Is Monero legal in Ireland?
Legal to own, but regulated EU exchanges have largely dropped XMR, and an EU-wide ban on CASPs handling it starts 10 July 2027.
| Owning XMR | Legal |
|---|---|
| Local exchanges | Delisted by licensed exchanges |
| National rule | Exchange ban on privacy coins coming |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland; EU AMLA |
| Last reviewed | 25 October 2026 |
The legal situation in Ireland
Owning Monero and using a self-custody wallet is legal in Ireland; no national law bans holding privacy coins. Under MiCA Article 76(3), applicable since 30 Dec 2024, licensed trading platforms may not admit coins with built-in anonymisation unless holders can be identified, and Kraken ended XMR for all EEA clients on 31 Oct 2024. From 10 Jul 2027 the EU AML Regulation (2024/1624, Art. 79(1)) bars CASPs from keeping accounts that allow anonymity-enhancing coins. Kraken cut off Irish clients early, from 10 May 2024, ahead of the EEA-wide delisting.
Key facts
- 2024-06-19: AML Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 published in the Official Journal; Art. 79(1) bars CASPs from keeping accounts that allow anonymisation 'including through anonymity-enhancing coins', and under Art. 90 it applies from 2027-07-10.
- 2024-12-30: MiCA CASP rules apply; Art. 76(3) blocks admission of crypto-assets with an inbuilt anonymisation function.
- 2024-10-31: Kraken halted XMR trading and deposits for all EEA clients; balances were converted to BTC by 2025-01-06.
- 2024-02-20: Binance removed XMR spot pairs worldwide.
- 2024-05-10: Kraken halted XMR trading and deposits in Ireland and Belgium; withdrawals were halted and remaining XMR converted to BTC on 2024-06-10.
- Tax: Gains are subject to Irish capital gains tax at 33%; mining and staking rewards fall under income tax.
What this means for you
Owning Monero in your own wallet is legal, but regulated exchanges here do not list it or are being pushed to drop it. If you hold XMR on an exchange, read what to do when an exchange delists Monero and move it to a wallet you control. Only use buying routes that are legal where you live; see how to buy Monero.
Sources
bitcoin.tax, cointelegraph.com, esma.europa.eu, springlex.eu, theblock.co.
Sources are listed by publisher so you can look them up yourself; we do not link out.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check the regulator's own website before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monero legal in Ireland?
Legal to own, but regulated EU exchanges have largely dropped XMR, and an EU-wide ban on CASPs handling it starts 10 July 2027.
Can I buy Monero on a local exchange in Ireland?
No. Licensed exchanges here have delisted XMR or may not list it.