Poland’s Sejm passed a bill on Friday with a 240‑202 vote that would permit the interior minister to freeze crypto assets, bank accounts and other property of individuals and entities placed on a national sanctions list before a court reviews the order.
Legislative process
The Act on Restrictive Measures was adopted during the Sejm’s 68th sitting, with one member abstaining and 17 not voting. The Senate received the bill on Monday and has 30 days, as required by Article 121 of the Constitution, to adopt, amend or reject it before it proceeds to President Karol Nawrocki for signature.
Scope of the freeze
The legislation, which also implements European Union sanctions rules, treats crypto assets as financial means that can be frozen under the definition provided by the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets regulation. A freeze is intended to prevent any movement, transfer, use or other change that would allow the holder to benefit from the assets.
Only persons or entities added to a public national list by the interior minister – either on the minister’s initiative or at the request of agencies such as the financial watchdog, the central bank, the financial intelligence unit or the internal security service – would be subject to the freeze. Grounds for listing include support for a country under EU sanctions, serious human rights abuses, or involvement in information manipulation that poses a serious threat to Poland’s national security.
The law excludes ordinary journalism, political speech and publishing unless the activity constitutes a knowing campaign as defined by the legislation.
Pre‑court enforcement
The interior minister’s decision becomes effective the day after it is published in the ministry’s Public Information Bulletin and is immediately enforceable. A listed individual may lodge a complaint with an administrative court, but the freeze remains in force until a final judgment, and the law removes the usual ability of a court to suspend a challenged order.
The measures also prohibit making funds or property available to listed persons, may exclude them from public contracts, and allow the economy minister to appoint a temporary administrator to sell frozen assets or transfer them to the State Treasury.
Impact on crypto holders
The bill does not target ordinary cryptocurrency holders in Poland. It applies only to assets owned, held or controlled by persons or firms on the sanctions list. Banks, exchanges and other obligated entities could face administrative fines for failing to freeze such assets, with compliance overseen by the financial intelligence unit and the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.
The legislation does not provide a mechanism for authorities to obtain private keys for self‑custodied coins; enforcement would primarily involve exchanges, custodians and other regulated institutions capable of blocking transfers.
Next steps
The bill must still be approved by the Senate and signed by President Nawrocki. The president previously refused to sign a separate crypto‑assets market bill and vetoed earlier versions, citing concerns over licensing and supervision rules. Whether the Senate will amend the pre‑court freeze provisions and whether the president will sign the sanctions law remain open questions.
