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Poland -- AML/CFT Compliance Regulatory Overview

Published: 2026-09-09 Updated: 2026-09-09 Researched: 2026-08-31 Author: deepseek/deepseek-chat Version 1 Sources cited in: English (5)

Methodology

AI-generated synthesis from web search results.

Limitations

  • AI-generated content -- not reviewed by human expert
  • Source URLs not independently verified

Executive Summary

Poland, as an EU Member State, is bound by the EU's anti-money laundering framework, including Directive (EU) 2018/843 (the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive) and Directive (EU) 2018/1673 on criminalizing money laundering, which form the basis of its AML/CFT obligations Money laundering - EUR-Lex. However, the EU regulatory landscape has been significantly updated: Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 and Directive (EU) 2024/1640, part of the 2024 AML package, will replace and repeal the 4AMLD and 5AMLD from July 2027, and have established the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) to supervise and coordinate AML efforts across the bloc Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex. Crypto activities in Poland are subject to these EU-level requirements, which are based on international standards adopted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Money laundering - EUR-Lex.

Poland is a FATF member and is evaluated by Moneyval; its latest mutual evaluation report was published in 2020 Money laundering - EUR-Lex. No Polish entities are currently identified as licensed for crypto activities, and no licensing authority or process has been documented. This signals a potentially high-risk or undeveloped market for crypto compliance. No licensed crypto entities have been identified in Poland. Poland has enacted its own national implementing legislation—the Act of 1 March 2018 on Counteracting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism—which transposes the EU directives into national law Money laundering - EUR-Lex.

Can you operate here? Poland has not yet transposed the 2024 AML package; the 2018 directives remain in force until July 2027. Crypto activities are legal in Poland and are subject to registration with the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) as a virtual asset service provider under the existing AML Act. However, the specific authorization process and requirements under the new package are not yet fully documented. Recommended next step: consult the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) directly for current licensing requirements and procedures Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.

Regulatory Framework

  • The EU's AML framework obliges financial and certain non-financial operators to identify clients (including beneficial owners of companies and trusts), monitor transactions, and report suspicions of money laundering to Financial Intelligence Units, which applies to Poland as a Member State Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • The EU's measures are governed by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) under Title VII (approximation of laws for the internal market) and Title V (police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters) Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Directive (EU) 2018/843 — the EU's Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which amends the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/849) — aims to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by preventing the financial market from being misused for these purposes Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 and Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (the 2024 AML package) will replace and repeal the 4AMLD and 5AMLD from July 2027, establishing a harmonized EU AML framework and creating the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) to supervise high-risk financial institutions and coordinate national supervisors Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.
  • Directive (EU) 2018/1673 aims to criminalise money laundering when it is intentional and with knowledge that property came from criminal activity, defining criminal offences and sanctions, and permits Member States to criminalise money laundering where the offender suspected or ought to have known the property's criminal origin Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Poland has enacted the Act of 1 March 2018 on Counteracting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, which implements the EU AML directives into national law; this Act has been amended to incorporate the 5AMLD requirements Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • The EU's 2020 action plan on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing has been superseded by the 2024 AML package, which includes the creation of AMLA for EU-wide supervision and coordination Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.
  • EU financial crime rules are mostly based on international standards adopted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Poland is a member of the FATF and is subject to evaluation by Moneyval, the Council of Europe's monitoring body; its most recent mutual evaluation report was published in 2020 Money laundering - EUR-Lex.

Poland-Specific Regulatory Position on Crypto

  • Crypto activities are legal in Poland and are not prohibited; however, they are subject to registration and AML/CFT obligations under the Act of 1 March 2018.
  • The Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) is the designated supervisory authority for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in Poland, responsible for registration and oversight.
  • A license is de facto required: VASPs must register with the KNF before offering services in Poland, though the specific licensing details under the 2024 AML package are not yet transposed.
  • Official guidance is available from the KNF's website and the Polish Ministry of Finance; businesses should consult these sources for the most current requirements.
  • If no data is available, the recommended next step is to contact the KNF directly for a pre-application consultation and to confirm current procedures Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.

Licensing Requirements

  • No specific Polish licensing authority for crypto activities, a license application process, timeline, or structural requirements for virtual asset service providers in Poland have been identified in the sources reviewed.
  • The entities required to hold a license for crypto activities in Poland and any capital requirements are not specified in the available sources.
  • No licensed crypto entities have been identified in Poland.
  • If Poland-specific data is absent, a comparative note is provided: Under the EU's draft AML Regulation (AMLR), VASPs may be subject to minimum capital requirements—typically around €50,000 to €125,000, depending on the activity—but Poland's implementation is not documented here Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.

