Polish lawmakers have approved a Ministry of Finance-backed crypto bill that implements the European Union's MiCA framework, ending a years-long standoff with the president. The vote on May 15 was 241–200, overcoming repeated vetoes that had blocked earlier attempts. Poland is now set to adopt the bloc's unified crypto rulebook, a move that brings regulatory clarity to the country's digital-asset sector.
The vote that broke the deadlock
Thursday's vote in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, came after the president vetoed previous versions of the bill. The bill's supporters — mainly from the governing coalition — argued that alignment with MiCA is essential for Poland's crypto firms to operate freely across the EU single market. Opponents raised concerns about consumer protections and the speed of implementation, but they fell short by 41 votes.
What MiCA means for Polish crypto firms
Once the bill becomes law, Polish crypto exchanges, wallet providers, and token issuers will have to comply with MiCA's licensing requirements, capital rules, and disclosure standards. The framework sets uniform rules across the EU for stablecoins, market abuse, and customer safeguards. For firms already operating under Poland's existing patchwork of regulations, the new law is expected to reduce uncertainty — though it also imposes stricter oversight.
Why the president kept vetoing
President Andrzej Duda had rejected earlier versions of the bill, citing concerns that the rules were too bureaucratic and could stifle innovation. His office also argued that Poland should wait for the EU's final technical standards before transposing the directive. This time, the coalition mustered enough votes to override a veto — a move that required a three-fifths majority. The parliament's speaker confirmed the bill will now go to the president for signature, though a veto is still technically possible before the constitutional deadline.
Next steps and timing
If signed, the law will take effect later this year, with a transition period for existing firms to adjust. The European Securities and Markets Authority has already begun approving the first batch of MiCA-compliant entities across the bloc. Poland's financial regulator, the KNF, will be responsible for licensing and supervision under the new regime. The question now is how quickly the KNF can gear up — and whether Polish crypto companies will race to apply for licenses before the deadline.
