Jordan's cryptocurrency landscape underwent a dramatic transformation in 2025 with the passage of Law No. 14, officially legalizing virtual asset operations and reversing years of restrictive policies. This landmark legislation positions Jordan as an emerging player in the Middle Eastern crypto economy, though significant challenges remain for Jordanian passport holders seeking to access major international exchanges like Coinbase. This comprehensive guide explores the intersection of Jordan's citizenship by investment program, its evolving regulatory framework, and the practical realities of using a Jordan passport for cryptocurrency exchange verification.
Jordan is not explicitly supported by Coinbase
Despite Jordan's recent regulatory progress, Coinbase does not explicitly list Jordan as a supported country as of 2025. This creates a fundamental challenge for Jordan passport holders seeking to access one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. While Jordan is not subject to OFAC sanctions like Iran, Syria, or North Korea, and while Jordanian passports meet general international document standards, the lack of explicit support means Jordan residents face significant limitations or complete inability to access Coinbase services.
The disconnect between Jordan's progressive 2025 virtual asset legislation and Coinbase's country restrictions reflects broader challenges in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem. Coinbase's currency converters show Jordanian Dinar (JOD) pricing for cryptocurrencies, which might create confusion, but this display functionality does not indicate actual service availability. Jordan passport holders attempting to register on Coinbase will likely encounter geographic restrictions during the account creation process, preventing them from completing KYC verification regardless of document quality or compliance readiness.
This limitation pushes Jordan-based crypto investors toward alternative platforms, particularly regional exchanges like BitOasis that explicitly support Jordan, or international platforms like Binance, Kraken, and OKX that maintain more inclusive geographic coverage. Understanding these restrictions upfront saves time and frustration while helping investors identify viable alternatives that align with Jordan's new regulatory framework.
The transformation of Jordan's investment citizenship landscape
Jordan's citizenship by investment program underwent significant reforms in July 2025, expanding from three main pathways to eight distinct investment routes designed to attract foreign capital and expertise. The program offers multiple entry points ranging from $350,000 for business projects outside Amman to $4.23 million for specialized sector investments, with processing times typically ranging from three to six months. These reforms reflect Jordan's broader economic modernization strategy, positioning the country as an attractive destination for international investors seeking Middle Eastern residency and citizenship options.
The most accessible route requires a minimum investment of JOD 350,000 (approximately $493,000) in business projects outside Amman, coupled with creating 10 Jordanian jobs. For investments in the capital, the threshold rises to JOD 700,000 ($987,000) with a requirement to create 20 local jobs. The program's expansion includes innovative pathways such as an employment-only route requiring no capital investment but mandating the creation of 100-150 Jordanian jobs, and retroactive qualification for existing investors who meet specified equity thresholds.
What makes Jordan's program particularly relevant for crypto investors is its lack of mandatory residency requirements for most investment routes, allowing citizenship holders to maintain global mobility while establishing a Middle Eastern base. The program includes family members comprehensively, covering spouses, dependent children under 18, and even male children up to age 30 for investments exceeding JOD 2 million. With 561 investors granted citizenship since 2018 and an annual cap of 500 approvals, the program maintains exclusivity while generating over $1.2 billion in investment value.
The citizenship acquisition process requires extensive due diligence, including comprehensive security and background checks, financial verification through international databases, and source of funds documentation. Despite these rigorous requirements, the program's clear structure and government backing through the Ministry of Investment provide a legitimate pathway to Jordanian citizenship, though investors should note that citizenship alone doesn't guarantee access to all international financial services, as evidenced by Coinbase's country restrictions.
Revolutionary regulatory changes reshape Jordan's crypto landscape
Jordan's passage of Law No. 14 of 2025, the Virtual Assets Transactions Regulation Law, represents one of the most significant policy reversals in Middle Eastern cryptocurrency regulation. After years of maintaining a restrictive stance that banned financial institutions from cryptocurrency dealings since 2014, Jordan has embraced a comprehensive regulatory framework that legally recognizes cryptocurrencies as virtual assets permitted for payments, investments, and trading under specific regulatory approval.
The new framework establishes the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC) as the primary licensing authority for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), requiring all crypto exchanges, payment providers, and custodians to obtain licenses and maintain registered offices in Jordan. Central Bank Governor Dr. Adel Sharkas announced support for regulated cryptocurrency platforms, allowing traditional banks to engage with licensed platforms and approved international exchanges with pre-approval. This dramatic shift addresses Jordan's removal from the FATF grey list in October 2023 after completing comprehensive anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing protocols.
