Poland’s prime minister has accused a crypto firm of ties to Russian organized crime and political interference, escalating tensions around stalled regulation. The claims land as lawmakers debate how to align with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk made the remarks during a parliamentary vote aimed at overriding President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of a crypto regulation bill. According to the Associated Press, Tusk alleged that Zondacrypto provided financial backing to political figures and sponsored events linked to Nawrocki’s campaign. The president’s office said he opposed the proposed framework, not regulation itself.
CLAUDIA CIOBANUAre Crypto Firms Influencing Political Outcomes In Europe?
The allegations highlight growing scrutiny of crypto’s role in political financing and regulatory resistance. Poland has struggled to pass comprehensive crypto legislation, falling behind the EU’s broader push under MiCA to standardize oversight across member states.
“The source of this company’s financial success is not only Russian money linked to the so-called Bratva… but also to Russian secret services,” Tusk said.
He also pointed to the firm’s involvement in a CPAC event in Poland, where U.S. political figures expressed support for Nawrocki’s presidential bid.
But the claims remain politically charged and contested. Nawrocki’s office maintains that objections were tied to flaws in the regulatory model rather than external influence, reflecting a broader divide over how crypto markets should be governed at the national level.
VANESSA GERAStill, the timing is significant. Poland previously failed in December to override the presidential veto on crypto legislation, delaying efforts to bring its framework in line with MiCA (EU). The next catalyst will be whether lawmakers can break the deadlock and pass a revised bill, as scrutiny intensifies over both regulatory gaps and alleged foreign influence.