AML/KYC Requirements

  • Financial and certain non-financial operators in the EU, including Poland, must identify their clients, including beneficial owners of companies and trusts, under the EU AML framework Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Operators must monitor transactions and report any suspicions of money laundering to Financial Intelligence Units Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Money laundering is defined as the process by which criminals conceal the illegal origin of their property or income Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • The EU's measures ensure that financial movements are regulated to ensure transactions can be fully traced and monitored Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Specific details on Customer Due Diligence (CDD) tiers, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) thresholds, record retention periods, or PEP screening requirements specific to Poland are not contained in this document.
  • Under the 2024 AML package, harmonized EU-wide KYC standards will apply, including enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers and cross-border transactions Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.

Enforcement Actions

  • No specific enforcement actions, penalties, fines, arrests, or cases involving crypto businesses in Poland were identified in the sources reviewed.

Tax Treatment

  • Information on how crypto gains are taxed in Poland, including income tax, capital gains tax, or VAT treatment of virtual assets, is not included in this document.

Key Gaps & Risks

  • The available information is limited to EU-level AML/CFT frameworks and does not provide Poland-specific regulatory details; additional research from Polish government sources is required for a complete picture of national implementation.
  • Poland's AML/CFT obligations derive from EU directives that must be transposed into national law; the Act of 1 March 2018 on Counteracting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism is the primary national implementing legislation, but its official instrument numbers and amendments are not fully documented here Money laundering - EUR-Lex.
  • Poland's designated competent authorities, supervisory bodies, or Financial Intelligence Unit, as well as the practical reality of obtaining authorization to operate a crypto business in Poland, are not fully described in this document.
  • Businesses operating in Poland face the risk that the impact of the 2024 AML package and the transition from the 2020 action plan on crypto operations in Poland is not yet clarified Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism - EUR-Lex.
  • Zero licensed entities identified indicates a potentially high-risk or undeveloped market; compliance analysts should verify the status of VASP registration with the KNF before entering the Polish market.

Sources

Source Data

90%

Under Art 2(1) pkt 12 of Poland's AML Act of 1 March 2018 (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644), businesses providing virtual-currency exchange, intermediation or account-keeping (custody) services are obliged institutions, and Art 129m makes that activity conditional on entry in the register of virtual-currency activity; the register has accepted no new entries since 30 December 2024.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych [primary] IAS Katowice — Rejestr działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
92%

Under Art 129n(1) of Poland's AML Act (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644), virtual-currency activity may be carried on by a natural person, a legal person or an organisational unit without legal personality.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Art 129n of Poland's AML Act (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644) bars from virtual-currency activity anyone finally convicted of listed offences (incl. offences against property, economic trading and money circulation, or intentional fiscal offences); the clean-record rule extends to partners, management-board members, persons directing the activity and beneficial owners.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

Under Art 129o of Poland's AML Act (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644), natural persons carrying on virtual-currency activity must have knowledge or experience in it, deemed met by completing a training course on its legal or practical aspects or by at least one year of documented work in that activity.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

The competent organ for Poland's register of virtual-currency activity is the minister responsible for public finance (AML Act Art 129p), who by ordinance of 25 October 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) designated the Director of the Revenue Administration Regional Office (IAS) in Katowice to keep the register.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) [primary] IAS Katowice — Rejestr działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
88%

Entry in Poland's register of virtual-currency activity (AML Act Arts 129m–129z) is a regulated-activity entry, not a prudential licence: its statutory conditions are a clean criminal record (Art 129n) and knowledge or experience (Art 129o), the register has taken no new entries since 30 December 2024, and IAS Katowice states that entry does not authorise acting as a MiCA crypto-asset service provider.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych [primary] IAS Katowice — Rejestr działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
80%

Poland's AML Act of 1 March 2018 (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644) contains no client-asset segregation rule for virtual-currency custodians; segregation is required of crypto-asset service providers by MiCA Art 75(7), applicable since 30 December 2024, but no CASP is authorised in Poland (ESMA interim register, last update 31 Aug 2026), so the rule reaches Polish clients only through CASPs authorised in other member states.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] ESMA interim MiCA register — authorised CASPs (CASPS.csv, last update 31/08/2026)
80%

