Poland’s Parliament Blocks Crypto Bill Override as MiCA Deadline Looms

Polish lawmakers failed to overturn President Karol Nawrocki’s veto on a major crypto regulation bill, halting Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s push to align the country with the European Union’s MiCA framework. The Sejm fell 18 votes short of the required three-fifths majority, forcing Tusk’s coalition to restart the legislative process if it hopes to introduce comprehensive digital asset rules.

The vote marks the latest clash between Nawrocki’s nationalist allies and Tusk’s pro-EU government. Nawrocki vetoed the bill earlier in the week, arguing that Poland’s proposed rules were unnecessarily complex compared to other EU countries’ MiCA implementations and could drive local crypto companies offshore. Tusk countered by framing the legislation as essential for national security, warning that Russian intelligence groups and organized crime networks continue to exploit cryptocurrencies for covert financing. Critics in the president’s office rejected that argument, calling it a misleading political tactic.

Reactions within the crypto industry remain mixed. Some organizations supported the bill for providing much-needed regulatory clarity, while others said the requirements were overly restrictive. Zondacrypto’s CEO, for example, described the proposal as a “step backwards” that could inadvertently criminalize foundational blockchain development.

The setback leaves Poland lagging behind its EU neighbors as MiCA took full effect at the end of December 2024. Countries such as Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, and Lithuania have already begun issuing licenses to crypto-asset service providers under the new regime. Despite Poland’s lack of clear regulations, its crypto market continues to grow rapidly. Chainalysis ranked Poland eighth in Europe for crypto value received between July 2024 and June 2025, highlighting more than 50% year-over-year growth. Statista estimates that roughly 7.9 million Poles—around one-fifth of the population—now use cryptocurrency.

Elsewhere in the EU, Italy has reminded crypto firms to comply with MiCA by the Dec. 30 deadline or halt operations. Meanwhile, the European Commission is weighing a proposal to centralize crypto exchange oversight under a single EU-wide supervisor, similar to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although such a system would take years to finalize, it could eventually reduce the influence of individual member states’ regulatory approaches.