Poland Blocks MiCA Again Leaving Crypto Firms Facing 2026 Deadline

Poland has again paused progress toward aligning national crypto rules with the European Union framework, leaving companies waiting as a major compliance deadline draws closer. A second presidential veto has stalled legislation tied to Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation MiCA, creating legal uncertainty across the local digital asset sector.

Good to Know

• Poland still has no designated authority to supervise crypto under MiCA rules.
• A July 1 2026 transition deadline from the European Union remains in place.
• Some companies already prepared backup plans in other jurisdictions to avoid disruption.

Second Veto Leaves Poland Without Clear MiCA Path

President Karol Nawrocki refused to sign Bill 2064, describing it as “practically identical” to an earlier draft rejected in December. Earlier legislation known as Bill 1424 met the same outcome, prolonging a legislative deadlock over how Poland should apply European crypto regulation.

Information released Thursday confirmed that the latest proposal aimed to align national law with MiCA, a framework designed to standardize crypto oversight across all EU member states. Without adoption, Poland risks entering the EU transition phase without domestic rules that clarify licensing, supervision, and compliance procedures for exchanges and service providers.

The Polish Financial Supervision Authority KNF warned that no competent supervisory body has yet been formally appointed, a gap that could complicate enforcement once MiCA becomes fully operational in mid 2026.

Industry participants already anticipated delays. Kanga Exchange co CEO Sławek Zawadzki said:

“This does not change our strategy.

From the beginning, we considered the possibility that the MiCA-implementing law in Poland might not enter into force in time, and we prepared alternative jurisdictional solutions accordingly.”

Such contingency planning reflects a wider trend among European crypto firms seeking licenses in jurisdictions where MiCA authorization already functions in practice.

Debate inside government continues over how strict regulation should be. Supporters of the veto argue that earlier drafts imposed excessive compliance burdens that could slow innovation and drive companies elsewhere. Critics warn that failing to pass legislation risks isolating Poland from the harmonized EU market.

Politician Tomasz Mentzen labeled earlier proposals as extensive “overregulation,” echoing concerns voiced by several domestic market participants.

Nawrocki defended his decision in direct terms saying:

“I will not sign a wrong law just because it was passed again by the parliamentary majority. A wrong law that passed a hundred times still remains a wrong law.”

He added: “Poland should attract innovation, not push it away.”

Meanwhile, international competitors continue advancing under MiCA authorization. Coinbase expanded activity in Poland after securing a MiCA license in Luxembourg during 2025, illustrating how companies can operate across borders even while local legislation remains unresolved. Such dynamics create uneven conditions between domestic startups and foreign operators already integrated into the EU licensing system.

For Polish platforms, uncertainty now centers on timing. Businesses must decide whether to wait for revised legislation or secure approvals elsewhere inside the European Economic Area to maintain uninterrupted service under MiCA passporting rules.