Jordan Crypto Licensing Cost Calculator
Calculate your total licensing cost and timeline for operating a virtual asset service in Jordan under Law No. 14 of 2025.
Key Licensing Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
- Mandatory AML/CFT compliance (Law No. 46 of 2007)
- Mandatory Transaction monitoring system
- Mandatory Travel Rule compliance
- Mandatory 5-year record retention
Penalty Alert
Non-compliance Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment and fines of up to $141,000 (≈ JOD 100,000)
Licensing Cost Estimate
Enter your business details to see your estimated licensing costs and timeline.
Regional Comparison
| Country | Minimum Fee | Timeline | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | JOD 30,000 ($42,250) | 6-8 months | AML/CFT compliance, Travel Rule |
| UAE | JOD 50,000+ ($70,000+) | 8-12 months | Multi-regulator framework, CBDC compliance |
| Kuwait | N/A | N/A | Complete prohibition |
Central Bank of Jordan is the nation’s monetary authority that, after years of warning against Bitcoin, introduced a formal crypto framework in 2025. The shift from a blanket ban to a structured licensing regime has reshaped how crypto businesses operate in the Kingdom.
Quick Takeaways
- Law No. 14 of 2025 legalizes virtual‑asset services but only with a JSC‑issued license.
- Violations can lead to up to one year in prison and fines of up to $141,000 (≈JOD 100,000).
- Compliance hinges on Jordan’s AML/CFT Law No. 46 of 2007, the Travel Rule, and strict record‑keeping.
- Licensing fees total roughly JOD 30,000 ($42,250) and take 6‑8 months to process.
- Regional peers differ sharply: the UAE offers a mature ecosystem, while Kuwait maintains a total ban.
The Regulatory Evolution: From 2014 Ban to 2025 Law
On 20 February 2014 the Central Bank of Jordan issued Circular No. 2014‑02‑20, explicitly prohibiting banks and financial institutions from dealing with Bitcoin or any virtual asset. The warning stayed in place for over a decade, even as Jordan landed on the FATF grey list in 2023 for weak anti‑money‑laundering controls.
Pressure mounted, and in September 2025 the government published Law No. 14 of 2025 - the Virtual Assets Transactions Regulation Law. The law became effective 90 days later, on 14 September 2025, marking Jordan’s first legal pathway for crypto operators.
Core Pillars of the Virtual Assets Transactions Regulation Law
The 2025 law sets out four main pillars:
- Licensing Regime: All Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) must obtain a license from the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC). The definition of “taking place within the territory” includes any domestic office, local marketing, or service provision to Jordanian residents.
- AML/CFT Obligations: VASPs must comply with AML/CFT Law No. 46 of 2007, performing Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious activity to the Anti‑Money Laundering Unit (AMLU).
- Penalties: Article 28 imposes a minimum one‑year prison term and fines up to $141,000 for unlicensed activity or failure to meet AML standards.
- Exclusions: Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and digitised securities remain under the direct oversight of the Central Bank of Jordan and the JSC respectively, not the VASP licensing regime.
These pillars aim to satisfy FATF recommendations while giving Jordan a foothold in the regional digital‑asset market.
Key Regulators and Their Roles
Jordan Securities Commission (JSC) is the primary licensing authority. It reviews applications, conducts operational readiness assessments, and monitors ongoing compliance. The Anti‑Money Laundering Unit (AMLU), part of the Ministry of Finance, receives mandatory AML reports and can freeze assets that appear linked to terrorist financing.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) provides the international standards that Jordan is trying to meet after its 2023 grey‑list inclusion. Finally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has offered technical assistance and highlighted the need for capacity‑building within the JSC.
Practical Steps for Crypto Businesses
For a startup or an existing exchange, the compliance journey looks like this:
- Pre‑application assessment: Verify that the business will not operate without a Jordanian presence or target Jordanian customers unless you plan to obtain a license.
- Application fees: Pay a JOD 5,000 preliminary fee, followed by JOD 15,000 for documentation review, and a JOD 10,000 operational readiness fee - total ≈ JOD 30,000.
- Documentation package: Include AML policy, appointed AML compliance officer’s credentials, IT security architecture, and a detailed description of the virtual‑asset services.
- Technical compliance: Deploy a transaction monitoring system that can flag transfers above JOD 10,000 and generate Travel‑Rule data packets.
- Post‑licensing obligations: Keep records for five years, submit quarterly AML reports to the AMLU, and undergo annual audits by the JSC.
According to a September 2025 survey by the Jordan Fintech Association, 73 % of fintech startups cite integration of AML monitoring tools as their biggest technical hurdle.
Regional Comparison: How Jordan Stacks Up
| Country | Regulatory Approach | Licensing Body | Key Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | Licensing regime with AML/CFT compliance (Law 14/2025) | Jordan Securities Commission | 1 yr prison + up to $141,000 fine |
| UAE | Comprehensive multi‑layered framework (virtual‑asset regulator + central bank) | ADGM, DIFC & Central Bank | Up to 5 yr prison + fines up to $1 M |
| Kuwait | Complete prohibition of virtual assets | Not applicable | Imprisonment & fines; no licensing path |
Jordan offers a middle ground: more openness than Kuwait, but a later start and stricter fees than the UAE.
Future Outlook: CBDCs, DeFi & Sharia‑Compliant Assets
The Central Bank of Jordan has already hinted at a pilot CBDC program slated for Q3 2026. A dedicated ministerial committee is drafting supplementary rules for Decentralised Finance platforms, expected by early 2026. Meanwhile, the World Bank notes Jordan’s 42 Islamic financial institutions could drive a niche market for Sharia‑compliant tokens.
Success will depend on two factors:
- Regulatory capacity: The JSC currently fields only 12 staff for virtual‑asset supervision. Ongoing technical assistance from the IMF is crucial.
- Market confidence: Early adopters fear the 90‑day implementation window was too tight; a phased rollout could improve trust.
Standard & Poor’s projects an 82 % probability of successful implementation over the next five years, provided Jordan clears the FATF grey list and the licensing process becomes more predictable.
What to Watch in 2026
Watch for these three developments:
- Official DeFi guidelines from the ministerial committee - these will likely introduce a separate licensing tier.
- Launch of the Jordanian CBDC pilot - early results will reveal how the central bank integrates digital currency with the existing virtual‑asset law.
- Potential amendment of fee structures - industry groups are lobbying for lower capital requirements to attract SMEs.
What activities are prohibited without a license?
Any service that enables buying, selling, swapping, or storing virtual assets for Jordanian residents, as well as marketing such services to Jordanians, is illegal without a JSC‑issued license.
How does the AML threshold compare to other countries?
Jordan’s reporting threshold is JOD 10,000 (≈$14,000), which is lower than the UAE’s USD 100,000 threshold but higher than the EU’s €10,000 limit, positioning it as moderately stringent.
When will the licensing process be fully operational?
The JSC’s implementation guidelines estimate a 6‑8 month window for existing operators to achieve full compliance, with new applicants expected to receive decisions within 90 days after complete submission.
Are there any exemptions for small peer‑to‑peer traders?
No. Even informal traders must cease operations unless they obtain a license. The law’s intent is to bring all activity into the regulated space.
What is the outlook for crypto investment in Jordan?
Fitch Solutions forecasts a CAGR of 71 % for transaction volume, reaching about $750 million by 2027, provided the licensing regime stabilises and investor confidence grows.
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