‍1 Introduction

By the end of 2025, Poland found itself in a heated tug-of-law over crypto regulation. According to official government announcements, on December 9, 2025, the Council of Ministers approved a draft law on the crypto-asset market submitted by the Ministers of Finance and Economy. This bill was re-submitted with identical wording after being vetoed by the President on December 2; this deadlock has made Poland one of the few EU countries yet to complete domestic legislation for the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Meanwhile, the EU’s Eighth Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC8) officially kicked in on January 1, 2026. As the EU’s way of adopting the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), DAC8 aims to bring crypto into international tax transparency standards and deepen cross-border tax cooperation. This directive requires Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) to report user transaction data to tax authorities and share that info across the EU. Just as MiCA needs member states to set up domestic oversight, DAC8 requires local legislation to make its reporting mechanisms legally binding.

As the global crypto industry speeds toward clear, transparent, and standardized legislation, keeping tabs on key regulatory examples is essential. This research dives into Poland’s crypto oversight and tax system to map out recent progress. The goal is to help Web3 Participants identify compliance hotspots and risks while understanding the messy reality of macro-policy design as they deal with high-standard data reporting.

2 A Quick Look at Poland’s Crypto Regulation and Tax Evolution

2.1 The Big Picture

Poland’s crypto framework follows a "EU-led, local-link" strategy. The main mission right now is translating MiCA into domestic law, but local disagreements have caused a bit of a traffic jam. The government, led by Prime Minister Tusk, wants strict oversight for national security reasons and to meet EU deadlines. On the flip side, President Naworocki vetoed the bill to protect civil liberties and market innovation. This back-and-forth means the local version of MiCA hasn't officially crossed the finish line yet.

On the regulatory side, Poland is moving toward making the Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) the main watchdog and setting up a full licensing system for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs). This covers everything from exchanges and custody wallets to token issuers. The heart of this regulation is Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) rules, forcing CASPs to stick to Know Your Customer (KYC) and suspicious activity reporting.

For taxes, Poland uses a split system based on Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT). The golden rule is: "Exchanging crypto for cash or goods is taxed, but crypto-to-crypto trades are tax-free." There’s a specific reporting setup using the PIT-38 form, with clear rules on cost deductions, tax rates, crypto donations, and penalties. It’s a relatively mature and practical system.

2.2 Timeline of Key Events

Before 2018, Poland didn't have a systematic legal setup for crypto. Officially, crypto wasn't seen as legal tender or a financial instrument—just a "property right." There were no specific laws, only the general AML framework for compliance. During this time, the Ministry of Finance thought about a 1% Civil Law Transactions Tax (PCC) on crypto trades, but it sparked an outcry for being too heavy a burden on taxpayers, so it was shelved.

In November 2018, the government proposed updates to PIT and CIT laws. They clarified that crypto-to-crypto trades are exempt from income tax, but swapping crypto for cash, goods, or services triggers a 19% tax. This went into effect on January 1, 2019.

In November 2020, authorities released a new PIT-38 form specifically for Polish residents to report crypto taxes, filling a major gap in the individual tax filing process.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Finance released the first draft of the Act on Crypto-Asset Markets, officially starting the process of bringing MiCA to Poland. This draft invited public feedback on topics like regulatory roles and CASP licensing.

In August 2024, an updated version of the Act moved the MiCA compliance deadline up from the end of 2025 to June 30, 2025, telling the market to hurry up with their compliance prep.

In September 2025, the lower house of the Polish Parliament passed the Act on Crypto-Asset Markets. It named the KNF as the lead regulator and detailed licensing requirements and criminal penalties for violations before sending it to the upper house.

In December 2025, the President vetoed the Act, calling it over-regulation that kills innovation and hurts freedom. That same month, the government re-submitted the exact same bill, keeping the deadlock alive. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance finished public consultations for DAC8, which requires data sharing and reporting to start on January 1, 2026.

On January 1, 2026, DAC8 officially began in the EU, covering the 2026 calendar year. Reports and automatic exchanges between countries must be finished within 9 months after the reporting year (by September 30, 2027). On December 17, 2025, the Polish Council of Ministers passed a draft to amend the Act on the Exchange of Tax Information with Other Countries to adopt DAC8. While Poland is slightly behind Germany or France, the process is moving forward.

3 Poland’s Crypto Regulatory System

3.1 The Main Regulatory Bodies and Their Jobs

Poland has officially put the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) in charge of the crypto market. The KNF handles the entire "life cycle" of CASPs, plus AML enforcement and investor protection. Here’s how they split the work: At the Entry Stage, the KNF checks a CASP’s governance, capital levels, internal controls, risk management, and AML procedures. If everything looks good, they issue a license for trading, custody, key management, token issuance, or investment advice. For Ongoing Oversight, the KNF can require quarterly reports on trading volume, user counts, and risk reserves, and they perform regular or surprise audits. For Penalties, the KNF can slap unlicensed or non-compliant firms with fines or business limits, and serious cases go to court for criminal charges. They also have an Innovation Hub to help crypto tech fit into the regulatory mold.