The regulatory transformation positions Jordan progressively compared to regional peers like Saudi Arabia, which maintains general bans, though the country still lags behind more mature frameworks in the UAE and Bahrain. The law explicitly excludes digital securities, central bank digital currencies, and digital representations of fiat currency issued by the Central Bank of Jordan, maintaining clear boundaries between different digital asset categories. Licensed platforms must meet high security and transparency standards while adhering to strict AML/KYC requirements.
Market projections indicate Jordan's crypto market will reach $29.4 million in revenue for 2025, with user penetration at 7.36% expected to rise to 7.72% by 2026, encompassing 894,750 users. The regulatory clarity provided by Law No. 14 creates a foundation for institutional adoption and positions Jordan as an emerging digital asset hub, though the country still faces challenges in developing comprehensive taxation frameworks and building crypto-specific banking infrastructure comparable to regional leaders.
The practical reality of Coinbase verification attempts
While Coinbase maintains some of the industry's most advanced KYC procedures with over 200 document validation checks and biometric verification systems, these sophisticated capabilities remain inaccessible to Jordan passport holders due to geographic restrictions. Understanding Coinbase's standard verification process helps illustrate what Jordan users are missing and what they should expect from alternative platforms that do support their jurisdiction.
Coinbase operates a risk-based KYC lifecycle with continuous monitoring, requiring full legal names matching government IDs exactly, current residential addresses, phone numbers for two-factor authentication, and government-issued photo identification. The platform's enhanced 2025 features include advanced biometric verification using facial recognition and multi-layered approaches combining machine learning with human review. For users in supported countries, the verification process typically completes within 24-48 hours under standard conditions, with optimal cases processing in minutes.
The irony for Jordan passport holders is that their documents would likely pass Coinbase's technical requirements without issue. Jordanian passports meet international standards with machine-readable zones, security features, and English transliteration. The country's removal from the FATF grey list and new regulatory framework addresses compliance concerns that might otherwise trigger enhanced due diligence. Yet geographic restrictions based on business decisions rather than technical or regulatory impediments prevent access entirely.
This situation creates particular frustration for Jordanians living abroad in supported countries who might assume their residence would enable access. However, Coinbase's verification system typically identifies nationality through passport documentation, and using VPNs to circumvent geographic restrictions violates terms of service and risks account termination with potential fund freezing. The platform's compliance requirements extend globally, meaning Jordan passport holders face restrictions regardless of their physical location or residence status.
Jordan's competitive disadvantage in regional crypto access
Jordan ranks seventh out of ten Middle Eastern countries for cryptocurrency exchange access, reflecting significant regulatory barriers and limited financial integration that disadvantage passport holders in the global crypto economy. While the 2025 virtual asset legislation marks progress, Jordan's historical ban from 2014 created lasting infrastructure gaps that continue limiting access to major platforms like Coinbase, placing the country behind regional leaders who embraced crypto innovation earlier.
The UAE leads regional crypto adoption with its comprehensive VARA framework, innovation-friendly policies, and full support across major exchanges. Bahrain leveraged first-mover advantage with central bank licensing starting in 2019, while even Saudi Arabia, despite maintaining general restrictions, shows rapid growth with 154% year-over-year increases. Jordan's combination of previous restrictive policies and weak passport strength—ranking 87th globally with only 47 visa-free destinations compared to the UAE's 184—creates compounding disadvantages for crypto investors.
Banking integration represents Jordan's most significant weakness, ranking ninth out of ten regional countries. While the new legislation permits banks to engage with licensed crypto platforms, the infrastructure remains virtually nonexistent compared to the UAE's banks entering crypto directly or Bahrain's institutions launching Bitcoin investment funds. Jordan lacks the fiat on/off ramps, payment rails, and institutional products that characterize mature crypto markets, forcing users toward P2P trading or international wire transfers with associated complexity and costs.
The passport strength disparity particularly impacts business development opportunities, as Jordanian citizens face visa requirements for major crypto conferences and financial centers that UAE or Qatari passport holders access freely. This mobility limitation compounds with Jordan's limited presence in global crypto company operations—while Dubai hosts regional headquarters for Binance, OKX, and numerous blockchain startups, Amman remains peripheral to the industry's regional development despite government blockchain initiatives and a growing fintech sector.
