North Macedonia covers crypto providers in its AML law, and no licensing regime or ATM rule was found as of 8 October 2026
North Macedonia brought virtual asset providers into its AML law in July 2022, with the Financial Intelligence Office as supervisor. MONEYVAL found in 2023 that market entry requirements for them were absent. On 8 October 2026 no licensing law and no crypto ATM rule were found, and the primary law text could not be opened.
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12 Jul 2022
AML law amendments covering virtual asset providers in force (as reported)
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MONEYVAL rating on virtual assets, May 2023
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Crypto ATM rules found in the sources reviewed
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North Macedonia brought virtual asset providers into its AML law in July 2022, with the Financial Intelligence Office as supervisor.1,4 MONEYVAL found in 2023 that market entry requirements for them were absent.1 On 8 October 2026 no licensing law and no crypto ATM rule were found, and the primary law text could not be opened.
Last updated: October 2026
Regulatory Framework
Crypto-assets are regulated through the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism. MONEYVAL records that virtual asset service providers were added to the AML/CFT framework through amendments in July 2022, and that they became subject to preventive measures and supervision from April 2023.1 A Big Four firm reports that the amendments were published in the Official Gazette on 4 July 2022 and entered into force on 12 July 2022.4 That firm also reports that providers must notify the Financial Intelligence Office within 30 days of the adoption of the by-laws, may not trade privacy coins, and face a EUR 500 limit on cash trading of virtual assets, with a nine-month transition period.4 Those details come from a secondary source, and the text of the law could not be opened to confirm them.
A local banking publication wrote in September 2024 that trading and holding crypto is legal, that the activity is only partly regulated through the AML law, and that no detailed law governs it.5
What MONEYVAL Found
The MONEYVAL evaluation was adopted in May 2023 after an on-site visit between 21 September and 6 October 2022. It rated North Macedonia partially compliant on new technologies, the standard that covers virtual assets.1 It found a general absence of risk understanding, mitigation and preventive measures in the virtual asset sector at the time of the visit, and described the sector as having low materiality.1 It also states that market entry requirements are completely absent for certain sectors, including virtual asset providers.1 The report is more than three years old, and later changes were not confirmed.
Work Under Way
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Dec 2024 to Jun 2025 | Working group of the Financial Intelligence Office, Customs Office, Ministry of Interior and others assesses money laundering and terrorist financing risks of virtual assets and providers, with Council of Europe support3 |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Drafting group holds its last meeting on a roadmap to manage those risks. The document goes to the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Council for adoption2 |
The Council of Europe pages do not report the results of the risk assessment, name a supervisor, or set dates for adopting the roadmap.2,3 No source reviewed mentions a draft law on crypto-assets or alignment with MiCA.
What Is Not Known
The sources reviewed do not mention crypto ATMs. The text of the AML law and the register of notified providers, if one exists, could not be opened, so the notification duty, the cash limit, the penalties and the number of providers are unconfirmed. Whether an ATM operator needs to notify the Financial Intelligence Office, whether a local permit is required, and how customer due diligence thresholds apply to machines are open questions. Primary-source work is needed with North Macedonian counsel before relying on any figure in this article.
Sources and references
1. MONEYVAL, Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures, North Macedonia, Mutual Evaluation Report, May 2023 (PRIMARY, accessed 8 October 2026) | fatf-gafi.org
2. Council of Europe, North Macedonia finalises a roadmap for mitigating and managing money laundering risks related to virtual assets, 19 June 2026 (PRIMARY, accessed 8 October 2026) | coe.int
3. Council of Europe, North Macedonia assessed the money laundering and terrorist financing risks of virtual assets and providers, 4 July 2025 (PRIMARY, accessed 8 October 2026) | coe.int
4. EY North Macedonia, New Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, 25 July 2022 (SECONDARY, accessed 8 October 2026) | ey.com
5. Bankarstvo.mk, Is trading and holding crypto legal in Macedonia, 27 September 2024 (SECONDARY, accessed 8 October 2026) | bankarstvo.mk
Legal Disclaimer: This article by GENERAL BYTES is for informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules may change; always consult specialised local legal counsel and confirm the current position with the Financial Intelligence Office of North Macedonia before considering market entry.