The Polish lower house failed to override President Karol Nawrocki’s third veto of the cryptocurrency regulation bill, meaning the legislative deadlock surrounding Poland’s cryptocurrency regulatory framework continues. The bill was intended to bring Poland’s crypto market under the supervision of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) and align with the implementation of the EU’s MiCA rules in Poland.
Did not reach the number of votes required to override the veto
On September 4, 241 legislators voted to override the president’s veto, 198 opposed, and 3 abstained. Since 442 legislators were present that day, a three-fifths majority—266 votes—was required; as a result, the parliament fell short by 25 votes.
Navrotzki previously stated that he does not oppose establishing regulations for the crypto industry, but believes the government’s version imposes excessive restrictions. According to him, out of the 16 amendment proposals put forward by the presidential office, lawmakers adopted only one. He also said the current text would impose an excessive burden on domestic crypto businesses, potentially driving some companies to operate in other jurisdictions.
The dispute centers on KNF authority and corporate costs.
The bill proposes designating Poland’s Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) as the crypto regulator, including licensing and reporting obligations for crypto service providers, and establishing criminal liability for certain token issuances and violations of crypto services. These measures aim to align Poland more fully with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
The president proposed an alternative plan, stating that it is possible to combat fraud and financial crime without imposing the same high compliance costs on legitimate businesses. In previous rounds of discussions, the government, the president’s office, Poland 2050, and the coalition parties have all submitted different versions, with disagreements primarily centered on KNF’s enforcement powers and applicable penalties.
Three rejections continue to delay the implementation of MiCA.
This is not the first time the bill has been blocked. After Navrotsky vetoed the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act in December 2025, parliament attempted to override the decision but failed to meet the required threshold. Subsequently, parliament passed a revised version, which the president vetoed again in February 2026, citing that the text differed little from the original. The second attempt to override the veto in April also failed.
Although MiCA has taken effect across the European Union, individual member states remain responsible for local licensing, regulation, and enforcement. The transition period ended on July 1, and unauthorized businesses now face restricted operations or orderly exit. Consequently, Poland’s delayed domestic legislation continues to leave the compliance path for local crypto service providers in an unstable state.
Political debates compounded by the Zondacrypto investigation
Before the latest vote, Polish Prime Minister Tusk urged lawmakers to support overturning the veto and mentioned the ongoing investigation into the shuttered exchange Zondacrypto in parliament. According to Polish media, Tusk cited testimony implicating former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his family, but these claims remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as facts by a court.
The controversy surrounding Zondacrypto has become part of the political maneuvering in this legislative struggle. Nawrotzki denies any connection to the company, stating he has never met its executives and is unaware of claims that it supports his campaign.