

Best for established multi-jurisdiction sports-betting operators able to win one of ten licences; land-based limited to luxury-hotel casinos.

What it is: A capped online sports-betting licence under Law No. 18/2024 (amending Law No. 155/2015), or a land-based casino licence restricted to 5-star hotels/resort zones.

Who it suits: Established operators with ≥3 years' gambling experience across ≥3 EU/OECD jurisdictions; luxury-hotel/resort casino operators.

Covers: Online sports betting (capped at ten licences); land-based casino games in 5-star hotels/resort zones; televised bingo and national lottery operate under concession (not openly licensable).

Operational requirement: Joint-stock company registered/HQ'd in Albania; demonstrated multi-jurisdiction gambling experience; clean-record shareholders; financial guarantees; mandatory contribution to the special sport/culture/innovation/technology fund; ≥3-year retention of player/identity/transaction records; License Commission approval; minimum age 21.

Headline figures

• Primary statute: Law No. 155/2015 as amended (2018 ban; Law No. 18/2024 re-opening, vote 15 February 2024)
• Online sports-betting licences: maximum 10
• Eligibility: ≥3 years' gambling experience in ≥3 EU/OECD countries; Albanian JSC
• Land-based: casinos only in 5-star hotels/resort zones; TV bingo + national lottery by concession
• Minimum age: 21; record retention ≥3 years; mandatory special-fund contribution

Costs and timelines at a glance

• Crypto: Law No. 66/2020 (in force 1 September 2020); five AFSA/NAIS licence types; 60-day review (suspendable); reported 15% CGT / 0–23% mining-staking (2024 income-tax law); low domestic uptake
• Crypto application/capital fees: set by AFSA/NAIS by-laws — not primary-verified here
• Payments: Law No. 55/2020 (PSD2); Bank of Albania; EMI Decision No. 57/2022; open banking live (Easypay, Nov 2024)
• Payments fees: Bank of Albania ~EUR 250 (≈ USD 290); PI minimum capital ~EUR 20,000–375,000 (≈ USD 23,200–435,000) by service type
• Gambling: Law No. 155/2015 as amended; near-total ban from 1 Jan 2019; Law No. 18/2024 re-opening (max 10 online sports-betting licences; ≥3yr/≥3 EU-OECD experience; 5-star-hotel casinos; TV bingo + national lottery by concession); min age 21
• AML: Law No. 9917/2008 (FATF-aligned; VASP-amended); Bank of Albania AML Regulation No. 44/2009
• Currency: lek (ALL), free-floating; Bank of Albania single official reference rate
• FX: USD 1 = ALL 82 (1 ALL ≈ USD 0.0122)

Who Albania suits and who it does not

Suitable for

• Token issuers, DLT exchanges and custodians wanting an early-mover, comprehensively-drafted EU-accession-track crypto regime under AFSA, and willing to operate as/through an Albanian joint-stock company and licensed DT Agent
• Payment institutions and e-money issuers targeting a PSD2-aligned, open-banking-enabled framework supervised by the Bank of Albania
• Established multi-jurisdiction sports-betting operators able to meet the ≥3-year/≥3 EU-OECD experience test and compete for one of ten online licences, and luxury-hotel/resort casino operators
• Groups with strong independent counsel able to navigate a comprehensive-but-thinly-tested crypto regime and MONEYVAL/EU-accession-driven change

Not suitable for

• Crypto firms needing a deep, proven domestic ecosystem or banking comfort — the framework is comprehensive but uptake is low and bank relationships are cautious
• Operators expecting fast, certain crypto licensing in practice — by-law implementation has lagged the law and licensing practice is thinly tested
• Retail/land-based betting operators or residential-area casino/slot operators — these remain prohibited; land-based casinos are limited to 5-star hotels/resort zones
• Online sports-betting operators without multi-jurisdiction experience or unable to compete for one of only ten licences
• Businesses sensitive to EU-accession/MONEYVAL-driven regulatory change or to a still-significant informal/cash economy