Myanmar Crypto Ban: Central Bank Directive 9/2020 Explained

On May 15, 2020, Myanmar’s Central Bank issued a directive that didn’t just discourage cryptocurrency-it outlawed it. Central Bank Directive 9/2020 made it illegal for anyone in Myanmar to buy, sell, or trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or even Tether (USDT). This wasn’t a warning. It was a full stop. And it came at a time when most countries were starting to figure out how to regulate digital assets, not ban them outright.

What Exactly Did Directive 9/2020 Say?

The directive didn’t leave room for interpretation. It declared that no digital currency could be used as legal tender in Myanmar. Only the kyat, issued by the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM), had that status. Any transaction involving Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other unregulated digital currency was now a violation of the law. The CBM pointed to two sections of its own founding law-Section 40(e) and Section 62-to back this up. Those sections give the bank exclusive power to issue currency. No exceptions.

The ban wasn’t just about banks. It targeted everyday people. If you used Facebook to send USDT to a friend in Thailand, or traded Bitcoin on a peer-to-peer app, you were breaking the law. The CBM even named specific platforms where these transactions were happening. They didn’t just want to stop banks from handling crypto-they wanted to stop people from using it at all.

Why Did Myanmar Do This?

The official reason was simple: control. The CBM argued that allowing cryptocurrencies would undermine its ability to manage the national economy. But the timing tells a deeper story. In 2020, Myanmar was already under economic stress. The kyat was weakening. By 2021, after the military coup, the currency collapsed. Inflation soared. People lost faith in the system. And that’s when crypto became a lifeline.

While the government was tightening its grip, citizens were turning to digital assets to survive. USDT, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, became the go-to tool for sending money across borders, buying essentials, and even funding resistance efforts. The ban wasn’t just about financial control-it was about political control. If people couldn’t move money outside the system, they’d be easier to control.

How Is the Ban Enforced?

The CBM doesn’t have a crypto police force. But it has power over banks. If you’re caught using crypto, your bank account gets frozen. Your name gets flagged. And if you’re involved in large transfers-especially using USDT-you could face jail time. The Anti-Money Laundering Law and Financial Institutions Law give the government the tools to prosecute.

In May 2024, four years after the original ban, the CBM issued a public notice reminding everyone: this is still active. They didn’t just repeat the rules-they warned of account closures and legal action. That’s not a threat. That’s a pattern. They’ve already shut down accounts of people using hundi (informal money transfer networks) to move USDT. These aren’t faceless criminals. These are parents, small business owners, and workers trying to send money home.

The Underground Crypto Economy

Here’s the twist: the ban didn’t stop crypto. It just pushed it underground.

Telegram groups are now the new stock exchanges. Tron-based USDT is the most popular digital currency in use. People trade through encrypted channels, using cash-in-hand meetups or QR code transfers. A 2025 report from Coinfomania found that peer-to-peer crypto volume in Myanmar had grown by over 300% since 2022. Why? Because the kyat is worthless. A dollar used to buy 2,000 kyat. Now it buys 3,500-and falling.

Even the military government’s own actions backfire. After the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) declared USDT legal in areas it controls, the SAC responded by drafting new cybersecurity laws in early 2022 to criminalize crypto use even more. But those laws can’t reach people using Telegram. They can’t shut down the internet everywhere. And they can’t stop a population desperate for stability.

How Does This Compare to Other Countries?

Myanmar is an outlier. Most countries in Southeast Asia took a different path. Thailand allows regulated exchanges. Singapore has licensing rules. Even Vietnam has a framework for taxation. But Myanmar? No licenses. No oversight. Just a flat ban.

It’s the opposite of El Salvador, which made Bitcoin legal tender. Or the Central African Republic, which did the same. Myanmar’s ban isn’t about protecting citizens. It’s about protecting power. And it’s failing.

What’s Next?

The NUG is building its own digital currency-DMMK, or Digital Myanmar Kyats. It has a mobile wallet. It’s designed to work offline. If it takes off, it could become the real currency for millions, not the kyat.

Meanwhile, the CBM keeps tightening. Internet shutdowns are more frequent. Mobile data is cut during protests. But people still find ways. They use satellite phones. They trade in markets. They use friends in Thailand to cash out.

The truth is, no law can stop a currency people trust. The kyat is broken. Crypto isn’t perfect-but it’s working. And until the government fixes the economy, not just the rules, this ban will keep being ignored.