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Rwanda Reasserts Crypto Ban After Bybit Enables Franc P2P Trades

The warning signals a push for state‑run digital money with tightly supervised crypto services.

Overview

  • Bybit, which added Rwandan franc support to its peer‑to‑peer platform Friday, drew a Sunday notice from the central bank that FRW‑based crypto buying and selling is not allowed.
  • The National Bank of Rwanda said crypto is not authorized for payments, FRW conversion, or peer‑to‑peer trades, and it warned that users have no legal recourse if funds are lost.
  • Licensed banks and payment firms cannot convert between the franc and crypto, which cuts off formal on‑ and off‑ramps for people in Rwanda.
  • Bybit had not issued a public response at press time, leaving unclear whether the exchange will keep FRW support on its marketplace.
  • The Capital Market Authority has proposed licenses for crypto firms with strict limits, while the central bank advances an e‑franc digital currency in a market that Chainalysis ranks as low in crypto use.