Poland’s president has rejected a second attempt to bring the country’s crypto regulations in line with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, adding to uncertainty for domestic platforms ahead of a crucial transition deadline.
President Karol Nawrocki declined to sign Bill 2064 last week, marking his second veto of legislation designed to implement the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. According to the president’s office, Nawrocki had already blocked a similar proposal in December.
The move came after Poland’s financial regulator, Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF), warned that the country has yet to appoint a competent authority to oversee the crypto market, underscoring the July 1, 2026 MiCA transition deadline.
“This does not change our strategy,” said Sławek Zawadzki, co-CEO of Kanga Exchange, noting that the company had long anticipated the possibility that Poland’s MiCA legislation might not take effect on time. He added that the firm had prepared alternative licensing options in other jurisdictions.
The repeated veto highlights ongoing divisions within Poland’s government over how to regulate digital assets. Nawrocki has signaled a more industry-friendly approach by rejecting what critics describe as overly restrictive rules.
He called Bill 2064 “almost identical” to the earlier Bill 1424 he vetoed in December. Both measures faced pushback from crypto advocates, including Polish politician Tomasz Mentzen, who argued the proposals amounted to heavy “overregulation” that could hamper the sector’s growth.
“I will not sign a flawed law simply because it has been passed again by the parliamentary majority. A bad law remains bad, even if it is approved a hundred times,” President Karol Nawrocki said, adding that Poland should be a destination for innovation rather than a country that drives it away.
Regulatory gap raises concerns under MiCA
While some industry participants welcomed the veto, the lack of legislation implementing the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework leaves Polish crypto firms facing uncertainty as key transition deadlines approach this summer.
The delay also creates a competitive imbalance between domestic companies and foreign players. For example, US-based exchange Coinbase recently expanded its presence in Poland after obtaining a MiCA license in Luxembourg in 2025.
“Foreign entities that secure a MiCA license in their home jurisdictions will be able to operate in Poland, while Polish firms currently have no formal route to start the licensing process locally,” said Sławek Zawadzki, co-CEO of Kanga Exchange. “This creates regulatory asymmetry.”
Przemysław Kral, CEO of Zonda Crypto — an exchange founded in Poland but now registered in Estonia — warned that ongoing uncertainty could squeeze smaller domestic players out of the market.
“Although we are a company with Polish roots and the largest crypto operator in the Polish market, we have been functioning outside Poland for years,” Kral said. The company is pursuing a MiCA license abroad and intends to passport it into Poland.
He expressed confidence that Zonda would retain its market position but cautioned that many smaller Polish crypto firms may lose the ability to continue operating.
Following the latest veto, economist Krzysztof Piech said he is working on a revised, more crypto-friendly proposal to implement MiCA in Poland. Over the weekend, Piech noted on social media that a draft has already been prepared and is being finalized.
