Polish Sejm debates overriding presidential veto on European Union crypto law

Plenary debate over crypto legislation

The Polish Sejm held a plenary debate on Thursday, 3 September 2026, on a motion to override the presidential veto of the crypto-assets market bill. Lawmakers reviewed the formal report presented by the Public Finance Committee following the president's rejection of the legislation. The ruling coalition announced its intention to overturn the veto during a decisive vote scheduled for Friday, 4 September 2026. Opposition parliamentary clubs, including Law and Justice (PiS), Rozwój Plus, and Confederation (Konfederacja), declared that they will vote collectively to sustain the presidential veto. The debate follows months of disagreement over how Poland should regulate digital assets and enforce European standards.

Presidential objections and legislative delays

President Karol Nawrocki issued his third veto against the government's crypto-assets market bill on 11 June 2026. Nawrocki argued that the cabinet stubbornly combats what he termed a "crypto-shadow" instead of resolving structural issues, warning that excessive domestic regulation will push Polish crypto companies abroad. Speaking from the parliamentary rostrum on Thursday, the head of the presidential chancellery, Zbigniew Bogucki, asserted that the legal basis for the veto remains entirely unchanged. Bogucki noted that the presidential chancellery submitted its own compromise draft and amendments, which were rejected by the parliamentary majority. He described the current legislative push as pure political theatre.

Nothing has changed in this bill and out of respect for the Polish taxpayer, we should actually close this discussion.

Bogucki also scrutinized the government's procedural timeline during his speech. He pointed out that the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation entered into force on 29 June 2023, during the final months of the United Right administration. The current governing coalition took office on 13 December 2023, but did not submit the implementing draft to the president until 12 November 2025. Bogucki questioned why drafting required nearly two years and why the cabinet refused subsequent cooperation with the presidency.

Government defence and European Union penalties

Deputy Finance Minister Jurand Drop defended the government's draft, pointing to mounting legal pressure from Brussels. Drop informed lawmakers that the European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Poland due to the country's failure to transpose the MiCA framework into national law. Continued delays expose Poland to potential financial sanctions from European courts. The ministry argues that the bill establishes necessary consumer protections and equips regulatory authorities with tools to combat market fraud and financial abuses.

For us, the timely implementation of European law was the most important matter related to this regulation.

Drop also addressed controversy surrounding legal mechanisms that allow authorities to block specific websites. Opposition groups have criticized the blocking provisions as administrative overreach, but Drop explained that the power derives directly from the European Union regulation. Because the European framework mandates these powers, Poland is legally obliged to include website blocking within its national statutes.

Legislative timeline and parliamentary vote

The dispute reaches a decisive stage as parliament prepares for Friday's vote on overriding the presidential veto.

The governing coalition seeks to overturn the presidential veto, facing unified opposition from PiS, Rozwój Plus, and Confederation. While the finance ministry warns of financial penalties from the European Commission for delaying European Union compliance, the presidential chancellery maintains that domestic firms require protection against excessive regulation. The Friday ballot will determine whether the veto is overridden or upheld by the Sejm.