A Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime report warns that opaque cryptocurrency projects tied to the Central African Republic expose state assets to exploitation and criminal networks. The analysis criticizes initiatives such as Sango Coin and tokenization of mineral concessions for lacking transparency and safeguards.

A new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime warns that a suite of cryptocurrency initiatives tied to the Central African Republic (CAR) could leave public assets vulnerable to exploitation, money laundering and criminal infiltration. The study highlights projects including the national meme-coin Sango Coin and proposed tokenization of mineral concessions, saying governance gaps, weak oversight, and unclear ownership structures create pathways for illicit sales and laundering. Analysts warn that tokenizing concession rights without robust verification, custody controls, or traceability measures could allow bad actors to fractionalize and sell state-linked assets off ledgers or through opaque markets. The report calls for international engagement, stronger anti-money-laundering safeguards, transparent project governance and clear separation between state resources and private token issuance. It further urges multilateral partners and CAR authorities to assess legal frameworks before proceeding with large-scale crypto initiatives and to prioritize protections for mineral revenues and public wealth to prevent long-term fiscal damage and criminal capture.