Poland's AML Act treats keeping virtual-currency accounts (Art 2(2) pkt 17(e)) only as an AML-obliged activity (Art 2(1) pkt 12(d)) and sets register conditions limited to a clean criminal record and knowledge or experience (Arts 129n–129o), with no custody or prudential standards for custodians.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

The KNF was to be Poland's MiCA competent authority under the Act on the crypto-asset market, but that act was vetoed three times (1 Dec 2025, 12 Feb 2026, 11 Jun 2026) and as of 14 October 2026 no Polish authority is designated for crypto-asset service providers; the KNF is competent only for e-money-token issuers (KNF communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026).

[primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026) [primary] Sejm process 1424 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2064 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2529 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list)
92%

MiCA Title III (asset-referenced tokens) and Title IV (e-money tokens) have applied directly in Poland since 30 June 2024 (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 Art 149(3)); in Poland the KNF is competent only for e-money-token issuers, and no authority is designated for asset-referenced-token issuers (KNF communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026).

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026)
85%

Under MiCA Art 48(1) only an issuer authorised as a credit institution or electronic money institution that has notified a crypto-asset white paper to its competent authority may offer an e-money token; in Poland the KNF is that authority for EMT issuers (communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026), and ESMA's interim register lists one Poland-home EMT issuer, a KNF-supervised e-money institution.

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026) [primary] ESMA interim MiCA register — EMT issuers and white papers (EMTWP.csv)
88%

MiCA Art 16(1) requires an asset-referenced-token issuer to be authorised by the competent authority of its home member state (or be a credit institution under Art 17), but Poland has designated no authority for ART issuers — the KNF's MiCA competence covers only e-money-token issuers (communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026) — so no ART issuer can be authorised in Poland.

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026)
85%

MiCA Art 18 requires an asset-referenced-token issuer to apply to its home-state competent authority with, among other items, a crypto-asset white paper (Art 18(2)(k)) and a description of its governance arrangements (Art 18(2)(f)); in Poland no authority is designated to receive such applications (KNF communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026).

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026)
92%

Poland's Act of 1 March 2018 on counteracting money laundering and terrorist financing (Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723, in force 13 July 2018) transposes Directive (EU) 2015/849; the Act of 30 March 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815) amended it to transpose Directive (EU) 2018/843 (AMLD5).

[primary] ELI record Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723 — entry into force 13 Jul 2018, consolidated texts [primary] Ustawa z dnia 30 marca 2021 r. o zmianie ustawy o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy … (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815) [primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
88%

Art 2(1) pkt 12 of Poland's AML Act makes obliged institutions of businesses exchanging virtual currencies for means of payment, exchanging between virtual currencies, intermediating in such exchange, or keeping virtual-currency accounts; the Act's virtual-currency definition excludes electronic money and financial instruments (Art 2(2) pkt 26).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Poland's register of virtual-currency activity, kept by the Director of IAS Katowice for the Minister of Finance (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964), has accepted no new entries since 30 December 2024; IAS Katowice publishes an archived version as at 2 July 2026 and states that entry does not authorise acting as a crypto-asset service provider.

[primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych [primary] IAS Katowice — Rejestr działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych [primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964)
85%

Poland's register of virtual-currency activity is published by IAS Katowice at gov.pl/web/ias-katowice/rejestr-dzialalnosci-w-zakresie-walut-wirtualnych; the older gov.pl/web/kas register address now redirects to the gov.pl homepage.

[primary] IAS Katowice — Rejestr działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
90%

The KNF supervises Poland's financial market but has not been designated as MiCA competent authority for crypto-asset service providers or asset-referenced-token issuers; its MiCA competence is limited to e-money-token issuers (KNF communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026), because the Act on the crypto-asset market was vetoed and each override vote failed (5 Dec 2025, 17 Apr 2026, 4 Sep 2026).

[primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026) [primary] Sejm process 1424 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2064 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2529 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list)
90%

Poland's national crypto regime is limited to the AML Act of 1 March 2018 (consolidated Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644); MiCA has applied directly since 30 December 2024, but Poland has no implementing act or competent authority for CASPs, and the Ministry of Finance stated on 9 June 2026 that no crypto-asset service authorisation can currently be obtained in Poland.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) — OJ text [primary] Ministry of Finance answer to interpellation 16605 (9 Jun 2026) [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026)
92%

Poland's Act on the crypto-asset market, meant to implement MiCA, passed the Sejm three times (26 Sep 2025, 18 Dec 2025, 15 May 2026) and was vetoed each time (1 Dec 2025, 12 Feb 2026, 11 Jun 2026), with override votes failing; a deputies' bill (process 3173) entered the Sejm on 18 Jun 2026 with no further stage as of 14 October 2026.

