As part of keeping pace with digital transformations and the growing associated threats, the National Institute for Forensic Evidence and Criminology of the National Gendarmerie in Bouchaoui organized a national symposium titled The Reality of Cryptocurrencies in Algeria and Ways to Combat Crimes Related to Their Use on April 21st, 2025, at the Institute’s headquarters in Bouchaoui. The symposium was inaugurated by the Brigadier General, Director of the National Institute for Forensic Evidence and Criminology of the National Gendarmerie. The event aimed to assess the current state of crypto-assets in Algeria and explore mechanisms to regulate their use and combat the engendered crimes. The symposium proceedings were broadcast via remote videoconferencing technology to the Regional Commands of the National Gendarmerie, the Higher School of the National Gendarmerie in Zeralda, and the Judicial Police School of the National Gendarmerie in Yesser.
    The event saw a large turnout of executives from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and the General Directorate of National Security, alongside representatives from Algeria Post, the National Body for the Prevention of Cybercrime, and several representatives from Algerian universities. Speakers, who are experts from security, financial, and academic sectors, presented talks addressing crimes associated with the use of cryptocurrencies such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and fraud. They also reviewed technical methods used in investigations to track the movement of these digital assets. Practical proposals were put forward to regulate cryptocurrency trading within a legal framework that safeguards Algeria’s financial sovereignty.
    It was followed by an open discussion and exchange of expertise among the participants, where everyone agreed on the need to develop a comprehensive national vision that keeps up with digital progress and protects the national financial system from the risks linked to crypto-assets, while also reinforcing coordination between security, financial, and legal institutions in this crucial area.