Blockchain in Egypt: Adoption, Challenges, and Real-World Use Cases

When thinking about blockchain in Egypt, a growing but tightly regulated digital infrastructure initiative gaining traction in North Africa. Also known as digital ledger technology in the Middle East, it’s not just about crypto trading—it’s about identity, payments, and government services trying to catch up with the rest of the world. Unlike countries with clear crypto-friendly laws, Egypt walks a tightrope. The central bank has banned financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrencies, yet the government quietly runs blockchain pilots for land registries and supply chain tracking. This isn’t contradiction—it’s pragmatism. People still use crypto, especially for remittances and cross-border trade, because traditional banking is slow and expensive.

One of the biggest drivers is the Egyptian diaspora, over 10 million Egyptians living abroad who send home billions in remittances every year. Traditional money transfer services charge up to 15% in fees. Blockchain-based solutions, even unofficial ones, offer a cheaper alternative. Startups in Cairo and Alexandria are building wallets and peer-to-peer platforms that let users bypass banks entirely. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Egypt, the nation’s financial regulator with growing interest in digital currency has been testing a digital pound since 2021. It’s not a cryptocurrency—it’s a central bank digital currency (CBDC)—but it shows they understand the need for faster, more transparent systems.

There’s also real progress in supply chain NFTs, used to track food exports and pharmaceuticals to prevent fraud. Egyptian agricultural exporters are starting to use blockchain to prove the origin of their goods to European buyers. This isn’t hype—it’s a business requirement. Buyers want proof. And blockchain gives them that without needing to trust a single middleman. Even universities are getting involved. The American University in Cairo offers blockchain courses, and some engineering students are building decentralized apps for local farmers to record harvest data.

But it’s not all smooth. Internet access is uneven. Many rural areas still rely on 3G. Regulatory uncertainty scares off foreign investors. And while crypto adoption is rising, most Egyptians still don’t understand how it works. They’re not buying Bitcoin to get rich—they’re using it to pay rent, buy groceries, or send money to family. The real story isn’t in the price charts. It’s in the quiet, practical ways people are using technology to solve problems the system won’t fix.

Below, you’ll find deep dives into exchanges, scams, and real blockchain projects that matter in Egypt. Some are local. Some are global tools Egyptians are using anyway. All of them are grounded in what’s actually happening on the ground—not just what’s trending online.