Strategic benefits of Jordan citizenship for crypto investors
Despite Coinbase limitations, Jordan citizenship offers strategic advantages for cryptocurrency investors, particularly following the 2025 regulatory reforms. The Jordanian Dinar's peg to the US Dollar since 1995 at 0.709 JOD per USD provides crucial stability for crypto investments, eliminating foreign exchange risk for USD-based trading while offering predictable conversion rates. This currency stability, combined with no restrictions on foreign currency holdings or international transfers, creates an advantageous framework for managing crypto portfolios.
Jordan's extensive network of over 30 double taxation agreements with major economies including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and regional partners provides significant benefits for international crypto investors. These treaties offer reduced withholding rates on investment income, protection against double taxation on crypto gains, and enhanced cross-border business opportunities. The territorial taxation system means non-residents pay tax only on Jordan-source income, while capital gains generally remain exempt from taxation—though specific crypto tax treatment awaits clarification as the new regulatory framework develops.
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone presents particular opportunities with its 5% flat tax rate, no tariffs, and permission for 70% foreign workforce composition. Foreign investors can establish branches with full business activities, and there's no cap on foreign ownership in most sectors. The Amman Stock Exchange stands out regionally with 48% foreign ownership and no restrictions on international investors, providing additional investment diversification opportunities beyond cryptocurrency.
Arab Bank's $30 million fintech venture fund targeting blockchain technologies signals institutional support for crypto innovation, while government initiatives like the JOIN Fincubator and Innovation Startups SME Fund with $98 million capital demonstrate commitment to fintech development. The combination of regulatory clarity through Law No. 14, strategic regional positioning between Europe, Asia, and Africa, and access to what government projections call a "$12 trillion Middle Eastern opportunity cost market" creates compelling advantages despite platform access limitations.
Alternative exchanges and practical solutions
Given Coinbase's restrictions, Jordan passport holders must navigate alternative platforms that explicitly support their jurisdiction. BitOasis emerges as the primary recommendation, explicitly serving Jordan among 14 Middle Eastern and North African countries. Licensed in the UAE and Bahrain, BitOasis offers 60+ cryptocurrencies with local currency support and Arabic language customer service, though its 2024 acquisition by Indian exchange CoinDCX raises questions about long-term regional focus.
Binance provides spot trading access for Jordan users but blocks futures and margin trading services, requiring careful navigation of service limitations. The platform's P2P service explicitly supports "Bank of Jordan" as a payment method, offering a crucial fiat on/off ramp for local users. With 350+ cryptocurrencies and 0.1% trading fees, Binance remains attractive despite derivatives restrictions, though users must complete mandatory KYC verification and accept limited service scope compared to unrestricted jurisdictions.
Kraken and Bitstamp offer full access without Jordan-specific restrictions, providing reliable alternatives with strong security records and regulatory compliance. Kraken's 120+ cryptocurrencies, competitive fee structure (0.00%-0.26%), and staking rewards up to 23% make it particularly attractive for long-term investors. For advanced traders, OKX's Dubai headquarters and Middle East focus, combined with Gate.io's 1,700+ cryptocurrency selection, provide sophisticated alternatives to Coinbase's ecosystem.
Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, PancakeSwap, and 1inch offer censorship-resistant trading without geographic restrictions, though users must navigate higher gas fees, potential smart contract risks, and limited fiat integration. P2P platforms including Binance P2P, LocalCoinSwap, HodlHodl, and the fully decentralized Bisq provide alternative pathways for acquiring cryptocurrency, particularly valuable given Jordan's limited banking integration. These platforms enable direct peer-to-peer trading with local payment methods, though users must exercise enhanced caution regarding counterparty risk and pricing premiums.
Step-by-step KYC process for supported platforms
While Coinbase remains inaccessible, understanding the standard KYC process for platforms that do support Jordan helps ensure successful verification elsewhere. The process typically begins with account creation using a valid email address and strong password, followed by email verification and mandatory two-factor authentication setup. Users must enter personal information exactly as it appears on their passport, paying particular attention to Arabic name transliteration consistency across all documents.
Document preparation proves critical for successful verification. Passport photos require clear visibility of all text including machine-readable zones, taken in good lighting without shadows or glare, ensuring all four corners remain visible. Many Jordan users report better success using mobile apps rather than desktop uploads, as built-in cameras often handle document capture more effectively. Proof of address documentation, when required, must show names exactly matching passports and date within the last three months.
