We know that it is not possible to ban bitcoin directly, but to create mechanisms that make its use or acquisition difficult, running the risk of being arrested, fined or other problems with the government.
#Algeria - Since 2018 it has been illegal to buy, sell, use or hold virtual currencies.
Unfortunately, that has been the situation in my country Algeria since 2018 when bitcoin, cryptocurrencies or anything related to it were banned and forbidden for any use, including holding, investing, or mining. The issue and what i couldn’t understand is that when this law was enacted back then our government didn't even understand what Bitcoin was or if people were using it in first place.
How do you think bitcoin users deal with these situations?
I was dealing with Bitcoin both before and after the restrictions and the introduction of new laws in our country, I'm not sure if it's dangerous or if the government is actively tracking users but we don't have a better choice at the moment. Our banking system is not just corrupted but also so useless.
How do they manage to get around these restrictions without getting caught?
I only refrain from purchasing anything related to cryptocurrencies online such as hardware wallets and mining devices, due to the several cases of people being caught and sentenced to years in prison which is very unfortunate. But after all I don't have any other choice when it comes to exchanging my local currency for Bitcoin, as everyone in Algeria relies on centralized exchanges like Binance.
Do you think more countries can join this list?
I believe that with a better understanding of Bitcoin and its uses some of these countries may consider legalizing it or at least implementing less stringent regulations.