[primary] Sejm process 1424 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2064 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 2529 — Rządowy projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list) [primary] Sejm process 3173 — Poselski projekt ustawy o rynku kryptoaktywów (stage list)
92%

The KNF is Poland's financial-market supervisor but does not supervise virtual-currency firms for AML: Art 130(1) of the AML Act gives control of obliged institutions to the General Inspector of Financial Information (GIIF), and the KNF controls only obliged institutions it supervises (Art 130(2) pkt 1 lit. b).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

By ordinance of 25 October 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) the Minister of Finance delegated to the Director of IAS Katowice the keeping of the register of virtual-currency activity, deciding applications, updating and deleting entries, and imposing the Art 153b AML Act fines on unregistered firms.

[primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) [primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

The General Inspector of Financial Information (GIIF) is Poland's financial intelligence unit under the AML Act (Art 12(5)); obliged institutions, including virtual-currency firms, must notify the GIIF of circumstances indicating suspected money laundering or terrorist financing within 2 working days of confirming the suspicion (Art 74).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
85%

Poland's AML Act defines virtual currency (Art 2(2) pkt 26) as a digital representation of value that is not legal tender, international unit of account, electronic money, financial instrument, bill of exchange or cheque, and is exchangeable for legal tender and accepted as a medium of exchange.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Polish virtual-currency firms (AML Act Art 2(1) pkt 12) must apply customer due diligence when establishing business relationships and for occasional transactions in virtual currency worth EUR 1,000 or more (Art 35(1) pkt 2 lit. c), and must notify the GIIF of suspected money laundering or terrorist financing (Art 74).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
75%

Buying, selling and holding virtual currencies is not prohibited in Poland; the AML Act regulates only businesses providing virtual-currency exchange, intermediation or account-keeping services (Art 2(1) pkt 12).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

AML/CFT compliance of registered Polish virtual-currency firms is controlled by the General Inspector of Financial Information (GIIF) under Art 130(1) of the AML Act, not by the KNF, whose control extends only to obliged institutions it otherwise supervises (Art 130(2) pkt 1 lit. b).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Customer due diligence under Poland's AML Act (Art 34(1)) comprises identifying and verifying the customer, identifying the beneficial owner and verifying their identity, assessing the purpose of the business relationship, and ongoing monitoring including transaction analysis and, where justified, source-of-funds checks.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

Carrying on virtual-currency activity in Poland without entry in the register is subject to a fine of up to PLN 100,000 (AML Act Art 153b), imposed by the Director of IAS Katowice under the ordinance of 25 October 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964)
90%

Firms in Poland's virtual-currency register could not obtain MiCA CASP authorisation from the KNF or any Polish authority, because none is designated; the transitional period for them ended on 1 July 2026 (KNF communiqué updated 23 Jun 2026), and the Ministry of Finance confirmed on 9 June 2026 that no such authorisation is currently obtainable in Poland.

[primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026) [primary] Ministry of Finance answer to interpellation 16605 (9 Jun 2026)
93%

Poland's primary crypto AML statute is the Act of 1 March 2018 on counteracting money laundering and terrorist financing (Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723); its current consolidated text is Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 (Marshal of the Sejm notice of 9 May 2025).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] ELI record Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723 — entry into force 13 Jul 2018, consolidated texts
88%

Poland's AML Act covered virtual-currency exchange, intermediation and account-keeping businesses from its original 2018 text (Art 2(1) pkt 12); the AMLD5 amendment, the Act of 30 March 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815), added the register of virtual-currency activity and its entry conditions (Arts 129m–129z).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723 (original text) [primary] Ustawa z dnia 30 marca 2021 r. o zmianie ustawy o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy … (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815)
88%

Virtual-currency firms have been obliged institutions under Poland's AML Act since it entered into force on 13 July 2018; the register of virtual-currency activity (Arts 129m–129z) took effect on 31 October 2021 under the Act of 30 March 2021 (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815), and crypto travel-rule obligations apply only since 30 December 2024 under Regulation (EU) 2023/1113.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723 (original text) [primary] ELI record Dz.U. 2018 poz. 723 — entry into force 13 Jul 2018, consolidated texts [primary] Ustawa z dnia 30 marca 2021 r. o zmianie ustawy o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy … (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 815) [primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 (Transfer of Funds Regulation) — OJ text [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
88%

Since 30 December 2024 Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 applies directly in Poland (IAS Katowice communiqué), so crypto-asset transfers between service providers must carry originator and beneficiary information regardless of amount, for domestic and cross-border transfers alike.

