Poland Crypto Bill Veto Holds as Zondacrypto Probe Expands

Polish lawmakers failed again to overturn President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of legislation intended to tighten oversight of Poland’s cryptocurrency market. The Sejm voted 241-198 on Friday, with three abstentions, falling 25 votes short of the three-fifths majority required. Nawrocki has vetoed the bill three times, arguing that its rules would impose excessive regulatory costs and give authorities overly broad powers to block websites.

The dispute comes as the Zondacrypto investigation expands. The Polish Financial Supervision Authority said Poland still lacks a designated authority to supervise cryptoassets under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCA. Prime Minister Donald Tusk also cited testimony alleging a 2 million Polish-zloty ($550,000) payment arrangement involving a foundation linked to former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, along with a separate claim that an unnamed person offered to secure a presidential pardon.

Polish prosecutors are investigating suspected fraud and money laundering connected to Zondacrypto, whose Estonian operator has entered bankruptcy. In July, authorities merged the case with an investigation into the 2022 disappearance of Sylwester Suszek, founder of BitBay, the exchange later renamed Zondacrypto. The failed override leaves Poland without a designated national crypto supervisor and increases uncertainty for exchanges operating in the country.