Poland's Sejm passes sanctions bill that would let authorities freeze crypto
In brief
- Poland's Sejm passed the Act on Restrictive Measures 240-202, with one abstention.
- MiCA-defined crypto assets would join the funds authorities can freeze under the bill.
- Interior minister would oversee the list; freezes could be enforced before a court rules.
- Poland's Senate has 30 days to approve, amend or reject the bill.
A wider sanctions net
Poland isn't building this from scratch. The country already maintains a national sanctions list under a 2022 law aimed at countering support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The new bill would expand the grounds for imposing national sanctions to include certain foreign interference and information manipulation that poses a serious threat to national security.
Crypto is named directly. The bill includes crypto assets, as defined under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), among the financial funds authorities could freeze when imposing sanctions. So the freeze powers would rely on MiCA's definition of a crypto asset.
Who decides, and when
Poland's interior minister would oversee the national sanctions list. Listing decisions would take effect the day after a designation is published.
Affected individuals and companies could challenge a decision in administrative court. The catch? The bill allows enforcement before a court ruling, which means a freeze (including one on crypto holdings) could already be in place while a challenge is still pending.
Enforcement wouldn't wait for a judge.
What happens next
The Sejm forwarded the bill to the Senate on Monday, according to official parliamentary records. Senators now have 30 days to approve, amend or reject it.
If the Senate doesn't act, Poland's Constitution treats the bill as approved in the form the Sejm passed, and it can go on to the president. Either way, it isn't law yet. The Senate still gets its say (or lets the 30-day window run out), the president still has to act after that, and the 240-202 margin in the lower house shows the vote was far from unanimous.
Frequently asked questions
Would Poland's new sanctions bill let authorities freeze crypto?
Yes, if it becomes law. The bill passed by the Sejm explicitly includes crypto assets, as defined under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), among the financial funds authorities could freeze when imposing sanctions.
Can someone challenge being added to Poland's sanctions list?
Affected individuals and companies could challenge a listing decision in administrative court. However, the bill allows enforcement before a court ruling, and listing decisions would take effect the day after a designation is published.
What happens if Poland's Senate doesn't vote on the bill?
The Senate has 30 days to approve, amend or reject the legislation. If it takes no action, Poland's Constitution treats the bill as approved in the form passed by the Sejm, and it can proceed to the president.
