Poland's lower house passes sanctions bill covering crypto freezes

What happened

Poland's lower house has approved a government-backed sanctions bill that would add crypto assets to the funds authorities can freeze, sending the measure to the Senate. The Sejm voted 240 to 202 with one abstention on Friday, according to parliamentary records cited by Cointelegraph, and the bill was forwarded to the upper chamber on Monday. Crypto.news reported that the vote took place during the chamber's Nov. 6 sitting and that 17 members did not vote.

The legislation, known as the Act on Restrictive Measures, would broaden the grounds for placing people and companies on Poland's national sanctions list. It explicitly names crypto assets as defined in Article 3 of the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCA, among financial funds that can be frozen. The interior minister would oversee the list, with designation decisions published in the ministry's public information bulletin and taking effect the day after publication.

Listing grounds would include support for sanctioned states, certain personal or financial connections, and foreign interference or information manipulation that seriously threatens national security, according to the reports. Designated parties could contest a decision in administrative court, but the bill allows restrictions to remain in force while the case proceeds. The minister could also limit the explanation accompanying a decision on national security or public order grounds. The draft sets out possible exceptions for basic needs such as food, housing, medicine, taxes and utilities, as well as legal fees and some maintenance costs, subject to a separate decision.

Banks and crypto exchanges holding assets for listed customers would have to comply with the restrictions. The reports note that a listing order would not by itself give authorities private keys to move funds from a self-custodied wallet; however, service providers could be barred from processing transactions for, or making assets available to, a designated customer.

Why it matters

The bill would give Poland a more explicit national mechanism for enforcing sanctions against crypto holdings, rather than leaving digital assets outside the scope of freeze measures. For banks and exchanges, that means screening customers against the national list and applying restrictions when a match is found. The government has argued that existing sanctions provisions are spread across different laws and are difficult for businesses to apply; the proposal would organize responsibilities, information sharing, supervision and penalties.

The timing also matters because Poland's separate crypto licensing bill remains unresolved. The sanctions measure addresses enforcement, while the licensing framework would have designated the Polish Financial Supervision Authority as the country's crypto regulator. The licensing bill was vetoed and a later override attempt failed, so the sanctions bill is advancing on a different track.

What the data shows

Key figures in the reports include the 240, 202 Sejm vote, one abstention and 17 members not voting. The Senate has 30 days to approve, amend or reject the sanctions bill. If senators take no action, Poland's Constitution treats the bill as approved in the form passed by the Sejm, allowing it to go to the president. The existing national list was reported at 554 entries, including 119 businesses and 435 individuals.

Background

Poland already keeps a national sanctions list under an April 2022 law aimed at countering support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. During a Sept. 3 parliamentary debate, Deputy Interior Minister Czesław Mroczek said the list contained 554 entries: 119 businesses and 435 individuals. Of the businesses, 99 were linked to Russian capital and 20 to Belarusian capital, he said. The new bill would let national measures address situations beyond Russia and Belarus.

The government says the proposal implements EU Directive 2024/1226 on offenses and penalties for violations of EU sanctions. In a separate track, President Karol Nawrocki issued his third veto on June 11 against the government's crypto licensing framework, saying he supported effective consumer protection. The Sejm's September override attempt failed with 241 votes in favor, 198 against and three abstentions; 266 votes were needed. That bill would have made the Polish Financial Supervision Authority the crypto regulator.

What to watch

The next step is Senate consideration within its 30-day window, followed by presidential approval if the bill clears the upper chamber. Also worth watching is how authorities apply the freeze rules to self-custodied wallets and whether the Senate changes the bill's scope. The separate dispute over crypto licensing remains unresolved and could affect which regulator supervises the market if a new licensing bill is eventually passed.

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