Poland’s Parliament has reignited a heated political and regulatory confrontation by reapproving the Crypto-Assets Market Act despite a veto issued by President Karol Nawrocki, underscoring deep divisions over the future of digital assets.
Lawmakers passed the bill with 241 votes in favour and 183 against, sending the legislation to the Senate and keeping alive a proposal aligned with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework.
The president blocked the bill in December, warning that it posed risks to civil liberties, entrepreneurship and economic balance, but Parliament reintroduced the text without amendments.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s administration backed the move, arguing that stricter oversight is necessary to bring legal clarity and consumer protection to Poland’s expanding crypto market.
Critics have focused on the expanded authority granted to the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, including the power to issue heavy financial penalties and block websites deemed non-compliant.
Industry representatives have warned that such measures could drive innovation abroad, prompting start-ups and exchanges to relocate to more permissive jurisdictions.
The Senate now faces mounting pressure as it weighs whether to approve the bill or request further changes amid strong lobbying from both regulators and crypto advocates.