Besides the KNF, the Ministry of Finance, the National Revenue Administration (KAS), and the General Inspector of Financial Information (GIFI) work together. The Ministry of Finance sets the policy and leads the charge on MiCA-related laws like the Act on Crypto-Asset Markets. They also manage the registry for virtual currency activities. KAS handles the tax side—collecting filings and checking for tax compliance. GIFI works with the others to make sure service providers follow AML and anti-terror laws, analyzing suspicious activity reports and handing out administrative penalties when needed.

3.2 Key Rules and Policies

Current Polish crypto rules fall into two buckets: First, laws designed to match EU standards. This includes the draft Act on Crypto-Asset Markets (to implement MiCA) and the tax info exchange draft (to implement DAC8). The latter, officially Government List No. UC110, sets the ground rules for data reporting and cross-border automatic info sharing. The second bucket is existing local laws, including general financial rules, AML/CFT laws, and tax codes, which keep crypto activities in check regarding funding, reporting, and rights.

Specifically, the draft Act on Crypto-Asset Markets is the main tool for bringing MiCA to Poland. The key terms passed by the lower house in 2025 include: First, it clearly defines the scope, covering exchanges, wallet providers, token issuers, stablecoin operators, and advisors, while noting that "issuer-less" crypto like Bitcoin isn't a security. Second, it sets up a mandatory licensing system where all CASPs must register with the KNF and meet capital requirements. Third, it ramps up AML and transparency—CASPs must do KYC, keep records for 5 years, and report quarterly data to the KNF and KAS. Fourth, it protects investors by requiring "High Risk" warnings on ads and banning crypto marketing to minors. Finally, it sets the stakes—fines can reach 10 million PLN (about 2.8 million USD), and serious violations like operating without a license can lead to two years in prison. The bill is currently stuck in a debate over how to balance strict rules with personal digital freedom.

The move to adopt DAC8 is less controversial. It amends the Act on the Exchange of Tax Information with Other Countries to plug DAC8’s reporting into Polish law. It requires CASPs to perform due diligence on the tax residency of their users and report identity, tax IDs, and transaction data annually to tax authorities. This info is then shared across the EU, making it much harder to hide cross-border transactions using platforms as intermediaries.

4 Poland’s Crypto Tax System

Poland doesn't have a single "Crypto Tax Law" yet. Instead, it uses the existing Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) frameworks. The rules depend on whether you are an individual or a business and what kind of transaction you’re doing.

4.1 Personal Income Tax (PIT)

In Poland, selling virtual currency is treated as a paid sale of property rights. The rules for individuals clearly split what’s taxed and what’s not.

Profits from non-business crypto holdings are treated as capital income. These are reported annually using the PIT-38 form and taxed at a flat 19% rate.

A "taxable event" happens when you get something in return for your crypto. This includes three scenarios: swapping crypto for cash, using it to buy goods/services or other property rights, and using it to pay off a debt. On the flip side, buying crypto with cash (PLN, EUR, etc.), moving it between your own wallets, just holding it, swapping one crypto for another (crypto-to-crypto), or receiving it through mining, staking, or airdrops usually doesn't trigger an immediate tax bill.

The tax is calculated as Income minus Deductible Costs. You can deduct the cost of buying the crypto and platform fees/commissions to lower your bill. However, you generally can't deduct mining equipment, electricity, interest on loans, or fees from crypto-to-crypto swaps. If you have a loss or no income in a year, you can still report your costs and carry them forward to offset future profits. Also, if your total annual income hits 1 million PLN (about 240,000 EUR), you might have to pay an extra 4% "Solidarity Tax."

4.2 Corporate Income Tax (CIT)

For companies, the rules are similar to individuals regarding what is taxable, but they fall under Corporate Income Tax. The rate is usually 19%, but small businesses or startups (with annual income under 2 million EUR) might qualify for a lower 9% rate. Companies must file annually and keep their crypto costs separate from other business costs—you can't use crypto losses to offset profit from your regular business activities.

4.3 Other Taxes

When it comes to VAT, the Polish government doesn't see crypto as a "currency unit, payment tool, or e-money," so crypto trades are currently outside the VAT scope. As for the Civil Law Transactions Tax (PCC), the Ministry of Finance paused it in 2018. While they later said old trades from before July 2013 might still owe it, no new collection policies have been released, so PCC is effectively on ice for crypto trades for now.

5 Summary and Outlook

Poland’s crypto tax and regulatory scene is a mix of "work-in-progress" and "ready-to-go." Overall, the framework is clear and focused. On the regulatory side, even though the Act on Crypto-Asset Markets is stuck in legislative traffic, the foundation is there: the KNF is the lead watchdog, CASPs need licenses, and AML is a priority. They are also syncing up with EU DAC8 to boost tax transparency. On the tax side, crypto is already integrated into the existing system. It’s a fairly friendly environment: crypto-to-crypto is free, tax rates are clear, and small businesses get a break.

Looking ahead, the trend is moving toward total compliance and transparency. If Poland can clear its legislative hurdles and build a flexible system that matches EU standards, it will provide the stability needed to attract top-tier crypto firms. As DAC8 rolls out, Poland’s ability to cooperate on cross-border taxes will grow, helping the local market blend into the broader European ecosystem.