Poland Lawmakers Review Crypto Drafts as PiS Seeks Ban

TLDR

• Poland’s Sejm opened debate on four competing cryptoasset bills after President Karol Nawrocki vetoed earlier legislation twice.
• Lawmakers scheduled second readings for Thursday as they review proposals from the government, the president, Poland 2050, and Confederation.
• The government draft increases the maximum fine for obstructing inspections to 25 million PLN or $6.9 million.
• President Nawrocki’s proposal keeps the maximum penalty at 20 million PLN or $5.5 million and outlines separate enforcement measures.
• The Law and Justice party submitted a separate bill that seeks to ban cryptoasset activity in Poland.
• Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty said the Sejm will address the PiS ban proposal after completing work on the four primary bills.

Poland’s lower house has opened debate on four competing cryptoasset bills after two presidential vetoes stalled earlier efforts. Lawmakers began formal discussions on Tuesday and scheduled second readings for Thursday. Meanwhile, the Law and Justice party submitted a separate bill seeking a full ban on cryptoasset activity.

Poland Sejm Reviews Competing Crypto Proposals

Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty confirmed that the Sejm started reviewing four separate cryptoasset proposals. He said lawmakers will examine drafts from the government, President Karol Nawrocki, Poland 2050, and Confederation. The chamber opened debate on Tuesday and set second readings for Thursday.

President Nawrocki vetoed earlier crypto legislation twice, which halted previous regulatory plans. As a result, lawmakers introduced revised drafts from multiple political groups. Czarzasty said the chamber will prioritize these four bills before addressing other filings.

The government and presidential drafts remain the most detailed proposals before the Sejm. The Ministry of Finance prepared a 106-page bill outlining regulatory powers and penalties. President Nawrocki submitted a 108-page proposal that outlines alternative enforcement measures.

The main difference concerns the authority of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority to block accounts. The presidential draft keeps a maximum fine of 20 million PLN, about $5.5 million, for obstructing inspections. The government proposal raises that cap to 25 million PLN, or about $6.9 million.

Parliamentary groups Poland 2050 and Confederation also introduced their own regulatory texts. Lawmakers placed both drafts on the agenda for initial consideration. These proposals add further options to the ongoing legislative debate.

Poland Faces PiS Ban Proposal Alongside Regulatory Bills

The Law and Justice party, known as PiS, filed a separate bill seeking to ban cryptoasset activity. Party lawmakers submitted the proposal on Monday before the Sejm opened debate on the other drafts. The filing followed the withdrawal of support by four PiS members for a prior market regulation bill.

Earlier in April, several PiS lawmakers introduced a market regulation proposal. However, four parliamentarians later withdrew their backing for that draft. After that move, PiS advanced the new bill that calls for a full ban.

Speaker Czarzasty said the Sejm will process the PiS ban proposal after completing work on the four main bills. He stated that the chamber will proceed only if the PiS parliamentary club does not withdraw it. He described the cryptoasset situation as “some kind of devil’s dance.”

Czarzasty also raised questions about financing linked to zondacrypto. He asked which political events and lawmakers allegedly received funding connected to the platform. He also questioned why President Nawrocki vetoed crypto legislation twice.

He asked, “to what extent are politicians involved in this matter.” The Sejm will continue debating the four primary regulatory bills before moving to other proposals. Lawmakers plan to hold second readings on Thursday, according to the parliamentary schedule.

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