Common challenges specific to Jordan passport holders include Arabic name transliteration inconsistencies, address mismatches between Jordan passports and foreign residences, and document quality issues with passport security features causing scanning problems. Success rates approach 90% when proper documentation is provided, with first-attempt success around 75% using high-quality documents. Failed verifications usually result from document quality issues (60%), information mismatches (25%), or address verification problems (10%).
Best practices include photographing documents on contrasting backgrounds with natural daylight or bright LED lighting, taking multiple shots to select the clearest image, and ensuring passports have at least six months remaining validity. For selfie requirements, users should face cameras directly with neutral expressions, remove glasses if not worn in passport photos, and avoid backlighting or filters. Maintaining consistent information across all platforms and keeping detailed records of verification attempts helps troubleshoot issues and expedite support responses when problems arise.
Current state of cryptocurrency adoption in Jordan
Jordan's cryptocurrency market shows steady growth with 7.36% user penetration in 2025, encompassing approximately 894,750 users and generating $29.4 million in projected revenue. The country's demographic advantages—80.1% smartphone penetration among adults aged 18-35 and widespread tech literacy—provide strong foundations for adoption, though Jordan lags behind regional leaders like Turkey (11% penetration) and trails the UAE's $30 billion in crypto value received.
The primary use cases driving adoption include remittances, particularly significant given that 10% of Jordanians live abroad, hedge against inflation in an uncertain regional economy, and growing interest in speculative investment opportunities. The digital remittances market projects growth to $116.80 million by 2028 with 6.50% compound annual growth, while over 78 million electronic payment transactions in 2022 demonstrate increasing digital payment comfort that could translate to crypto adoption.
Government blockchain initiatives provide crucial infrastructure support, including the MODEE DLT national blockchain network launched in July 2024, integration with the Sanad digital identity system, and the comprehensive Blockchain Technology Policy for 2025. These initiatives, combined with Jordan ranking fourth in MENA for venture capital funding with $246 million through 220 deals between 2018-2022, create an ecosystem supporting crypto innovation despite exchange access limitations.
Challenges remain significant, including the complete absence of Bitcoin ATMs compared to neighboring countries, limited banking integration despite new regulations, and the lack of comprehensive crypto-specific tax frameworks. Yet opportunities abound through government digitization initiatives, the large remittance market requiring efficient transfer solutions, and Jordan's potential to leverage its educated workforce—27% of MENA tech entrepreneurs are Jordanian despite representing only 3% of the regional population—to become a blockchain development hub even if it cannot match Dubai's exchange hosting advantages.
Conclusion and strategic recommendations
The intersection of Jordan's citizenship by investment program with cryptocurrency exchange access reveals both significant opportunities and sobering limitations. While the landmark Law No. 14 of 2025 positions Jordan progressively within the regional regulatory landscape, the continued absence of Coinbase support underscores persistent challenges in accessing premier global cryptocurrency platforms. Jordan passport holders must navigate a complex ecosystem where regulatory progress hasn't yet translated to comprehensive platform access.
For investors considering Jordan citizenship specifically for cryptocurrency purposes, the calculation becomes nuanced. The $350,000 to $4.23 million investment thresholds for citizenship provide regional presence and strategic benefits including USD-pegged currency stability, extensive double taxation treaty networks, and access to emerging Middle Eastern markets. However, these advantages must be weighed against the seventh-place ranking among ten regional countries for crypto access and the weak global passport strength that limits international business mobility.
Practical solutions exist through alternative platforms, with BitOasis providing regional focus and Binance, Kraken, and others offering international access with varying service levels. The combination of centralized exchanges accepting Jordan users, P2P trading platforms with local payment methods, and decentralized exchanges providing censorship-resistant access creates workable, if imperfect, pathways to crypto market participation. Success requires careful platform selection, meticulous KYC preparation, and acceptance that certain services—particularly derivatives trading and margin products—remain largely inaccessible.
Looking forward, Jordan stands at a critical juncture where continued regulatory development, banking integration, and platform partnerships could dramatically improve access within 12-24 months. The government's blockchain initiatives, combined with a young, tech-savvy population and strategic regional positioning, suggest potential for rapid advancement. Yet until major platforms like Coinbase explicitly add Jordan support, passport holders must remain pragmatic about limitations while leveraging available alternatives to participate in the global cryptocurrency economy. The journey from regulatory acceptance to comprehensive platform access remains incomplete, but Jordan's trajectory suggests better integration ahead for patient investors willing to navigate current constraints.
