Morocco is facing tough questions about cryptocurrencies, as new official data and expert warnings point to their growing use in crime and even terrorism financing.
Researchers and tech specialists say the country can no longer afford to delay clear rules for digital currencies, especially when it comes to tracking, freezing, and confiscating them.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s 2024 report, Moroccan courts dealt with at least 17 cases linked to illegal cryptocurrency use across different regions of the country.
These cases were not limited to simple trading violations. Some involved scams, online blackmail, and sexual extortion, while others raised serious security concerns.
The report warns that terrorist groups are now using digital currencies to fund their activities. One concrete case mentioned fundraising for the extremist group ISIS using USDT toward the end of 2024.
This, the report says, shows that such groups have become skilled at using crypto tools to move money without drawing attention.
From Rabat to Oued Zem, courts are still seeing new cases tied to crypto. In one example, police arrested a suspect wanted for online extortion and discovered he was receiving payments from victims in USDT through a digital wallet. The money was later converted into Moroccan dirhams through contacts found on social media.
Blockchain and digital market expert Badr Belaj told Hespress AR that these findings should end any illusion that crypto-related crime is still marginal.
Belaj says that using well-known platforms like Binance is actually one of the easier scenarios for authorities, since these platforms apply “Know Your Customer” rules that can help identify users.
The real danger, Belaj explains, lies elsewhere. Privacy-focused coins such as Monero and Zcash, as well as so-called “mixers” that hide transaction trails, make tracking almost impossible.
Add to that Morocco’s active black market, where digital assets can quickly be turned into cash, and the challenge becomes much bigger.
While judges are handling crypto-related cases, there is no unified approach. Morocco does not legally recognize cryptocurrencies, yet courts are asked to decide how to seize and confiscate them.
Unlike traditional money, there is no clear system for transferring digital assets from a suspect’s wallet to a state-controlled one.
Morocco also lacks the technical infrastructure that countries like the United States use to manage seized digital funds.
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