Key Takeaways
- • Poland's lower house (Sejm) passed a restrictive measures bill 240-202 with one abstention, adding cryptocurrencies to the assets that can be frozen under national sanctions.
- • The bill specifies crypto-assets as defined under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation as freezable funds, alongside traditional financial assets.
- • Authorities can designate sanctions effective the day after the interior minister announces a listing, and enforcement can proceed before any administrative court ruling on a challenge.
- • The amendment broadens the grounds for national sanctions beyond Russia-related support to include certain foreign interference and information manipulation that pose a serious threat to national security.
- • The bill now faces Senate review, which has 30 days to approve, amend or reject it; inaction means the lower house version is deemed approved and moves to presidential review.
Summary
Poland's lower house has passed a sanctions bill that adds cryptocurrencies to the assets authorities can freeze, according to Cointelegraph, which reported the development on Nov. 10. The Sejm approved the "restrictive measures bill" by 240 votes to 202, with one abstention.
The legislation specifies that crypto-assets, as defined under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules, can be frozen. It would allow sanctions authorities to directly include digital assets alongside traditional financial assets when imposing sanctions. Poland's interior minister manages the national sanctions list, and a designation takes effect from the day after authorities announce the listing. Affected individuals or companies may challenge a designation in an administrative court, but the bill permits enforcement before a court decision is issued.
Poland has maintained a national sanctions list under a law enacted in 2022, which largely targeted responses to support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The amendment extends the grounds for national sanctions to include certain foreign interference and information manipulation actions that pose a serious threat to national security.
The bill's next step is Senate review. The Senate can approve, amend or reject the measure within 30 days. If it takes no action, the lower house version is deemed approved as passed, and the bill then moves to the presidential review process. The structure reflects a broader Polish effort to shift a sanctions system focused on Russia toward one covering national security more generally.
The legislation specifies that crypto-assets, as defined under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules, can be frozen. It would allow sanctions authorities to directly include digital assets alongside traditional financial assets when imposing sanctions. Poland's interior minister manages the national sanctions list, and a designation takes effect from the day after authorities announce the listing. Affected individuals or companies may challenge a designation in an administrative court, but the bill permits enforcement before a court decision is issued.
Poland has maintained a national sanctions list under a law enacted in 2022, which largely targeted responses to support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The amendment extends the grounds for national sanctions to include certain foreign interference and information manipulation actions that pose a serious threat to national security.
The bill's next step is Senate review. The Senate can approve, amend or reject the measure within 30 days. If it takes no action, the lower house version is deemed approved as passed, and the bill then moves to the presidential review process. The structure reflects a broader Polish effort to shift a sanctions system focused on Russia toward one covering national security more generally.
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