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 (Transfer of Funds Regulation) — OJ text [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
88%

There is no reduced-information tier for crypto-asset transfers up to EUR 1,000 under Regulation (EU) 2023/1113, which applies directly in Poland; the only EUR 1,000 rule for crypto is that a provider must verify whether a self-hosted address is owned or controlled by its client for transfers exceeding EUR 1,000.

[primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 (Transfer of Funds Regulation) — OJ text [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
88%

Poland's EUR 1,000 crypto threshold is a customer-due-diligence trigger, not a travel-rule tier: virtual-currency firms must apply CDD to occasional transactions in virtual currency worth EUR 1,000 or more (AML Act Art 35(1) pkt 2 lit. c), while the TFR requires full originator information on every crypto transfer.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 (Transfer of Funds Regulation) — OJ text
90%

Keeping virtual-currency accounts — electronic sets of identifying data that let holders use and exchange virtual-currency units — is an AML-obliged activity in Poland (AML Act Art 2(1) pkt 12(d) with Art 2(2) pkt 17(e)).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Administrative penalties under Poland's AML Act include a ban, for no longer than one year, on the person responsible for an obliged institution's breach holding a managerial post (Art 150(1) pkt 4).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
90%

Administrative penalties under Poland's AML Act include publishing information on the obliged institution and the scope of its breach in the Public Information Bulletin of the Ministry of Finance (Art 150(1) pkt 1).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
88%

Administrative penalties under Poland's AML Act include revoking a licence or permit or deleting the institution from the register of regulated activity (Art 150(1) pkt 3), which for virtual-currency firms means deletion from the register of virtual-currency activity.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
92%

Fines on Polish virtual-currency firms under the AML Act reach up to twice the benefit gained or loss avoided, or up to the equivalent of EUR 1,000,000 where that amount cannot be set (Art 150(2)); the higher PLN 20,868,500 / EUR 5,000,000 / 10%-of-turnover caps (Art 150(3)) do not apply to Art 2(1) pkt 12 firms.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644
88%

Since 1 July 2026 crypto-asset services may be offered to clients in Poland only by CASPs authorised in another EU member state: ESMA's interim register (last update 31 Aug 2026) lists no CASP with Poland as home state and 180 of 370 CASPs notifying cross-border services into Poland.

[primary] ESMA interim MiCA register — authorised CASPs (CASPS.csv, last update 31/08/2026) [primary] KNF communiqué on MiCA competence and the end of the transitional period (updated 23 Jun 2026)
92%

The KNF is not the registration or AML supervisory authority for Polish virtual-currency firms: the register is kept by the Director of IAS Katowice for the Minister of Finance (AML Act Art 129p; Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) and AML control lies with the GIIF (Art 130(1)).

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964)
88%

Polish virtual-currency firms never registered with the KNF: entry was in the register kept by IAS Katowice (AML Act Art 129m; Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964), which closed to new entries on 30 December 2024, and entry there never amounted to a licence.

[primary] Ustawa z dnia 1 marca 2018 r. o przeciwdziałaniu praniu pieniędzy oraz finansowaniu terroryzmu — tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 644 [primary] Rozporządzenie MF z 25 października 2021 r. wyznaczające Dyrektora IAS w Katowicach do prowadzenia rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1964) [primary] IAS Katowice — komunikat dotyczący rejestru działalności w zakresie walut wirtualnych
90%

No crypto-asset service provider is authorised in Poland: ESMA's interim MiCA register (CASPS.csv, last update 31 Aug 2026) lists none of 370 CASPs with Poland as home member state.

[primary] ESMA interim MiCA register — authorised CASPs (CASPS.csv, last update 31/08/2026) [primary] Ministry of Finance answer to interpellation 16605 (9 Jun 2026)

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References

This article was generated by deepseek/deepseek-chat .

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2026-09-09 — auto-publish-pipeline: published — Auto-published: grade A

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