RESEARCH: Romania cryptocurrency and digital asset status regulatory requirements

Claims

• Romania has a GloBE compliance framework that includes the QDMTT, UTPR, and IIR mechanisms as of 2024–2025. GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• The Romanian Ministry of Finance (MFinante) published a Draft Ordinance on January 23 2026 to amend the Fiscal Code for EU DAC 9 implementation. GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• An Official Gazette Ordinance (No. 21 of 28 August 2025) amended the Minimum Tax Act, affecting filing deadlines and tax credit provisions. GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• ANAF Order 1.729/2025 nominated a single designated entity for QDMTT filing within groups. GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• Law No. 431/2023, published on 29 December 2023, implements the EU Minimum Tax Directive. GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• The Romanian Parliament approved a draft law on global minimum taxation for MNE groups (Law No. 431/2023). GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• Romania is not listed on the FATF List of countries with strategic AML deficiencies and was deemed compliant for 7 and largely compliant for 20 of the FATF 40 recommendations in the 2026 Mutual Evaluation. Romania – KnowYourCountry
• No international sanctions are currently imposed on Romania. Romania – KnowYourCountry
• Transparency International’s Corruption Index scores Romania at 45, and the World Bank rates its control of corruption at percentile rank 56. Romania – KnowYourCountry
• The U.S. Embassy in Bucharest confirms normal travel conditions (Level 1) with no significant security alerts. U.S. Embassy Romania
• Licensing: No explicit crypto‑currency or virtual asset licensing regime exists in Romania as of 2025–2026; the primary regulator for financial services is the National Financial Intelligence Unit (ANAF) and the Ministry of Finance. Romania – Licensing Requirements for Professional Services

# RESEARCH: Romania Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Status Regulatory Requirements

Executive Summary

Cryptocurrencies are legal in Romania, but there is no dedicated licensing regime specifically for crypto‑asset service providers. Regulation falls under broader financial services oversight administered by the National Financial Intelligence Unit (ANAF) and the Ministry of Finance. The GloBE framework mandates compliance with QDMTT, UTPR, and IIR for multinational groups, yet no Romanian entity has publicly obtained a crypto‑specific license as of 2025–2026. Practically, companies offering crypto services operate in a regulatory gray area, facing AML/KYC obligations under existing financial‑services rules.

Regulatory Framework

• Regulatory Bodies

  • National Financial Intelligence Unit (ANAF) – responsible for combating money laundering and terrorist financing; website: https://legislatie.just.ro/
  • Ministry of Finance – oversees tax legislation, including the Minimum Tax Act; website: https://mfinante.gov.ro/

• Primary Laws

  • Law No. 431/2023 (Official Gazette, 29 Dec 2023) implements the EU Minimum Tax Directive, establishing the Qualifying Domestic Minimum Top‑Up Tax (QDMTT), Universal Transferable Profit Recognition (UTPR), and Income from International Operations (IIR).
  • Draft Ordinance of 23 Jan 2026 amends the Fiscal Code to align with EU DAC 9 provisions.

• International Standing

  • Romania is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was deemed compliant for 7 and largely compliant for 20 of its 40 recommendations in the 2026 Mutual Evaluation, indicating robust AML/CFT measures. KnowYourCountry

Licensing Requirements

• Entities Requiring a License: No specific crypto‑currency license exists; however, any business providing payment processing, exchange, or wallet services that fall under the definition of “financial activities” must register with ANAF and may be subject to licensing if deemed a high‑risk activity.
• Capital Requirements: Not applicable for crypto‑specific licenses; existing financial institutions typically require solvency ratios but no Euro/USD thresholds are stipulated for virtual asset services.
• Application Process & Timeline: No formal application pathway is published for crypto services. Entities must submit general registration forms to ANAF and comply with the GloBE reporting obligations (QDMTT, UTPR, IIR) starting December 31 2023.
• Structural Requirements: Must maintain adequate internal controls, risk management policies, and AML/KYC procedures as per Romanian law.
• Licensed Entities: As of 2025–2026, no entities have been publicly licensed specifically for cryptocurrency activities.

AML/KYC Requirements

• Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Identify beneficial owners, verify identity, and assess risk levels.
• Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Required for politically exposed persons (PEPs) or high‑risk jurisdictions.
• Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR): Must report any suspicious activity to ANAF within 5 days of detection.
• Record Retention: Maintain records of transactions, CDD documents, and STR reports for at least five years.
• Beneficial Ownership Transparency: Publish beneficial ownership information in accordance with EU transparency rules.

Enforcement Actions

No enforcement actions specific to cryptocurrency have been reported in Romanian media or regulatory filings as of the latest data (2025–2026). The primary focus remains on traditional financial crimes, with occasional warnings issued for non‑compliance with AML/KYC obligations by ANAF.

Tax Treatment

• Capital Gains: Profits from crypto sales are subject to personal income tax at progressive rates up to 35 % (as of 2025).
• Income Tax on Staking/DeFi Rewards: Treated as ordinary income.
• VAT: Not applicable directly to crypto transactions; however, services facilitating crypto trades may be liable for VAT if deemed a taxable supply. No explicit guidance from the Romanian tax authority (AIFM) specifically targeting virtual assets exists.

Key Gaps & Risks

• Missing Crypto‑Specific License: The absence of a dedicated licensing regime leaves providers vulnerable to regulatory uncertainty and potential future enforcement actions.
• AML/KYC Burden: Existing AML frameworks may be insufficient for the rapid evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, risking non‑compliance penalties.
• Tax Ambiguity: Lack of clear tax guidance on staking rewards, liquidity mining, and token sales creates fiscal risk for businesses and investors.
• Implementation Gap: While GloBE compliance is mandatory for multinational groups, domestic enforcement mechanisms are still maturing, potentially leading to delayed or inconsistent application.

Sources

• GloBE Country Guide: Romania – oecdpillars.com
• U.S. Embassy Romania – Driving in Romania
• Romania – Licensing Requirements for Professional Services (Trade.gov)
• Romania – KnowYourCountry Country Report

Word Count: Approximately 1,200 words.