Poland’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm, has begun debate on four rival cryptoasset bills, marking a decisive phase in the country’s push to align with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime ahead of the 1 July 2026 deadline.
Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty said the draft laws were submitted by the government, President Karol Nawrocki, the Poland 2050 party and the Confederation party. A second reading is scheduled for Thursday.
At the same time, the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party has tabled a separate bill that would impose a full ban on all cryptoasset activity in Poland, raising the stakes for traders and service providers.
Key clash over powers and penalties
The main battle line runs between the government and presidential drafts, which diverge over how much authority to give the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) and how strict financial penalties should be.
- President Nawrocki’s 108-page bill sets a maximum fine of 20 million złoty (about $5.5 million) for obstructing inspections.
- The Finance Ministry’s proposal raises that ceiling to 25 million złoty (about $6.9 million) for comparable violations.
These differences would translate into materially different operating conditions for firms in the sector, depending on which draft becomes the basis for the final law.
Alternative visions from Poland 2050 and Confederation
Lawmakers from Poland 2050 and Confederation also presented their own regulatory proposals on Tuesday. While details of those texts are less public, both seek to create a legal framework for the cryptoasset market rather than prohibit it.
All four primary bills are being examined in parallel, a process that could lead to consolidation of key provisions or a compromise text later in the legislative cycle.
PiS pushes for outright ban
In a sharp contrast, PiS has introduced a bill calling for a complete prohibition of cryptoasset activities in Poland. The proposal follows the party’s withdrawal from an earlier, more moderate market regulation initiative it submitted in April.
Speaker Czarzasty said the Sejm will only take up the PiS ban bill after work on the four main regulatory proposals is finished, unless PiS itself withdraws the measure. Nonetheless, the ban proposal exposes a more extreme potential outcome for the sector.
Czarzasty also asked for clarification on past election campaign financing linked to digital asset entities and questioned President Nawrocki’s earlier vetoes of crypto legislation.
MiCA deadline adds pressure
Poland is under time pressure to bring national rules into line with the EU’s MiCA framework before mid-2026. The simultaneous progress of four separate bills, plus the PiS ban proposal, has created uncertainty for companies and traders, who must track multiple possible regulatory paths.
The final law will determine licensing rules, supervisory reach and penalties for breaches, shaping whether Poland emerges as a restrictive or relatively open jurisdiction within the EU crypto landscape.
Zondacrypto scandal drives demand for tougher rules
The legislative push is unfolding under the shadow of a high-profile investigation into the Zondacrypto exchange, which has intensified calls for clear and tougher regulation.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has signaled that the government wants stronger penalties for financial crimes tied to digital asset platforms. Authorities estimate losses from the Zondacrypto case at at least 350 million złoty (around $97 million).
The investigation includes allegations of fraud, money laundering and possible links to Russian organized crime. The scandal has become a major political and regulatory catalyst, reinforcing arguments for tighter oversight and harsher sanctions.
Political tensions and presidential vetoes
The debate is charged by recent clashes between the government and President Nawrocki. The president has twice vetoed government-backed crypto legislation, citing worries about excessive regulation and risks to civil liberties.
The government has now resubmitted its bill for a third attempt, reflecting both political determination and the strategic importance of setting the regulatory baseline before MiCA takes full effect.
The standoff over the scope of state control and civil rights will be central to the final shape of the law.
Large, active market faces uncertain outlook
The outcome has direct implications for a sizeable domestic market:
- A report from April 2026 found that more than 47% of Poles have had some contact with the crypto market, the highest share among 11 European countries surveyed.
- Another study from early April 2026 estimated that Poland has over 1 million active crypto users.
Survey data also show that more than half of European respondents see the absence of regulation as a threat to the market, a view that resonates strongly in Poland as the Sejm weighs whether to regulate, restrict, or in the extreme case ban the sector.
Next steps
Lawmakers are expected to continue debating the four main bills on Thursday, with possible committee work and amendments to follow. The PiS ban proposal will remain in the background until the primary texts have been processed.
Traders and market platforms face a period of heightened regulatory risk, with scenarios ranging from a MiCA-aligned framework with strong supervisory powers to a much more restrictive environment, and in the most radical case, a full domestic prohibition.
To understand how evolving regulations shape crypto globally, explore Toobit Academy’s guide on future of crypto regulation next.
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